Bala Town 3 TNS 1

TNS suffered their first ever league defeat as Bala Town ended a 39 match jinx on Friday night.

Chris Venables rattled the crossbar with a third minute free-kick as Bala began with intent.

However Dean Ebbe bundled home a close range header to give TNS a 31st minute lead.

Ryan Brobbel also went close for the Saints but Bala remained resolute with Venables denied by the woodwork a second time on the stroke of half-time.

Bala dominated the second-half with Stuart Jones forcing goalkeeper Paul Harrison into a finger tip save before Venables struck on 50 minutes with a close range finish following Anthony Stephens’ header.

Two minutes later Louis Roubles lashed home following a goalmouth scramble to send the Bala faithful wild.

Harrison tipped a Roubles rasper over the bar before TNS rang the changes with Greg Draper almost making an immediate impact by heading Simon Spender’s cross against the bar.

However the hosts completed an historic night with five minutes remaining with Venables pouncing for his brace.

TNS: Harrison, Harrington, Spender, Marriott, Ebbe (Ciewlewicz 80), Routledge, Brobbel, Edwards (Draper 71), Redmond (Whitehouse 80), Hudson, Mullan.