BALA Town maintained their good form as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with high-flying Barry Town United at Maes Tegid, with the visitors losing pole position in the JD Cymru Premier table.

Henry Jones gave the Lakesiders the lead, but Keyon Reffell levelled for unbeaten Barry, who drop down to second spot, beneath Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Another tough test awaits Colin Caton’s side on Friday as they travel to face The New Saints, who moved two points above them into third place last weekend.

Against early front-runners Barry, Louis Robles had seen his header saved by keeper George Radcliffe after eight minutes, and when Chris Venables capitalised on a mistake by Barry at the back, he squared for Louis Robles seven yards out, but the ball was hacked away.

Bala made the breakthrough on 18 minutes when a corner taken quickly by Nathan Burke, which picked out an unmarked Henry Jones and he slotted a first time effort into the bottom left corner.

The visitors responded positively and Kayne McLaggon’s half-volley from the edge of the box was saved by Ashley Morris - but Bala were still seeing plenty of the ball and were creating chances.

Henry Jones flicked a header wide of the upright for the Lakesiders and he then also fired just past the post, after good work by Andy Burns on the wing.

Clayton Green superb strike was brilliantly pushed away by Morris to deny the visitors at the other end, but as the board for extra time went up, Barry managed their all-important crucial leveller.

A quick break from the visitors saw play switched from right to left, and the ball was delivered into the box for Reffell to slot home to make it 1-1 at the break.

The second half was keenly contested and Barry almost took the lead early in the second period when they were awarded a free kick, and Sion Spence’s strike rocketed against the goal post.

Momodou Touray also fired narrowly wide of the post from the edge of the box for the visitors, prior to Radcliffe gathering Jones’ effort down the other end.

The Lakesiders went closer still when a corner was cleared into Robles’ path, and his attempt looked on target until a deflection at the last moment took it wide.

Sean Smith then provided an excellent run forward and found Jones, who struck the ball first time, but it lacked power and the effort was claimed by keeper Ratcliffe.

Then, in the final five minutes, Bala had two golden chances to get all three points.

The impressive Lassana Mendes firstly pounced on a lapse of concentration at the back to force the ball forward to Venables, but it was pushed around the post.

Mendes also put the ball over the crossbar from six yards out as an entertaining top of the table battle ended all square.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Burns, S Smith, A Stephens, N Burke, H Jones (S Leslie 86 minutes), K Smith, L Robles, S Kelly, L Mendes, C Venables. Substitutes not used: J Spittle, L Molyneux, E Horwood.

BARRY TOWN UNITED: G Ratcliffe, C Hugh, L Cooper, K McLaggon (J Compton 83’), D Fahiya (J Hood 68’), L Cummings, K Reffell, M Touray (E Phipps 90’+2), S Spence, C Green, E Press. Subs not used: M Lewis (gk), R Abbruzzese, J Pascoe. Ref: M Petch. Att:243.