JD Cymru Premier – priceless first win in eight matches for Colwyn Bay

JD CYMRU PREMIER PHASE 2 PLAY-OFF CONFERENCE
Aberystwyth Town 0
Colwyn Bay 1 (Hill 71)

A run of seven straight league defeats came to a glorious end for Colwyn Bay as Matty Hill’s 71st minute deflected strike settled the issue at Park Avenue on Friday evening.

Bay are still bottom of the Play-Off Conference but cut the gap to safety thanks to a fifth victory of the 2023-24 season.

Both sides threatened in the first half, the visitors’ Jamie Cumming missing from a free header via a Tom McCready free kick.

Aber responded when John Owen turned smartly just inside the box and hit a left foot screamer which Joe Smith did very well to tip away for a corner.

Cumming was a key danger man for the Seagulls in the first half, heading wide from a great position before hitting the inside of the post from an angle, the ball rebounding into the grateful arms of Aber keeper Dave Jones.

Town started the second half strongly, Jonny Evans dispossessing Joe Hart and feeding Zac Hartley who blasted well over when he should have done better.

Hartley was prominent again with a header from a right-wing cross but Smith got down well to save.

Smith really excelled himself soon after when he palmed a 20-yard missile from Hartley over the bar.

It was against the run of play when the Bay grabbed the lead 19 minutes from time.

A ball played in from the right reached Hill, whose right-foot effort took a deflection past keeper Jones for 1-0.

Aber had a last-gasp chance to level it, but skipper Jack Thorn lashed over the top.