A SECOND half strike by Chris Venables gave Bala Town a lifeline in their Europa League first qualifying round tie against Liechtenstein side FC Vaduz at Rhyl - after the Lakesiders had found themselves two goals down at the half-time interval.

The skipper pounced to score after Kieran Smith’s shot was spilled by Peter Jehle in the visiting goal, and Bala will travel for the return leg at the Rheinpark Stadium with renewed optimism next week.

Things had looked bleak at half-time on a gloomy evening at Belle Vue as the second-tier Swiss League outfit took charge of the tie with quick-fire doubles through Gonzalo Zarate and Maurice Brunner.

Colin Caton’s men, however, showed plenty of spirit to battle back in the second half, with Venables reducing the arrears, before Stuart Jones almost snatched a late equaliser when he headed just wide at the far post from Nathan Burke’s free-kick.

The Lakesiders had been punished by two lapses in concentration midway through the first half, but Caton was also left to count the cost of missed chances.

“I don’t think we started the game very well - we were very flat and wary of knowing the opposition,” he commented.

“We still had good chances, and a blatant penalty when Kieran [Smith] has gone through, and has been pulled back.They had two chances in the first half, and that’s the difference at this level.

“It’s a bit frustrating really as we have had the better chances. But if we can get the first goal out there, it’s an away goal, and they will be in a sticky situation.

“They were panicking towards the end here. It frustrates me, because we have done ever so well, but you have to take chances when they come at this level.”

The match had started at a high tempo, with Diego Ciccone missing the target for Vaduz, and Bala having to defend a couple of corners, before at the other end Venables picked out new singing Les Davies, but the striker was flagged offside.

A few minutes later Bala appealed for a penalty when Kieran Smith was bundled over in the box, but referee Alain Durieux of Luxembourg ignored their appeals.

Bala were growing in confidence, and following an Antony Stephens free kick, Smith saw his effort blocked away, before a scramble in the penalty box following Nathan Burke’s corner saw chances for Venables and Davies scrambled away.

A run down the left by Ian Sheridan saw David Thompson deliver the ball into the area, but Lee Owens couldn’t connect cleanly, and the ball was cleared away.

The best chance of the half for Bala then saw Smith meet a perfectly timed cross from Burke, but Jehle palmed it away.

Bala, however, were hit by a sucker punch as a break down the left saw Marco Mathys set up the influential Zarate, to fire into the roof of the net on 21 minutes.

With Bala still reeling, Vaduz doubled their lead on half an hour when a lapse in concentration allowed Ciccone to set up Brunner to fire home into an empty net.

Further chances for the visitors saw a Maurice Brunner effort blocked, and from a Ciccone corner Tomislav Puljic had an effort on goal, and Zarete was off-target.

At the other end a half chance saw Venables break into the box, but couldn’t quite find Sheridan, just before the interval.

Tempers flared early in the second half as first Brunner was penalised for a foul on Stephens, and then Smith conceded a free-kick for a challenge on Puljic, resulting in Smith and Zarete being carded.

Bala stepped things up, and striker Davies had a shot blocked, before Stephens missed the target and Smith had an effort on goal, as the Lakesiders got closer still.

Their breakthrough arrived on 62 minutes as Smith saw his initial shot blocked after connecting with a cross from the left, and Venables was there to coolly slot home and re-ignite the Lakesiders’ hopes.

With the Welsh Cup winners now on top, Stephens whipped in a corner and Sheridan brilliantly brought the ball down on his chest and struck first time from 18 yards, but the ball flew just wide.

Venables also saw his low shot blocked, but Vaduz weathered the storm and at the other end Marco Mathys had a shot blocked, and also fired wide of the goal.

Then, with five minutes left, Bala almost snatched an equaliser when Burke swung in a free kick, and Jones somehow headed just wide, with the goal at his mercy.

Bala will feel there is still plenty to play for out in Liechtenstein next Thursday, with Norwegian outfit Odd - or Northern Irish side Ballymena United - awaiting the winners in the second qualifying round.

BALA TOWN: Morris, Owens, S Jones, SJ Jones, Thompson, Sheridan, Stephens, Burke, Smith, Venables, Davies (Hayes 85 minutes). Unused Substitutes: Vernon (GK); Valentine; Murtagh; Connolly; Wade; Bell.

FC VADUZ: Jehle; von Niederhäusern, Bühler (Konrad 46), Puljic, Borgmann: Zarate (Kamber 72), Muntwiler, Ciccone, Brunner (Burgmeier 91), Mathys, Turkes. Unused Subs: Majer (GK); Jüllich; Felfel; Göppel.