Connah’s Quay Nomads 1 Bala Town 1

AN injury-time equaliser from Sameron Dool denied Bala Town all three points in their Cymru Premier curtain-raiser against defending champions Connah’s Quay Nomads at Deeside.

The Lakesiders had led from the 21st minute through Nathan Peate’s first half header, only to be cruelly denied a superb win when Dool’s dramatic 94th minute strike snatched a point for Nomads.

With both sides having to put the anticipation of their respective Europa League second qualifying round ties on hold, it was always going to be a tough match, with this key game being played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Yet, there was no lack of intent from either side and they showed real determination from the start, with a crunching challenge from the Lakesiders’ Sean Smith earning him a yellow card early on.

Both sides battled for supremacy in the evenly-contested opening stages, with Raul Correia showing his strength deep in the Nomads’ half, and giving cause for a penalty shout when he went down.

Bala made the breakthrough, however, on 21 minutes, as a free kick just inside their own half from Jonny Spittle found Peate, whose looping header went over keeper Lewis Brass to open the scoring.

The Nomads responded with Danny Davies firing wide after a strong run, but the Lakesiders’ rearguard remained on top until the interval, and Bala always looking dangerous on the counter-attack.

Steven Leslie swung a neat cross into the back post, where Chris Venables headed back to Lassana Mendes, but his shot curled over - and Bala went closer still as Spittle’s header clipped the post, and the defender recovered to head clear.

Nomads boss Andy Morrison added firepower to his side with a half time substitution that saw top scorer last season, Jamie Insall, replace Callum Morris.

Two corners soon after the restart led to a bicycle kick from Aeron Edwards at close range, which was on target, but blocked in the Bala box on 53 minutes.

Priestley Farquharson had one of the best chances for the hosts on the hour when he headed a dangerous cross from Dool just over the bar - but Bala responded with Will Evans having a penalty shout waved away by referee Lee Evans.

Will Evans then brilliantly read the run of Venables, with a lovely back heel into the path of his captain, but his shot was saved well by keeper Brass at close range.

Bala remained on the front foot and they were looking to take the game away from Nomads as Will Evans’ strike from 20 yards out sailed out for a goal kick.

Venables was also set on a driving run, that saw him clear two defenders, before his cut back in the box evaded everyone, and when Leslie swung the ball into the box, Venables’ header went over the bar.

The Bala skipper also laid the ball onto Correia, but his shot went wide of the goal, and with 10 minutes left, the Lakesiders were still pressing for another goal.

Morrison’s men worked to get the ball inside the Bala end, only to be frustrated by a well-organised defence - although keeper Alex Ramsay had to make a terrific double save after a scramble in the box.

As the Nomads stepped up, they came close to levelling in the 90th minute when a corner kick was headed at close range by Aeron Edwards, only to see keeper Alex Ramsay stop the ball on the line.

Then, Nomads won another corner which was taken by Kris Owens, but cleared by Bala, who looked all but set to take three points home from Deeside.

Disaster finally struck for Bala deep into stoppage time when, on 94 minutes, Sameron Dool received the ball from around 30 yards, before striding forward and curling a sensational 25 yard strike into the top corner of Ramsay’s goal.

It was a cruel blow after a very solid performance from the Lakesiders, who will travel to Belgium to face Standard Liege in their second qualifying round tie in the Europa League on Thursday.

Nomads will meanwhile also move on to their Europa League tie, against Georgian champions Dinamo Tbilisi on Thursday evening at Wrexham’s Racecourse.

CONNAH’S QUAY: L Brass, J Disney, P Farquharson, D Harrison, C Morris, M Wilde, D Holmes, C Curran, S Singh-Dool, D Davies, A Edwards. Subs: C Darling (gk), C Roberts, J Insall, D Poole, J Owen, K Owens, S Williams.

BALA TOWN: A Ramsay, S Smith, N Peate, J Spittle, W Evans, R Correia, S Leslie, A Kay, L Mendes, C Venables, O Shannon. Subs: A Burns, A Stephens, H Jones, K Smith, L Morris.