October 05, 2019 - 1914 views
A hat-trick from Mitch Bryant helped Colwyn Bay end Guilsfield's six-match unbeaten run with a 4-1 victory at the 4 Crosses Arena.
That lifted Bay up to eighth in the table and to within two points of the top six.
The Bay were 3-0 up at half-time with two Bryant goals sandwiching one by Julian Williams, and although they had to weather a Guilsfield storm in the second half after the visitors had pulled a goal back, they came through that and sealed victory with Mitch Bryant's third goal two minutes from the end,
Despite Mitch's hat-trick, Jordan Carrington got the SoccerMillion Man of the Match award for an excellent performance at the back.
The Bay bossed much of the first half with some of the best football they have played this season and after Julian Williams had a shot tipped round the post by visting keeper Michael Jones and Tom McLean shot narrow over, they took the lead on 28 minutes when an errant back left Mitch Bryant in the clear to beat the outrushing keeper.
Julian Williams added a second eight minutes later with a cool finish after Sion Edwards had blocked an attempted clearance, and right on half time Mitch Bryant got his second with a ell placed shot from the edge of the area.
Guilsfield got a lift three minutes into the second half with Adam Jenkins' shot getting a big deflection off a Bay defender to beat Andy Coughlin, and they swarmed all of the Bay for while, forcing a number of corners, and it needed a excellent diving save by Coughlin to turn another Jenkins shot round the post for a corner, whileAndrew Ford put a free header over the bar from six yards.
But the Seagulls weathered the storm and, despite losing skipper Tom McCready who was taken off as a precaution after feeling pain in his thigh, they wrestled back control of the game two minutes from the end Mitch Bryant curled a great shot past the keeper for his third and Bay's fourth goal to wrap up the points.
Unfortunately manager Craig Hogg was red carded for encroaching on the pitch to confront a Guilsfield player after a bad tackle on Alex Downes, and he faces a touchline ban for the next three games.
Assistant manager Mark Orme, however, said the managerment rteam were pleased with the performance.
"First half we were excellent and took it on from Tuesday really. We were really pleased with the intensity levels and the way we passed the ball, which is something we've been trying to get into the lads.
"Starting games well in this league is important. You have to get on the front foot early and I thought we did that .
"When you are on top you need to make it count and we did that with three good goals before half-time. You have to make your opportunities count and that is something we've been looking to improve on after missed chances have cost us points in previous games.
"We had to weather a bit of a storm after they scored three minutes into the second half, but Guilsfield are a good side and have been a good side at this level for a long time.
"They threw a lot at us with free kicks, corners and long throws, but we defended well and put bodies on the line to get us through that, and then scored another goal to seal a very satisfying win."
Jordan Carrington put in an excellent performance at the back to take the Man of the match and Mark orme added: "He has had to bid his time nd wait for his opportunity, but he has been patient and trained excellently and has come in and done really well.
"He did his job well last week, even though we lost, was good in midweek at Bangor and today I though twas superb and thoroughly deserved to be man of the match. He won every header and got in some very important blocks, with two in the first half saving certain goals."
Mark also praised Mitch Bryant for his match-winning contribution,
"The last two or three games have shown what Mitch is all about. His work rate, the way he holds the ball up is tremendous and it was good to see him get his hat-trick today."
