BIG-MATCH PREVIEW: Will unbeaten runs overshadow title race itself when Colwyn Bay meet Holywell Town?

PREVIEW: JD CYMRU NORTH – MARCH 25

Colwyn Bay v Holywell Town – preview (Saturday 2 pm)

Tomorrow’s much-awaited showdown of the Tier 2 big guns could rightly be described as a crucial battle in the Cymru North title race.

But in many ways the fight to be crowned champions will take second billing when Colwyn Bay entertain Holywell Town at the Four Crosses Construction Arena.

What may carry even more interest on the day is the question which of these great teams’ long winning streaks will finally come to an end?

Will Bay’s astonishing 25-match winning run in the league continue, or could the Wellmen take the honours and boost their record to 23-0?

To have two teams in the one league build such prolific victory sequences in the same season is nothing short of remarkable.

47 straight victories between them – have we even seen this like before in North Wales football?

The fact their first meeting was so early in the campaign – Bay winning 6-1 at Holywell on August 12 – has given both the time to develop lengthy winning records in which each has looked untouchable.

However, the return clash may have arrived just a little late to affect the title race.

Bay are on 76 points from 26 games, while Town have 67 from 25. After tomorrow the big two have three and four matches left respectively.

A Holywell win over the Seagulls would certainly create a few jitters in the Colwyn camp, but even if Johnny Haseldin’s men do get the victory, the title-winning odds would still favour Steve Evans’ side.

Two of Bay’s last three fixtures are against lowly Penrhyncoch home and away. Surely there is a massive chance of the leaders picking up six points from those outings.

Seven points from their last four matches will clinch Bay the title. From a team with 25 wins on the bounce – 75 points out of a possible 75 – surely two more victories and a draw is well within their capability.

Although Holywell would never give up on the title until it was mathematically impossible to win it, one wonders whether ending Bay’s season-long unbeaten streak tomorrow might bring almost as much pleasure as three points towards their title bid.

A draw or a Colwyn Bay win tomorrow and surely the title is in the bag.

A victory for Holywell will keep the drama going a little longer.

I doubt whether the 6-1 triumph for the Seagulls over the Wellmen more than seven months ago will have any bearing on Saturday’s monster tussle.

Holywell have rebuilt completely since then, hardly ever concede and have scored a lot of goals.

It is hard to see a weakness or advantage in either camp; both have performed so awesomely over so many months. Key players in each squad are in deadly form.

Personally, I’ve had a 2-2 draw in my mind for days now and that’s what I’m sticking with for my prediction.

Harder to separate than an elephant trapped in a phone booth.

STATE OF PLAY

Colwyn Bay: Played 26 Points 76 Goal Difference + 74

Matches remaining
March 25: Colwyn Bay v Holywell Town
April 1: Colwyn Bay v Penrhyncoch
April 7: Penrhyncoch v Colwyn Bay
April 15: Colwyn Bay v Llandudno

Holywell Town: Played 25 Points 67 Goal Difference + 43

Matches remaining
March 25: Colwyn Bay v Holywell Town
March 29: Holywell Town v Chirk AAA
April 1: Prestatyn Town v Holywell Town
April 7: Holywell Town v Llandudno
April 10: Holyhead Hotspur v Holywell Town

COLWYN BAY’S PHENOMENAL 25

11 March 2023
Porthmadog 0 Colwyn Bay 2
4 March 2023
Colwyn Bay 2 Chirk AAA 0
25 February 2023
Colwyn Bay 5 Conwy Borough 0
18 February 2023
Mold Alexandra 0 Colwyn Bay 3
11 February 2023
Colwyn Bay 4 Cefn Druids 1
7 February 2023
Colwyn Bay 2 Gresford Athletic 0
4 February 2023
Colwyn Bay 4 Llanidloes Town 2
28 January 2023
Chirk AAA 1 Colwyn Bay 2
20 January 2023
Colwyn Bay 5 Buckley Town 2
6 January 2023
Prestatyn Town 2 Colwyn Bay 3
2 January 2023
Colwyn Bay 6 Guilsfield 0
27 December 2022
Ruthin Town 1 Colwyn Bay 6
11 December 2022
Holyhead Hotspur 0 Colwyn Bay 4
26 November 2022
Gresford Athletic 0 Colwyn Bay 2
18 November 2022
Colwyn Bay 4 Holyhead Hotspur 0
5 November 2022
Llanidloes Town 2 Colwyn Bay 3
29 October 2022
Colwyn Bay 4 Ruthin Town 1
22 October 2022
Guilsfield 2 Colwyn Bay 3
1 October 2022
Colwyn Bay 2 Prestatyn Town 1
23 September 2022
Buckley Town 1 Colwyn Bay 4
6 September 2022
Cefn Druids 1 Colwyn Bay 7
29 August 2022
Colwyn Bay 4 Mold Alexandra 0
26 August 2022
Conwy Borough 0 Colwyn Bay 3
20 August 2022
Colwyn Bay 2 Porthmadog 0
12 August 2022
Holywell Town 1 Colwyn Bay 6

PLAYED 25 WON 25 GOALS FOR 92 GOALS AGAINST 18 POINTS 75

29 July 2022
Llandudno 2 Colwyn Bay 2

HOLYWELL TOWN’S MAGICAL 22

18 March 2023
Penrhyncoch 0 Holywell Town 5
10 March 2023
Conwy Borough 1 Holywell Town 4
25 February 2023
Holywell Town 4 Cefn Druids 0
22 February 2023
Holywell Town 1 Prestatyn Town 0
17 February 2023
Buckley Town 0 Holywell Town 2
11 February 2023
Holywell Town 4 Guilsfield 0
8 February 2023
Mold Alexandra 0 Holywell Town 2
28 January 2023
Llanidloes Town 0 Holywell Town 3
21 January 2023
Holywell Town 2 Gresford Athletic 0
2 January 2023
Holywell Town 4 Porthmadog 0
7 December 2022
Holywell Town 2 Ruthin Town 0
25 November 2022
Ruthin Town 1 Holywell Town 4
6 November 2022
Chirk AAA 0 Holywell Town 2
29 October 2022
Holywell Town 2 Mold Alexandra 0
22 October 2022
Porthmadog 2 Holywell Town 3
15 October 2022
Holywell Town 2 Llanidloes Town 1
1 October 2022
Holywell Town 2 Penrhyncoch 0
24 September 2022
Gresford Athletic 1 Holywell Town 2
6 September 2022
Guilsfield 1 Holywell Town 2
29 August 2022
Holywell Town 2 Buckley Town 1
26 August 2022
Cefn Druids 0 Holywell Town 3
20 August 2022
Holywell Town 3 Conwy Borough 1

PLAYED 22 WON 22 GOALS FOR 60 GOALS AGAINST 9 POINTS 66

12 August 2022
Holywell Town 1 Colwyn Bay 6
2 August 2022
Llandudno 3 Holywell Town 0
30 July 2022
Holywell Town 0 Holyhead Hotspur 0