BALA Town maintained their grip on runners-up position in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League as they shared the spoils with rivals Gap Connah’s Quay for the third time this season.

A late Ryan Wignall strike snatched a 1-1 draw for third-placed Nomads at Maes Tegid, but the Lakesiders remained six points clear of them, albeit having played one more match.

Ryan Wade had given Bala a 74th-minute lead, and Chris Venables rattled the visitors’ crossbar, before Wignall levelled from the edge of the box, to leave the rivals for an automatic Europa League spot all square.

The Nomads had started strongly and early chances saw a Wes Baynes delivery cleared by Conall Murtagh, and Matty Williams strike wide, before a series of corners were cleared by Bala.

Nathan Woolfe and Wes Baynes put in plenty of crosses for the visitors, with Stuart Jones blocking a goalbound effort, and Ashley Morris denying Mike Wilde after a scramble in the box.

Bala grew into the game and a slick move saw John Irving’s crossfield ball fall to Jordan Evans, who laid the ball first time to Wade, but keeper John Danby was quick off his line to clear.

A neat move down the left led to Irving’s shot being deflected out for a corner, before a teasing low cross from Wade flashed across the face of goal, and Venables saw his volley blocked by Sean Smith from close in.

Anthony Stephens fired wide after finding a pocket of space 25 yards out, before a sudden break from Evans caught the visitors napping, but it went unrewarded.

Early in the second half, Morris made a fantastic double save to keep out substitute Ryan Wignall, but at the other end a half volley from Evans soared over, and a quick move by the Lakesiders led to Stephens’ blazing wide of the upright.

Bala broke the deadlock on 74 minutes when a brilliant move on the right was held up by Keiran Smith, who crossed for Wade, and he placed the ball past Danby from eight yards out.

The goal lifted the Lakesiders, who had their best spell of the game as they looked to double their tally.

Jones headed over from 12 yards out from Stephens’ corner, before Wade was brought down by Horan on the edge of the penalty box and a superb strike from Venables rattled the crossbar.

A minute later Wade also hit the base of the post after breaking into the penalty box - but three minutes from time, Quay were level.

A scramble in the box came to Wignall, whose low strike took a deflection and swerved into the bottom corner for their equaliser, to ensure that a point was heading back to Deeside.

Despite the setback, the Lakesiders maintained second place with six games left, starting with a trip to take on newly-crowned champions The New Saints at Park Hall this Saturday.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Stephens, S Jones, S J Jones, J Irving, C Murtagh, R Wade, C Venables, D Thompson, J Evans, K Smith. Subs: R Goldston (g), Valentine, W Bell, M Jones, M Hayes, I Sheridan.

CONNAH’S QUAY: J Danby, W Baynes (M Williams 64), G Horan, K Edwards, S Smith, D Harrison, M Williams, N Woolfe (R Wignal 46), M Wilde, J Owen (L Davies 77), C Morris. Subs: L Davies, R Wignall, L Short, J Disney,M Owen, J Wynne, J van Schie.

Att: 224. Ref: B Markham-Jones