Bala Town suffered penalty-shoot-out hearbreak as they missed out on another Europa League adventure in an action-packed play-off final against Cardiff Metropolitan University at Maes Tegid.

Henry Jones had fired the Lakesiders in front on 20 minutes, but the Archers were level just four minutes later through Eliot Evans, and the deadlock continued.

Both sides struck the woodwork in extra time, but an evenly poised clash was to be decided on a spot kick shoot-out.

The Lakesiders missed three kicks, before Eliot Evans fired home the decisive penalty to take the Cardiff students into Europe for the first time in their history.

Their victory will see them join Connah’s Quay and Barry Town in the Europa League this summer, and they will pick up at least £190,00 as their reward.

An exciting start to the lucrative showdown saw a header at the back post from Met’s left-back Joel Edwards being cleared off the line by Sean Smith, and Eliot Evans also had a close-range effort saved by Bala keeper Keighan Jones.

At the other end, a mistake in building out from the back by the Archers saw Henry Jones pounce and pick the ball away from Chris Baker, before letting fly from 25 yards, but Will Fuller saved well.

Met’s Adam Roscrow then had a good chance as Eliot Evans did well on the right flank to beat his man and get a cross into the unmarked number nine, but his header rattled against the post from five yards out and the home side were let off.

Bala, however, began to take control of the game, culminating in Henry Jones prodding them ahead after 20 minutes with an instinctive finish to make it 1-0. Nathan Burke’s looping cross was flicked on by Kieran Smith, and livewire Jones fired the ball in from close range.

It didn’t take the visitors long to respond, however, as a beautiful ball by Joel Edwards over the top found Will Evans free on the left flank. He cut inside and fired a low cross into the path of Eliot Evans, who equalised from close range.

Bala pushed forward and Hayes was unable to capitalise on a scramble in the area and then Sean Smith went close to connecting with Keiran Smith’s cross. Before the break, Kieran Smith almost put Bala back in front, but he hit the side-netting after good play by the home side.

Both sides then battled hard for supremecy at the start the second half, with the Lakesiders being the strongest early on. Hayes set up Jones, but Fuller pushed the ball away, and then Kieran Smith found some space on the edge of the box to shoot low to the far corner, but keeper Fuller just managed to palm it clear.

Dan Spencer came on for Met to change the emphasis of the play for the visiting side, and he got inside of Sean Smith on the right wing to cross towards the far post, but Will Evans stuck a foot out instead of his head, which allowed Jones to come out and punch the ball clear.

With both sides struggling to find fluency to their game, Met had a couple of decent chances at the end of regular time.

Eliot Evans dribbled past three defenders down the left wing before getting into a great position to cut a ball back, only to go for the shot himself and win a corner.

Chris Baker went closer still when his free header from the resulting set-piece hit the woodwork, but the Lakesiders were let off - and to extra time it went.

The first half of extra time saw a lot of tired legs up front and the defences dominating, but Met had a golden chance to make it 2-1 with minutes to go in the first half of extra time as Chris Baker rose highest at the back post to meet a corner but he again headed against the bar.

For Bala, Danny Gosset fired narrowly wide and Mike Hayes saw a chance from the edge of the penalty box soar over.

Anthony Stephens looked destined to send Bala ahead in the second period of extra time as Evan Horwood and Chris Venables combined to tee the latter up to shoot from 20 yards low to Fuller’s right, but the keeper saved well at full stretch.

The woodwork came to Met’s rescue as Mike Hayes and Stuart Jones both headed against the bar from Horwood’s free-kick, but the Archers somehow held on.

For the first time ever a European Playoff final went to penalties, and the Bala keeper saved from Kyle McCarthy, before Fuller saved from Nathan Burke.

Dylan Rees then converted for Met, but Chris Venables fired his effort over. Will Evans then saw his penalty saved by Jones, but Fuller also continued his heroics when he saved from Mike Hayes.

Emlyn Lewis and Anthony Stephens both converted their spot kicks, before Eliot Evans stepped up and he powered home the decisive penalty to ensure that the Archers triumphed 3-1 from the spot.

BALA TOWN: K Jones, A Burns, S Smith, A Miley, S Jones, D Gosset (A Stephens 105 minutes), N Burke, C Venables, K Smith, H Jones (E Horwood 102 minutes), M Hayes. Subs not used: 19. S Kelly, S J Jones, R Valentine.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, D Rees, K McCarthy, B Woolridge, E Lewis, E Evans, C Baker, A Roscrow (B Flay 99’), W Evans, J Edwards, R Morgan (D Spencer 60’). Subs not used: I Evans, L Black, T Parker, A Lang (gk), D Phillips.

Attendance: 623. Referee: Dean John.