BALA Town were unable to reproduce their thrilling 3-1 win at Rhyl three days earlier as the two sides battled out a goalless stalemate in difficult conditions at Maes Tegid on New Year’s Day.

The four points gained kept Bala flying high in fourth place in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League, ahead of their midweek clash with Carmarthen and another home clash against Haverfordwest on Saturday.

The Lakesiders started well with Anthony Stephens seeing his shot blocked following a free kick, before Lee Hunt ran at keeper Terry McCormick from David Thompson’s delivery, but was beaten to the ball.

Kieran Smith also tried a shot from distance, but Rhyl came into the game and ensured that home keeper Ashley Morris was the busier of the two shot stoppers.

Two successive one-handed saves, one low to his left and another tipped onto the bar ensured that Morris denied John Owen and then saw Dean Keates curl a terrific 25 yard effort over the crossbar.

Another outstanding save by home keeper Morris after 27 minutes again kept Rhyl at bay, but down the other end Ian Sheridan saw McCormick off his goal-line but he couldn’t get his shot on target.

Bala were dealt a blow before half-time when Rob Pearson hobbled off with a suspected groin injury, and the visiting side ended the half in the ascendancy.

The Lakesiders, however, also had their chances as a move from midfield released Hunt, who was deemed offside, before Connor Bell for Rhyl was also pulled back on the other side as he broke forward.

Sheridan curled a shot from 25 yards narrowly wide of the far post, before Morris was again forced to tip another chance from the visitors over the crossbar.

A minute before the break, the Lakesiders were awarded a freekick, but Hunt’s overhead kick went wide of the post.

The second half was an open affair, but Bala seemed to be second to every ball, and a Rhyl freekick on 55 minutes took a deflection and allowed Morris to gather.

Bala, however,had a great chance to take the lead on the hour mark when Hunt connected onto a Mark Jones ball and looped the ball goalwards - but his header lacked power and was saved.

A Rhyl attack down the left saw a cross delivered into the box, which Ben Maher headed towards the top corner, but Morris got a hand to the ball, even though he saw it late, to maintain a clean sheet.

At the other end,, Hunt went through on goal and only had McCormick to beat but unfortunately failed to connect.

Thompson also delivered a great ball towards Mike Hayes in the closing minutes, but the visitors cleared the ball away to safety as the match ended goalless.

Read the full report in the Meirionnydd edition