Colwyn Bay 1 Penybont 2
Second Phase Cymru Play Off Conference
Sat 3rd February
Llanelian Rd
Att 521
Come the new year and the Cyrmu league splits between the top six and bottom six teams. The Top 6 playing for European glory, the bottom avoiding slipping down to the 2nd tier.
The league has already been won again by TNS even at this early stage. As the only professional team in the league it was widely accepted they had won the league before the first ball was kicked. Some argue they shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the league given their financial advantage, a multi millionaire owner, but I believe if you want to be in a competitive league you have to play against the best.
I digress, so we find ourselves under slate grey North Wales sky, a curtain of rain descending over the Colwyn Bay faithful. The last league glory was against today’s opponents, Penybont FC. The team from Bridgend have had an up and down season. The Bay now languishing at the bottom of the league.
Penybont looked brightest from the first whistle, hoping to avenge their previous home and away losses to the Seagulls. The visitors took the game to the Bay, looking more comfortable on the ball given the conditions, threading through some quality passes. The home side were left chasing shadows. Neither of the keepers were really challenged until the 45thmin when the ever green Chris Venables headed home a cross from captain Kane Owen, too easily rising above is marker. Colwyn Bay 0 Penybont 1 – a sucker punch just before half-time.
The second half started with a forced substitution for the home side. Matty Hill on replacing an injured Alex Downes. The Penybont onslaught continued and bore fruit in the 56thmin with Gabriel Kircough threading a pass from the left that found Lincon McFayden. He slotted the ball home: Colwyn Bay 0 Penybont 2. The Bays defence no more than onlookers.
The 68thmin saw a double substitution for The Bay with Cai Owen replacing new signing Dan Atkins, who had a tough debut. He was marked out of the game by the very capable Penybont defender Mark Little. Then Tommy Creamer came on for Sam Downey. This change re-energised a lack lustre Bay. The last 15, the Bay pressed harder with Owen, Creamer and Hill being at the heart of the best moves for the home side. Akapn saw his strike on the Bont goal saved on the line. In the 2nd minute of injury time Hill slotted home a consolation goal for the seagulls, but too late to stop all 3 point going to the visitors.
Penybont top the conference league, Colwyn Bay 2 points adrift at the bottom. Bays next match is away at fellow strugglers Aberystwyth on Friday 9th, a massive game for both clubs.