CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS left it late to salvage a draw but Andy Morrison insists it was the least his side deserved from their opening day showdown against Bala Town.

Sameron Dool equalised with a stunning strike from outside the box in the 94th minute as the defending champions came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Lakesiders in front of the live television cameras at The Deeside Stadium.

The game was played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic and former Cefn Druids defender Nathan Peate put Bala ahead in the 21st minute with a header that beat Nomads goalkeeper Lewis Brass.

Nomads had chances in the second half to get back on level terms but it looked like their title defence had begun with a defeat against Bala side who are also expected to challenge for honours this term.

However, Dool's dramatic equaliser deep into added time rescued a point and manager Morrison felt there could be no complaints.

"I think we deserved something from the game, definitely," Morrison told the official club website.

"If we had lost the game I would have been proud of the lads for the way they stuck at it.

"The goal was totally against the run of play, we were so on top and it really took the stuffing out of us until half-time.

"We had to get to half-time and maybe reshape things a little bit.

"Once you go behind to a Bala team on a slow pitch like that, it is going to be difficult to get back into it and we kept probing, we kept asking questions, we had things cleared off the line.

"We kept going and backs-to-the-wall defending, you're going to struggle to come up against a team as strong as them in those situations.

"I was mindful of that, that going 1-0 down was going to be difficult for us but we stuck at it, we were terrific.

"Great character and a fantastic strike which we deserved. We got a point from it and we deserved that so really pleased.

"Bala will be devastated coming here and almost winning the game but on reflection, we definitely deserved to get something from the game and it will go on to prove to be a very good point against a very good Bala team."

Nomads now face Georgian champions Dinamo Tbilisi on Thursday evening in the Europa League second qualifying round at Wrexham's Racecourse ground.