BALA Town bowed out of the Uefa Europa League with a 2-0 defeat to Swedish club AIK at Rhyl on Thursday night - but the Lakesiders could take plenty of heart from another committed performance.

Denni Avdic and Carlos Strandberg struck in the first half to seal AIK’s victory at the Corbett Sports Stadium, although Bala worked hard to ensure they finished the game with their heads held high.

Already two goals down from the away leg in Stockholm, the Lakesiders faced a massive test against a professional club that has reached the Europa League group stage in recent years.

With a 300 strong visiting support behind them, the Swedish full-timers pressed Bala’s defence from the start, with Tony Davies and Stuart Jones called on to make crucial clearances early on.

Bala, however, worked their way forward, and Mark Connolly won a corner that was swung in by Nathan Burke - but the threat was dealt comfortably with.

A foul on Connolly in the middle of the park then saw Keiran Smith deliver a ball into the penalty area for Stuart Jones, who headed into the arms of Patrik Carlgren.

Despite a bright start from last season’s Welsh Premier League runners-up, it was AIK who took the lead on eight minutes when striker Avdic, who has been capped for Sweden at senior level, pounced on a half clearance to score from a tight angle.

The AIK players oozed class with their fluid style of football, but Bala battled to frustrate them, and Mark Jones saw his header saved by Carlgren from a corner.

A promising move involving Smith, Burke and Ian Sheridan then led to a shot across the face of goal, before Burke also forced a save from the visiting keeper.

AIK, however, were always very dangerous on the counter-attack, and home goalkeeper Ashley Morris saved striker Carlos Strandberg’s effort, after Davies had partially blocked his initial effort.

Swedish Under-21 international Strandberg was not to be denied - and on 24 minutes he danced through the defence, played a neat one-two and lifted the ball over Morris to double their advantage.

Bala refused to let their heads drop, and Smith struck a low drive from 25 yards wide, and within minutes Connolly and Stuart Jones went close inside the box.

At the other end, Morris saved from Johnan Blomberg - but Sheridan then had a half chance hacked away, and Anthony Stephens saw an effort go wide of goal.

It was also a bright start to the second half by the Lakesiders, and a quick break by Sheridan saw him arrive in space, but he was unable to pick out a teammate.

Stephens was then deemed offside from Davies’ ball, but at the other end livewire Strandberg raced through the Bala defence, but Morris brillinatly denied him with his out streched leg to force a corner.

AIK passed the ball around with confidence, but the Lakesiders had tightened up from the away leg, and the Swedes were unable to create clear openings.

Meanwhile good work by summer signing Jamie Crowther and Jones then led to a corner from Burke, but Bala failed to capitalise, and the visitors broke away.

In the closing minutes, AIK were awarded a free-kick 25 years out, but Amin Affane, who had opened the scoring in the first leg, saw his powerful strike pushed over by Morris - and the second leg ended with the same scoreline as the first.

It had been a closer match than in Stockholm, with AIK being limited to five attempts on target - as opposed to 20 in the away leg - and Colin Caton’s side will now focus on their next Welsh Premier League campaign with real optimism.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, R Valentine, A Stephens, S Jones, SJ Jones, M Connolly, M Jones (D Thompson 65), I Sheridan, K Smith (M Hayes 74), T Davies (J Crowther 65), N Burke. Subs: C Vernon, C Murtagh, S Fisher.

Referee: Fedayi San (SUI). Attendance: 887