BALA Town are still seeking their first points of 2019 after visitors Caernarfon Town hit back from being a goal down to secure a battling 3-1 win at Maes Tegid.

Henry Jones had given the Lakesiders a fourth-minute lead, but the Cofis stepped things up in the second half to take the spoils through a Darren Thomas header, a fine strike from sub Danny Brookwell and Nathan Craig’s injury-time penalty - to sentence Bala to a third straight defeat.

The visitors were also indebted to some fine first-half saves from keeper Alex Ramsay, as their win lifted them above Colin Caton’s side into fifth spot in the Welsh Premier League on goal difference.

Having seen his side concede 10 goals in losing their last three outings, Caton was left to rue his side’s missed chances, as well as defensive errors at the other end.

“Goals change games, and we’re getting punished for every mistake at the moment,” said the Bala boss. “Their first was a free header which we should have defended better, and the second a worldie.

“There were a lot of pluses, but we have really got to defend much better if we’re going to achieve anything this season. We did well in the first half, we had a few chances, and had we got a second goal it could have been a different story.”

He added: “We’ve got a break which has come at a good time for us as we’ve got a lot of players who are carrying injuries. We will regroup now and we’ll come back strongly, as there’s still a lot to play for in the second half of the season.”

The Lakesiders made the perfect start on four minutes as Jones capitalised on Jamie Crowther’s defensive slip to break into the box and fire a low drive past Ramsay.

In a frantic first half, Jamie Breese missed a golden chance at the back post for Caernarfon, but at the other end, Chris Venables saw a shot roll wide as the visitors survived a couple of scrambles.

Ramsay pulled off good stops, including a one handed effort to deny Stuart Jones, but after going in at half time 1-0 down, Sean Eardley’s side turned the tables.

They got back on terms on 61 minutes when Thomas found space to head home Craig’s corner from the left, and the Cofis went in front in fine style on 73 minutes when substitute Brookwell teed up a clearance from a corner, before smashing his angled 15-yard volley in off the bar.

The points were sealed three minutes into injury time as Gareth Evans was adjudged to have been brought down in the box by Stuart Jones, and Craig drove his penalty under Ashley Morris for 3-1.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Burns, S Smith, A Miley, S Jones, N Burke, K Smith, C Venables, H Jones, S Tames, M Hayes (D Gosset 74 minutes). Subs not used: I Sheridan, S J Jones, R Valentine, E Horwood, J Jones.

CAERNARFON: A Ramsey, N Craig, G Edwards, G Evans, J Crowther, J Breese (R Roberts 86’), D Thomas, K Roberts (J Williams 69’), R Williams, S Bradley (D Brookwell 69’), C Jones. Subs not used: D Owen, N Bould (gk).Attendance: 561. Referee: M Petch.