Nine-man Kinmel Bay edge a seven-goal thriller against NFA

NORTH WALES COAST EAST PREMIER DIVISION

Kinmel Bay 4 (Morris pens 45 & 90+4, Bellham 65, Falvey 90+10)
NFA 3 (Robinson 10, Roberts 45+3, Pamment 84)

Nine-man Kinmel Bay scored twice in stoppage time to pull off an astonishing victory over a devastated NFA at Y Morfa.

Debutant substitute Ste Falvey’s 100th minute winner against his former club provided a truly dramatic ending to this seven-goal derby thriller.

The game started well with both teams looking for an advantage, but it was NFA who took the lead through a well-worked set piece, Matty Robinson the scorer assisted by Jay Whitehouse.

Play turned scrappy until in the 45th minute Bay’s Mason Richards was fouled in the box and the ref pointed to the spot. Up stepped Connor Morris to slot home bottom left.

NFA straight from the restart pressured Bay and were rewarded with a second goal on 45 plus. The ball fell to Ryan Roberts in the box and he managed to strike it through defenders and into the back of the net.

Just before this Bay’s Leon Bower was adjudged to have fouled Ryan Hulse and the home player argued his case but was shown a blue card and sent to the sin-bin by the ref.

NFA coach Alex Seale was unhappy with the punishment and protested to the official, who ended up showing him a straight red.

Half time Kinmel Bay 1 NFA 2

Despite still having a player in the sin-bin, Bay started to press more after the break, NFA keeper Scott Williams forced into a good one-on-one save against Morris.

Jordan Bellham scored Kinmel’s second in the 63rd minute with a deft nod home after a long throw from Liam Jones was flicked on by an NFA player’s head.

The game carried on back and forth before new signing Ryan Pamment netted with a header for NFA, making it 3-2 to the visitors in the 85th minute.

Bay took Bellham off and brought on new man Falvey, a recent capture from Mochdre Sports who made a good impact straight off the bench working well with Morris.

The home side’s Paddy Hamid then received a second yellow for a late challenge on 86 – now Bay were really up against it with 10 men and trailing 3-2 with time running out.

Chances fell at both ends before Bay were awarded another penalty after Cole Rich was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.

Morris scored to make it 3-3 in the 94th minute, but soon after the scorer was shown his second yellow for allegedly kicking the ball away.

It was now nine versus 11, yet disadvantaged Kinmel were to grab the decider when Ash Woods played a lovely ball over the top for Falvey to run onto and slot into the bottom corner with literally the last kick of the game.

What a fantastic encounter, great from both teams and uplifting to see such a big crowd at Y Morfa – this is what grassroots is all about.