January 28, 2023 - 1811 views
Alex Downes came off the bench to hit the match winner with his 12th goal of the season in a 2-1 success at Chirk AAA as the Seagulls extended their winning league run to 18 games.
It wasn’t pretty at times against a side battling to retain their JD Cymru North status, but in the end it was another three points in Bay’s chase for the title.
They got a great start with a goal after only five minutes when Craig Lindfield got on the end of a Jamie Cumming cross, but much of the rest of the first half was pretty even and Chirk equalised on 35 minutes with a good finish by Rhys Edwards.
Downes came on for the second half and got the winner just after the hour.
Home keeper Mark Richards made a great save from a Lindfield header, but from the corner Downes scored from close range at the far post.
Stef Edwards put a good chance over the bar, but chances were few and far between and in the end the Bay were happy to hold on for a narrow win, with Sam Hart outstanding.
A late injury which forced Alex Downes to be substituted will have been a concern, but he said afterwards it was only a tweak.
New signing Jack Crichton made his debut in goal and Lewis Sirrell played his 50th game for the Bay.
Manager Steve Evans commented: “We said last week it would be a battle and it was one hell of a battle on a difficult pitch.
“They probably outbattled us first half, but we had a word at half-time and second half we matched them. It weren’t pretty football, but we ground it out and I think on the majority of the play we just about deserved it.”
