Connah’s Quay and Bala Town took a share of the points as they kicked off Phase 2 of the JD Welsh Premier League with a gritty 1-1 draw.
Just two points separated the two teams prior to the game and there was little to suggest any difference in quality between them in an encounter which was hindered by unfavourable playing conditions.
A strong swirling wind around the Deeside Stadium and a poor playing surface did little to contribute to the game which was scrappy throughout.
Michael Bakare did well to steady himself and fire home through a crowded goalmouth to give Connah’s Quay the lead midway through the first-half.
Connah’s Quay felt they had a strong claim for penalty when recent signing Andy Owens was sent tumbling inside the penalty area but referee Kevin Parry thought overwise.
Bala threatened to equalise on the stroke of half-time but Mike Hayes skewed his shot over the bar from just yards out in what was a rare sight of goal for the Lakesiders.
Bakare almost added a second after the restart for Connah’s Quay when his free-kick from the edge of the area was tipped over. But Bala Town replied in style on the hour mark when ex-Nomad Lewis Short received Chris Venables’ through ball to send a crisp first-time effort past John Danby.
Connah’s Quay boss Andy Morrison rued the first-half penalty decision that went against his team: “In one of our last games we had one of the most pathetic penalty decisions given against us that you’ll ever see, there were three or four contacts on Andy Owen. How long does he have to run before he’s mauled down from behind as the lad’s got the wrong side of him?”
“We worked in training on Tuesday at holding highlines and starting positions and I thought the lads were fantastic. Everything that was thrown at us we dealt with but one man switching off costs us the game,” Morrison added.
“You’ve got four clubs battling it out for second in the league so it’s going to be tough, every game is going to be competitive and every game is going to be of that intensity,”
