December 18, 2019 - 1782 views
After going 4-1 up with 13 minutes of normal time remaining, the Seagulls conceded three goals in the space of four minutes to drop two points in an extraordinary 4-4 draw at home to Conwy Borough.
It had all started so well with the Bay 2-0 up inside the opening 16 minutes.
Sion Edwards, who was voted Man of the Match, put in a good run down the left and cut inside to beat the keeper with an angled shot after 10 minutes and then Mitch Bryant won a 50-50 ball near the Copnwy area and went round the keeper to added the second with his 10th goal of the campaign.
Conwy pulled a goal back with a header, but within 30 seconds Bay had replied through Tom McCready top make it 3-1 at half-time.
Already without Mike Williams and Daz Thornton, first half injuries to Alex Downes (who needed stitches to a cut above his eye) and Mitch Bryant (tight hamstring) seemed to affect the Bay and they never really got going in the second half.
Conwy changed their keeper at half-time, but substitute Huw Shaw was rarely put under pressure as Conwy began to dictate the play.
The game looked over, however, on 77 minutes when Sion Edwards broke away down the left and from his low cross Joe Chaplin turned the ball into the net to make it 4-1.
That should have been three points in the bag, but Conwy got a cheap penalty on 82 minutes for a trip, which was put away by Corrig McGonigle, and that sparked an amazing late fightback.
Two minutes later they were allowed two free headers in the six yard box from a corner, with Ifan Galeotti scoring with the second of them, and on 86 minutes Craig Whelan equalised with a screamer from outside the area.
Shell-shocked Bay were hanging on for a point at the end and only a full length diving save by Andy Coughlin denied McGonigle an extra time winner.
Manager Craig Hogg commented: "To be honest we haven't got out of third gear all game and even at 3-1 up we weren't playing anywhere near the levels we are capable of.
"Yes, we had a hard game on Saturday and had to make changes due to injuries and suspension, but we can't use that as an excuse. When you are 4-1 up with 15 minutes left you should be able to see the game out - and it is a bit concerning that we haven't done so.
"Credit to Conwy for changing tactics and going for it, but the manner in which we conceded the goals was disappointing from our point of view.
"They say you learn from defeats and I'm treating this as a defeat because it certainly feels like one!"
