February 29, 2020 - 1566 views
Tom McCready hit an 86th minute winner on his 80th appearance for the club as Colwyn Bay beat Penrhyncoch 2-1 to make it four league wins in a row in their chase for a top three finish in the JD Cymru North.
They led through Mitch Bryant's 18th minute goal, but Penrhyncoch equalised from a harshly-awarded free kick, mid-way through the second half, before the skipper's late winner as stormy weather closed in.
Cai Owen was voted SoccerMillion Man of the Match by supporters and was presented with his award by Daryl Williams of the Supporters Group.
Playing against the wind in the first half, the Bay started well with Penrhynoch keeper Leigh Jenkins making smart close range saves from Sam Downey and Mitch Bryant before being beaten by Bryant's header for his 14th goal of the campaign, from Cai Owen's great cross on 18 minutes.
The Seagulls were unlucky not to be further ahead by half-time with Sion Edwards hitting the bar and Toby Jones firing past the keeper from a corner only for the referee to disallow the goal because of a head injury to a Penrhyncoch defender.
The player did not need much treatment and the referee restarted the game with a drop ball for the keeper to kick clear - so there was obviously no foul.
Penrhynoch's only threat in that first half was a volley from Jon Evans which was narrowly off target.
The Bay found it more difficult with the wind behind them in the second half, trying to play balls into the channels but seeing the wind take hold and blow them out of play.
The visitors then snatched a shock equaliser after Sam Downey was harshly penalised and booked for what looked like a good tackle. The free kick into the area fell nicely for Owain Rhys James to shoot past Andy Coughlin from Penrhyncoch's only real chance of the game.
Colwyn Bay dominated the closing 20 minutes with the keeper making another good save to tip an Alex Downes header over the bar and Mitch Bryant miscuing a couple of chances wide of the goal.
Penrhyncoch packed their defence to try and hold out for the draw, but the breakthrough came on 86 minutes with Tom McCready's 10th goal of the season. His shot from the edge of the area beat the diving keeper after good hold up play and lay off by Mitch Bryant.
The win put Bay to within two points of second-place Flint, although Flint do now have a game in hand.
Bay boss Craig Hogg commented: "Its an important win and the most pleasing thing was firstly that the game was on and then the way we played the first half, after three weeks without a game, was probably one of the best 45 minutes of football I've seen since I've been in charge.
"The second half was difficult with the wind, but everything considered I was very pleased and I thought there some special performances out there.
"Their goal has come from a really good tackle by Sam Downey and it baffles me how that is a free kick never mind a booking.
"But if they were bit lucky with that we were a little unlucky not to be further ahead with Toby Jones' goal ruled out for nothing and Sion Edwards hitting the crossbar."
Reproduced with thanks to Colwyn Bay FC.
