BALA Town were left fuming as a hotly disputed late winning goal from Kayne McLaggon handed Barry Town a controversial 3-2 win at Jenner Park, in a match that saw the Lakesiders finish the match with just eight men.

McLaggon parried a cross from Clayton Green into the back of the net with his left arm, and despite appeals for handball from the visitors, the winning goal was awarded by referee Nick Pratt.

Evan Horwood was then red-carded for allegedly protesting at the decision, and minutes later Venables was also shown red for dissent as tempers boiled over.

Venables had earlier seen a goal cancelled out by replies from Jonathan Hood and Thomas Fry, but the midfielder appeared to have salvaged a point when he headed home with eight minutes to go.

With Sean Smith being the first Bala player to be given his marching orders for a late challenge, it was an afternoon to forget for the Lakesiders, who now have three suspensions ahead of Friday’s match with Cefn Druids at Maes Tegid.

There was no inclination of what was to come in the opening period, and Henry Jones had fired wide from a couple of set pieces, before whipping in a free kick which an unmarked Chris Venables headed home past keeper Mike Lewis.

Barry then came into the game, forcing a chance for Mamodou Touray, which the forward failed to connect with cleanly. Kieran Smith looked to have been set free for Bala, but good covering work from Chris Hugh stopped him in his tracks, whilst at the other end Tom Fry’s free kick was headed over for a corner.

Barry, however, were level minutes later, when Jonathan Hood rifled a low shot across Morris and into the left corner. McLaggon then went close just before the break. A defensive error by Stuart Jones saw the ball find the forward’s feet, but his angled shot hit the side-netting.

The visitors went in front though before half-time. Tom Fry’s 22 yard free kick had initially sailed over everyone in the box, but referee Nick Pratt had blown the whistle almost immediately to order a retake as he wasn’t ready. Opting for a different approach, Fry went direct and curled the ball into the top left corner.

McLaggon had the ball in the Bala net early on in the second half but it was ruled offside, but at the other end Steven Tames then had a half chance for the visitors when hooking over from close range.

The game then exploded into a frantic finale as Sean Smith was shown a second yellow card with fifteen minutes to go. The Lakesiders, however, then levelled on 82 minutes when Venables again headed in a Jones free kick at the far post.

Just as it looked like they were good for a point though, Barry responded with their winner. McLaggon was on the end of a cross from the left, but he bundled the ball home into the net with his arm.

That was far from the end of the drama though as Bala were reduced to eight men. Horwood was shown a straight red in the aftermath to the goal, and there was still time for Venables to pick up a second yellow and receive his marching orders, before kicking the ball in anger.

BARRY: M Lewis, M Southam-Hales, C Hugh, L Cooper, C Watkins, C Green, T Greening, T Fry (L Gerrard 81’), K McLaggon (D Fahiya 88’), M Touray, J Hood (M George 81’). Subs: L Cosslett, P Morgan, J Baker.

BALA: A Morris, S Jones, A Burns, S Smith, A Miley, H Jones, N Burke (R Pearson 61’), D Gosset (E Horwood 80’), C Venables, S Tames, K Smith (I Sheridan 74’). Subs: S J Jones, M Hayes. Attendance: 432. Referee: Nick Pratt.