BALA Town held out for a hard-earned 1-1 draw at last season’s fellow Europa League qualifiers, despite having to play most of the second half with just 10 players at the Deeside Stadium.

The Lakesiders had got off to a flyer when ex-Nomad Mike Hayes put them ahead after just three minutes - with their first league goal in open play this season.

It was also the first Welsh Premier goal conceded by the hosts in 585 minutes.

Sub Dave Thompson, however, got his marching orders on 72 minutes for an elbow, and the home pressure finally told when Ryan Valentine brought down Wes Baynes, and Matty Williams stepped forward to equalise from the penalty spot.

After Hayes had drove home the opening goal from Mark Connolly’s assist in the opening minutes, Bala continued to create chances, with Connolly and Hayes forcing keeper John Danby to clear twice.

A cross from Connall Murtagh also required Lewis Short to head away, and Lee Owens saw a 25 yard effort fly over the bar in another good effort by the visitors.

Bala had a penalty shout waved away when Owens appeared to handle in the box, but Nomads almost capitalised at the other end when Callum Morris won a corner from which Nathan Woolfe shot wide.

Their best chance came when Michael Wilde squared a dangerous ball to Les Davies, whose effort was scooped clear by the impressive Bala defender Stuart Jones.

A good save by keeper Alex Lynch denied Tom Field from 18 yards, and he also kept out efforts from Davies and Short.

Just a minute into the second half Lynch then made an incredible reaction save to deny Wilde from six yards, and the former TNS striker then fired the rebound wide.

Then in the 51st minute David Thompson, who had come on for the injured Ryan Wade, was shown a straight red for an apparent off-the-ball elbow to substitute Sean Smith, to boost Nomads’ hopes.

It was backs to the wall for the remaining 40 minutes, and two superb goal line clearances from Bala defender Jones somehow denied Davies and Callum Morris.

The Lakesiders had a great opportunity to go 2-0 ahead when Mike Hayes broke on the counter attack to pick out former Nomad Ryan Edwards, but he was unable to control the ball the chance was lost.

Connolly’s free-kick from 25 yards out blazed over the bar, but then the Nomads had a goal disallowed when Davies headed into the net, only to see his goal ruled out for a foul committed by Wilde.

Edwards then found Connolly in plenty of space, but his shot was blocked and the follow up attempt was then hacked away.

Matty Williams replaced Tom Field for the Nomads, and within four minutes he had converted the penalty to equalise, after Baynes was fouled by Valentine.

Bala, however, could have retaken the lead from the restart when Edwards ran down the flank and gave a perfect ball to Hayes, but his strike was direct at Danby.

The Lakesiders’ defensive line put their bodies on the line, but a spectacular lob from 45 yards from Bala’s Chris Venables narrowly dipped over Danby’s net in injury time as Bala came away with a point.

GAP CONNAH’S QUAY: J Danby, J Disney, D Harrison, T Field (M Williams 72), L Davies, C Morris, N Woolfe, J Owen (S Payne 59), W Baynes, L Short, (S Smith 50) M Wilde. Subs not used: N Rushton, M Owen, J Manley (gk).

BALA TOWN: A Lynch, R Valentine, A Stephens, S Jones, L Owens, C Murtagh, M Connolly, R Wade (D Thompson 40), N Burke (R Edwards 60), C Venables, M Hayes (M Jones 84). Subs: A Morris (gk), S Fisher.Attendance 166.