Cymru Premier: Can Colwyn Bay keep great form going at home to Nomads?
JD CYMRU PREMIER TABLE – NOVEMBER 25
This week’s fixtures:
Tuesday, November 28 (7.45 pm unless stated)
Aberystwyth Town v The New Saints (8 pm)
Bala Town v Caernarfon Town
Barry Town United v Penybont
Haverfordwest County v Cardiff Met University
Newtown v Pontypridd United
Wednesday, November 29 (7.45 pm)
Colwyn Bay v Connah’s Quay Nomads
MATCH REPORT – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Colwyn Bay 2 (Hill 62, Akpan 76)
Penybont 1 (Reffell 45+3)
They have lifted themselves out of the Cymru Premier relegation zone – now can Colwyn Bay keep their magnificent winning run going at home to Connah’s Quay Nomads on Wednesday night?
It will be difficult for sure. Nomads are not in second place for nothing, but Neil Gibson’s men have uncharacteristically lost their last two league encounters.
In their previous meeting with Bay this season, Quay edged a 2-1 verdict at the Essity Stadium, so Steve Evans’ Seagulls certainly have hope going into Wednesday’s tussle at the Four Crosses Construction Arena.
All Bay fans as well as many neutrals will be enjoying the team’s current surge to form, which began with a Welsh Cup victory on penalties at Newtown, followed by a great 3-0 success at Pontypridd United and Saturday’s home triumph over Penybont.
It was only Colwyn’s second home league win of the season and it nudged them up to third from bottom.
The Bay have a fantastic fan base and as a new member of the top-flight playing some fine football, they are attracting plenty of positive attention.
Saturday’s victory saw Matty Hill emerge the Bay hero as he came off the bench and changed the game, the Seagulls coming from behind to beat Penybont 2-1.
Hill scored one goal and set up the other for what was a huge win.
The Seagulls were a goal down at half-time with Penybont’s Keyon Refell scoring from a corner in added time.
That was harsh on Bay who played quite well and moments earlier had a goal of their own from a corner ruled out for a foul on the keeper.
Tom Creamer blasted a chance wide and Dan Jones had a shot saved by keeper Alex Pennock.
At the other end Joe Smith made a fine save to tip a long range effort over the bar.
Bay made a scrappy start to the second half, but the introduction of Hill on 61 minutes brought almost instant success.
Hill levelled the scores on 68 minutes with a great finish after Udoyen Alpan’s dummy from Jamie Cumming’s pass wrong-footed the Penybont defence.
Bay got the winner on 76 minutes when Hill beat a defender and crossed for Akpan to turn and blast a shot into the top corner.
COLWYN BAY: Joe Smith, Alex Downes, Sam Hart, Stef Edwards, Sam Downey (Matty Hill 61), Cai Owen, Dan Jones, Tom McCready, Tommy Creamer (Nick Rushton 85), Jamie Cumming, Udoyen Akpan (Sam Turner 90). Subs not used: Szymon Tyszko (G), Dylan Allshorn, Joel Giblin.
Attendance: 566