ALEX DOWNES headed an 83rd minute winner for the Seagulls to beat Barry Town in their final game of the season, but it was all in vain as Aberystwyth beat Pontypridd 3-0 to secure their place in the JD Cymru Premier.
Colwyn Bay return to the Cymru North, but manager Steve Evans says the club will regroup, rebuild and look to challenge for a return to the top flight “where the club belong” as quickly as possible.
The Bay did all they could on the final weekend of the season in front of a crowd of 924.
There were few clear cut chances in a goalless first half, with Barry keeper Luc Rees just beating Udi Akpan to the ball from Harry Owen’s pass, while Tommy Creamer had a long range effort deflected for a corner.
In the second half Rees made a fine save to deny Tom McCready his 50th goal in a Bay shirt, while Udo Akpan and Jamie Cumming both shot narrowly wide, before Alex Downes headed the late winner from Tommy Creamer’s cross.
But the great escape was not to be.
“Throughout the season there’s been moments like today but also the moments that have cost us – lack of concentration, lack of experience,” manager Steve Evans said following the game.
“We can either dwell on it or we can dust ourselves down. We can rebuild in the summer, ready to go and do what we did last year – that’s the task in hand now.
“Ultimately we fell this year but for the experience we’re all going to be better for it. We’ve seen what it’s about – now we’ve got to go back down, emulate what we did last year which is going to be tough.
“The experience that we’ve gained is going to be invaluable to go into next year and getting back here.”
Steve Evans’ full interview can be found here – https://youtu.be/YNsYO6hHivo
COLWYN BAY: Reece Trueman, Alex Downes, Stef Edwards (Dan Atkins 73), Tom McCready (Downey 90), Jamie Cumming, Matty Hill, Owen Cushion, Tommy Creamer (Sam Hart 89), Udoyen Akpan, Harry Owen, Dan Davies. Unused subs: Joe Smith, Dan Jones.
Attendance: 924
