A deflected Ryan Wignall strike gave gap Connah’s Quay Nomads a 1-1 draw at Bala Town in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League on Friday evening.       

• The Nomads performed well in the first half but couldn’t break the deadlock
• A 74th minute Wade goal sent Bala Town ahead
• Ryan Wignall’s 88th minute strike went in off Connall Murtagh and brought The Nomads level
• The result keeps Nomads in the race for Europe

The game was anticipated as key in deciding European qualification as second-placed Bala Town hosted third-placed Nomads.  The Nomads started the likes of Michael Wilde and Nathan Woolfe with captain George Horan returning from suspension.  Bala announced a line up including key players Kieran Smith and Chris Venables.

In the opening stages of the fixture, the visiting Nomads started well and launched a number of attacks on the Bala end.  Matty Williams struck wide on eight minutes, before The Nomads forced two corners in the 10th which were cleared by the Bala defence.

The Nomads continued to apply pressure on Bala with Baynes and Woolfe creating good chances through crosses from the wings. George Horan meanwhile worked hard to keep Bala’s chances minimal making a number of high quality defensive headers.

Although The Nomads created chances they failed to find a clinical finish, and Bala grew into the game to ensure a fast paced end to the first half.  Chris Venables hit a half volley around eight yards from the Nomads goal, but was denied by a superb block from Sean Smith.

Wes Baynes then took a free kick which was blocked by the wall allowing Bala to break and win a corner which was cleared just before the interval.

Both sides looked to make a strong start to the second half, with The Nomads substituting Nathan Woolfe who came off for Ryan Wignall.  He made an immediate impression when he shot at goal from inside the Bala area only for goalkeeper Ashley Morris to save the effort.

With an hour gone the two teams could still not be separated, with The Nomads making another change, bringing Lewis Short on in place of Matty Williams.

Bala broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when a run and well placed cross from Kieran Smith allowed Ryan Wade to strike low past John Danby from around seven yards.  Trailing with just 15 minutes of normal time remaining, The Nomads brought Les Davies on for Jay Owen.

Boosted by their goal, the Lakesiders created more chances when they hit the post twice in two minutes via efforts from Venables and Wade - chance that could have sealed the win for the home side.

On 88 minutes however, Ryan Wignall found himself space in a crowded Bala area and with the help of a Connall Murtagh deflection struck low into the bottom left corner of the goal to equalise.  The Nomads and Bala pushed hard to find a winner in the three additional minutes of injury time, but at full time the score stood at 1-1.

The result sees The Nomads keep themselves in the race for Europe, staying third and six points away from Bala in second.  They now move onto a Dafabet Welsh Premier League fixture against Cardiff Met, taking place at Deeside with a 2:30pm kick off on Saturday 11 March.

Match report by Will Catterall