ANDY MORRISON questioned the fixture schedule as Connah’s Quay Nomads maintained their four-point lead at the summit on an entertaining night in the top-tier.

Nomads twice squandered the lead to draw 2-2 at third placed Bala, but Morrison and his men were handed a huge boost as Barry Town United fought back from two down to draw at title rivals The New Saints.

And Morrison suggested that making Gavin Chesterfield’s Barry make a three-hour 130-plus mile trip to full-time Saints on a Friday night was unfair.

“We were hoping to get something from the game,” said Morrison. “When Barry Town have to travel, on a Friday afternoon, 130 miles to TNS, a full-time team when the Barry boys have been working all day - I expected TNS to win the game.

“In the interest of fair play, I have no idea how anyone within the authorities who does the fixture lists, can create that on a Friday night when we are all fighting for our lives trying to get European places, or trying to push on and maybe win the league.

“For one of the main rivals to be made to travel up on a Friday night, beggars belief to me.

“To still be four points clear (is great), because I banked on a TNS win.”

Morrison wasn’t best pleased to have conceded twice as Chris Venables and Kieran Smith cancelled out efforts from Michael Wilde and Jamie Insall to earn Bala, who had Louis Robles sent-off late on, a point.

“We are ahead twice and we can’t draw that game with our principles, philosophy and the way we go about things,” he continued. “To concede two goals is disappointing.”

And although disappointed with his side’s defending for the goals, Morrison felt the second one could have been avoided.

“The frustration with the second goal is tinged with a bit of expectation, because coming into the game I had my concerns,” said Morrison. “We played Carmarthen last year and there was a phantom foul in the second-half, which was acknowledged by the authorities as no foul, that changed the course of the game and affected our season.

“We were 2-1 up and Callum Morris has gone across to go shoulder-to-shoulder with a player and he’s given a yellow card.

“It will need to be shown on Sgorio and it needs to be explained how that can be a foul. It’s not a yellow card, it’s not even a foul but a great bit of play from our player.

“The ball goes into our box, yes we have to defend the situation better, but if you keep giving the opposition opportunities to put the ball in the box and it’s out of your hands, it’s going to be a difficult night.

“When you see it, there’s no logic to how a foul can be given.”

Dean Ebbe’s quickfire brace looked to have earned The New Saints all three points against Barry, but Luke Cummings set up a tense finish, during which Aeron Edwards scored a 93rd minute own goal to dent Scott Ruscoe’s side’s title challenge.

Caernarfon managed to steal a march on Newtown in the battle for fifth by recording a 3-1 win.

George Harry gave Newtown an interval lead, but Gareth Evans (2) and Nathan Craig turned the game in Caernarfon’s favour in the second period.