Match of the Day: Wellmen win battle of Cymru North giants

Gooooal! Morgan Murray (27) fires Holywell in front. Pictures: LEE PAUL DOUGLAS – many thanks as always

JD CYMRU NORTH – MARCH 25, 2023

Colwyn Bay 1 (Creamer 24)
Holywell Town 3 (Cooke 34, Murray 47, Forbes 51)

What a day for Holywell Town!

Not only did they stretch their winning run to 23 league matches, they also ended Colwyn Bay’s season-long unbeaten record at the 27-game mark.

Johnny Haseldin’s men cut the gap on leaders Bay to six points with a game in hand with Saturday’s epic victory in front of 1,300 at the Four Crosses Construction Arena.

The Wellmen can reduce the deficit to three points with equal games played if they beat Chirk at the Achieve More Training Stadium on Wednesday night.

Holywell fans celebrate a goal. Picture: LEE PAUL DOUGLAS

The title race is far from over, although Bay’s superior goal difference of 27 over Town means six more points from their remaining three matches should guarantee the Seagulls finish as champions.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Colwyn Bay: Played 27 Points 76 Goal Difference + 72

Matches remaining
April 1: Colwyn Bay v Penrhyncoch
April 7: Penrhyncoch v Colwyn Bay
April 15: Colwyn Bay v Llandudno

Holywell Town: Played 26 Points 70 Goal Difference + 45

Matches remaining
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

Today’s much-awaited top-of-the-table battle saw Bay take a 24th minute lead.

Town lost possession in midfield and the ball was fed through to Thomas Creamer, who controlled and cut inside, then once in the box fired past keeper Keighan Jones into the bottom corner.

Jake Cooke (furthest left) scores with a looping header for Town. Picture: LEE PAUL DOUGLAS

It was level on 34 minutes. A good move saw the ball out to Myles Hart on the right, and his cross into the box was met by Jake Cooke, whose looping header found the net.

Straight from kick off, the home side nearly regained the lead. Kristian Platt’s shot was destined for the top corner, but Jones pulled off a great save.

Holywell came out for the second half like a champion greyhound from the traps.

Dave Forbes (9) makes it 3-1 to Holywell. Picture: LEE PAUL DOUGLAS

The half was only a minute old when Cooke’s great cross from the left was volleyed into the roof of the net by Morgan Murray.

On 51 minutes Town increased their lead. Deep on the right Murray squared to Cooke, whose low cross was coolly finished off by the unmarked Dave Forbes – his 16th league goal of the season.

Holywell remained on top and finished up deserved winners.