BALA Town put last season's shock exit at the hands of UWIC behind them with a comfortable victory over minnows Merthyr Saints. The Lakesiders raced into a 3-0 lead inside the first quarter of an hour, Mark Connolly opening the scoring for the Lakesiders after five minutes with a 12-yard tap-in. Stephen Brown doubled the score after 10 minutes, forcing home a rebound before Connolly produced one of his trademark free-kicks. Ross Jefferies and Connolly had good chance to extend the lead but both blazed over the bar when unmarked. But Brown then added his second after a solo run, beating two defenders before walking the ball round the keeper. Mark Jones put another effort just wide but, just before half-time, Steffan Edwards added the fifth at the far post. The Saints did better after the break and created a few half chances but it was Bala who scored again in the 67th-minute when Connolly completed his hat-trick. Brown, Chris Mason and Jones went close to adding more, but the hosts repelled the danger. Attendance - 351
