BALA Town showed plenty of character as they hit back from two goals down against Airbus UK Broughton to earn a 3-3 draw on the Maes Tegid 3G pitch, with Mike Hayes snatching their dramatic equaliser with just two minutes to go.

Kevin Monteiro’s brace inside the first half an hour gave the Lakesiders a mountain to climb, but not long after the second period had began, Lee Hunt converted a penalty to bring them back into the game.

Airbus, however, were awarded a penalty of their own just minutes later and Matty McGinn restored a two-goal cushion.

Hunt scored again after 75 minutes to set up a nervy finish, and as Bala threw everything at the Wingmakers in pursuit of the equaliser Hayes netted the equaliser, to the clear delight of the home supporters.

Bala began brightly in the October rain-showers, with a dipping volley from Nathan Burke being saved by keeper Ryan Neild, and Conall Murtagh flicking a header inches over from a corner.

At the other end, however, Ashley Morris kept out Matty McGinn’s 35 yard free kick as Airbus settled into the match.

They made the breakthrough on 26 minutes when Monteiro curled the ball into the bottom left corner of the net after turning Anthony Stephens from 12 yards out.

Monteiro suddenly doubled Airbus’ lead five minutes later when he turned brilliantly on the spot, and then powered the ball into the back of Morris’s net.

Before the break, Tony Gray blazed over from 18 yards, and the Lakesiders had a mountain to climb in the second half.

Bala hit back on 51 minutes when Kieran Smith was bundled over in the box and referee Kris Hames to point to the spot.

For the second game in succession, Hunt stepped up and even though Nield got a touch, there was enough power to score.

The Wingmakers, however, quickly added a third goal when Davie Thompson handled in the box and McGinn blasted into the left hand side of the Bala goal.

Hayes, Ryan Edwards and Mark Connolly all came on for Bala, and when Hayes was clattered in the box it seemed like a stonewall penalty, but play continued.

Kieran Smith then had a golden opportunity when he burst into the penalty box, but he fired wide from an acute angle.

Town threw caution to the wind in the final 20 minutes, and Hunt saw his shot palmed away from seven yards, with the ball falling to Smith, who fired wide.

Connolly saw his free-kick from 25 yards pushed out for a corner, from which Murtagh then glanced wide of the target.

Bala’s perseverance finally paid off on 75 minutes when good work from Edwards and Thompson initially led to Smith’s effort cleared for a corner. The ball was sent in and Hunt managed to flick the ball over the line amongst the melee of players.

Bala pushed on and could have been level after 85 minutes, when Smith’s stunning strike was tipped over by Nield.

With two minutes to go, however, Hayes managed to get his head onto the ball following an almighty scramble, and blasted into the net to snatch a valuable point.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, R Valentine, A Stephens, S J Jones, C Murtagh, M Jones (R Edwards 62), R Wade (M Hayes 62), D Thompson, N Burke (M Connolly 75), K Smith, L Hunt. Substitute not used: I Sheridan

AIRBUS UK: R Neild, J Hulley, P Connolly, J Spittle, M McGinn (J Malden 89), A Williams, R Edwards, K Monteiro, T Gray, J Murphy, J Menagh (B Jackson 46). Subs not used: D Doherty, C Doran (gk), R Hewitt. Att: 262.