Cefn Druids 3 Bala Town 1

Mike Pritchard wrapped up a 3-1 win for Cefn Druids on Friday night as Bala Town’s hopes of securing an automatic European spot were cast into doubt.

The Ancients finished the game with 10 men when Alec Mudimu was dismissed, but Bala were left to rue their missed chances when Mike Pritchard’s finish sealed Cefn Druids their second win of Phase 2 deep into added time.

The Lakesiders, who’re chasing second place in the JD Welsh Premier League, risk falling five points behind rivals Connah’s Quay and Bangor City this weekend.

Colin Caton’s side now have just three games remaining  and will be hoping Connah’s Quay and Bangor drop points in their respective games against Cardiff Met and The New Saints.

The win represents a timely return to form for Cefn Druids after they were thumped 5-1 by The New Saints last time out.

Druids have overachieved this season but this result shows they are capable of being be a thorn in the side of any club in the end of season play-offs.

Arek Piskorski opened the scoring for the home side before Nathan Burke thumped home a spectacular equaliser for Bala from 25 yards.

Cefn Druids regained their lead on 54 minutes when midfielder Matty Owen struck for a successive game.

Bala continued to probe for a second goal and when Alec Mudimu, who earlier this week made his full international debut for Zimbabwe, received his marching orders, the balance of the game threatened to tip the game into the Lakesiders’ favour.

A lengthy delay following a clash of heads between Andrai Jones and Les Davies saw the game stretch beyond 90 minutes and Pritchard’s finish with 8 minutes into added time leaves Bala Town with an uphill struggle to finish second in the table if results don’t go their way.