Colwyn Bay take their five-match unbeaten run under manager Steve Evans into Saturday’s away game at Prestatyn Town (2.30pm), knowing victory could lift them into the top three of the JD Cymru North. 

Third-placed Guilsfield, who are currently only two points ahead of Bay, travel to Conwy Borough having failed to win in any of their last five league outings (three defeats and two draws).

That has allowed the Bay to drastically close a gap between the two sides which stood at 11 points only a month ago.

The Bay will need to get their feet firmly back on the ground after last weekend’s tremendous Welsh Cup victory at Connah’s Quay Nomads, but the manager will know his side face a battle at Bastion Gardens against a side fighting to climb out of the bottom half of the table. 

Prestatyn, who lost 3-2 at Colwyn Bay in September and also lost a behind-closed-doors friendly in January, have won only one of their last nine league fixtures, with seven defeats, and have not won since a 5-1 victory over Holyhead Hotspur in November.

But they will have gained confidence from keeping their first clean sheet in those nine games with 0-0 home draw against Llangefni Town last time out, and they also now have experienced striker Steve Lewis, who has played at Welsh Premier League level with Rhyl, Bala and Llandudno, in their squad. 

Bay keeper Andy Coughlin, whose penalty save helped set up last weekend’s cup victory, is in line to make his 70th appearance for the Bay – which includes a phenomenal run of 51 consecutive appearances since the club returned to Welsh football.  

That was ended when a slight strain saw new signing Ryan Neild make his debut in Bay’s previous two league games.