Bala Town 1 TNS 1

TEN man TNS were denied glory at Bala Town as Dean Ebbe’s penalty miss ensured the home side a point.

TNS arrived with intent having fallen behind in the title race and led on 11 minutes with Blaine Hudson marking his return from injury by heading home Chris Seargeant’s corner.

Ryan Brobbel twice went close from the edge of the area as TNS continued their bright start before the fate of the game swung in the hosts favour on 34 minutes when Chris Marriott earned a red card following a rash challenge on Henry Jones.

Both sides had chances at the end of the half with Chris Venables going close for Bala before Brobbel fired over.

The Lakesiders dominated the start of the second-half with Steve Tames firing over from close range.

The pressure continued with Nathan Burke’s shot deflected wide before the Saints survived a goalmouth scramble from the resulting corner as Bala pressed their numerical advantage.

On 66 minutes the home side finally restored parity with Jones’ cross powerfully met by Tames to head beyond goalkeeper Paul Harrison.

The Saints looked to immediately respond and just five minutes later referee Nick Pratt handed them a lifeline with a penalty awarded after Jamie Mullan was brought down in the area.

However Ebbe’s penalty was superbly saved by home goalkeeper Ashley Morris.

The remainder of the encounter proved a frantic affair as both sides sought the winner.

Former TNS midfielder Danny Gossett almost returned to haunt his former club by rattling the bar from 20 yards with 10 minutes remaining while Kieron Smith curled inches wide as Bala pressed.

Meanwhile Aeron Edwards was denied by a desperate tackle from Stuart Jones at the other end as the math ended all square and TNS fell further behind Connahs Quay Nomads and Barry Town United in a shock title race.

TNS: Harrison, Spender, Marriott, Cabango, Holland, Seargeant (Lewis 54), Brobbel, Hudson, Mullan, Ebbe (Byrne 62), Edwards. Subs: Hmami, Draper, Dutton, Nembhard.

Att 242

Second-half