KIERAN Smith netted a crucial equaliser as Bala denied high-flying Connah’s Quay the chance to extend their lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier in a 2-2 draw at Maes Tegid on Friday evening.

Michael Wilde had put the visitors ahead after just two minutes with a powerful header, but Chris Venables soon levelled matters for Bala, before Jamie Insall put Nomads back in front at the interval.

The third-placed Lakesiders were not to be denied in the second half, and Kieran Smith swept home a decisive 78th minute equaliser after reacting quickest in a crowded penalty area to find the net.

An explosive start saw the visitors make an early breakthrough when Wilde’s bullet header from a corner flew into the back of the net with two minutes gone.

The Lakesiders’ response took just five minutes as Sean Smith picked out Oliver Shannon, who found an unmarked Chris Venables to slot home their equaliser.

Kieran Smith and Louis Robles created problems for the Nomads’ defence, and Shannon put another great ball into the area, but Callum Morris made a vital clearance, and Venables also fired wide.

Robles’ quick turn of pace shook off George Horan and allowed Shannon to shoot at keeper Lewis Brass, before Anthony Stephens also fired past the post. A fantastic counter-attack then saw a pin-point cross from the right find Venables, but he glanced his header wide.

Five minutes before the break, however, Quay were back in front as Craig Curran’s ball in was looped into the net by Insall to earn the visitors an interval lead.

Bala stepped up in the second half, and after seeing a penalty claim waved away, Andrew Burns set up Steven Leslie but his strike from distance flew over the bar.

With both sides battling on, home keeper Josh Tibbetts had to deal with a scramble in the box from Michael Bakare’s corner kick, and saved Insall’s header after he had denied Curran a minute earlier.

With 12 minutes left, the Lakesiders finally got their reward as Burns’ free kick on the halfway line was flicked on by Stephens into the path of Smith, and he slotted under keeper Brass to make it 2-2.

Brass also denied Smith after the restart, and although Robles was sent off for dissent the Lakesiders held firm for a point.

BALA TOWN: J Tibbetts, A Burns, S Smith, A Stephens, N Burke, K Smith, S Leslie (L Mendes 82’), L Robles, S Kelly, O Shannon, C Venables. Subs not used: H Lloyd (gk), S Sullivan, J Spittle, L Molyneux, M Hayes.

CONNAH’S QUAY: L Brass, G Horan, D Harrison, M Bakare (C Morris 76’ [S Singh-Dool 89’]), M Wilde, J Insall, D Poole, D Holmes, K Owens, C Curran, Subs not used: E Merner (gk), J Disney, P Farquharson, J Owen, H Owen. Referee: B Markham-Jones. Att: 303.