COLIN Caton will reach a major landmark this weekend.
Sunday’s Welsh Premier League match at Llanelli will see Caton take charge of Bala Town for the 350th time.
It is a phenomenal achievement for the former Colwyn Bay player-boss, who has been in the hotseat at Maes Tegid for more than eight years.
That makes him the longest-serving manager with the same club in the Welsh Premier League and his first game in charge, back in August 2003, was in the Premier Division of the Wrexham Area League.
“I scored my first goal ever for Bala and it was against Brymbo!” Caton recalled this week.
If the side can claim a victory or two before Caton’s 352nd match in charge, then it promises to be a memorable spell for Bala.
The Lakesiders, who are unbeaten in seven league games, tackle top-four clubs Llanelli, Neath and Bangor City over the coming three weeks.
“Seven games unbeaten is good at any level... but we have got big games coming up,” added Caton.
“It’s difficult for us to play them three and we didn’t get any points against them (earlier in the season).
“But we will try and change a few things.”
In September and October, Bala had an identical three-game run, losing out to Llanelli (4-2), Neath (4-0) and Bangor (2-1).
Caton is keeping his cards close to his chest surrounding what new tactics he will adopt against Llanelli, Neath and Bangor City.
“There’s a fine line between success and failure in this league and we are not far away,” he added.
On the chase to finish in the top-six ahead of the mid-season split, Caton says that his players can’t take their foot off the gas.
With six matches left to play, Bala are currently in fifth spot with 29 points, 11 points clear of seventh-placed Port Talbot Town.
“Mathematically, there’s a lot of teams that can catch us, but a lot of times it doesn’t happen.
“But we will finish where we finish.”
For the trip to Stebonheath Park to play Llanelli, Bala will be without striker Lee Hunt, who will sit out the second of a four-match ban.
The suspension comes as a result of Hunt’s sending-off during last week’s 2-2 draw at Port Talbot Town.
“It’s disappointing we have had players sent off over the last few weeks,” said Caton.
“Our discipline has been a massive part of the success.
“We work hard and the team spirit’s good.”
This weekend, the Bala boss will also turn one eye towards Bala’s forthcoming Welsh Cup campaign.
In the third round of the competition they’ve been handed a trip to South Wales Amateur League Division Two club Merthyr Saints.
“I’m going to watch them on Saturday,” admitted Caton.
The Welsh Cup tie will be played at Merthyr on Saturday, December 3.