AFTER leading 2-1 at half-time, the Seagulls saw their hopes of victory fade away in a disappointing second half as they lost 4-2 at third-placed Newtown.

Two goals in three minutes by Matty Hill, on his 50th appearance for the club, and Udi Akpan, saw the Bay lead at the interval, but they never recovered from conceded two goals in two minutes early in the second half.

The only consolation was that the other three bottom four sides were also beaten, with next week’s cup opponents Barry thumped 7-0 at Connah’s Quay,

The Bay made a bight start, with Matty Hill just failing to get on the end of Tom Creamer’s cross, but they went behind on 35 minutes when Ryan Sears scored from a Matt Jones corner.

The visitors looked to have turned the game around, however, when Matty Hill finished well from Jamie Cumming’s pass and three minutes later Udi Akpan buried a chance into the bottom corner from Tommy Creamer’s pass.

All looked good at half-time, but two quick-fires goals from Aaron Williams early in the second half put Newtown back in control and the Seagulls struggled to win or keep hold of the ball after that.

Joe Smith made a great save to tip a free kick onto the bar, but he was beaten again eight minutes from the end when Louis Robles scrambled in Newtown’s fourth.

Manager Steve Evans said afterwards that he thought Bay were excellent in the first half and the better side, and there were positive to take out of that, but second half they seemed to panic and needed to defend better and show more composure in certain areas.

See manager’s full post-match interview on (2) Manager Interview Newtown vs CPD Bae Colwyn 2nd December 2023 – YouTube

COLWYN BAY: Joe Smith, Alex Downes, Sam Hart, Stef Edwards, Sam Downey, Dan Jones (Nick Rushton 76), Tom McCready, Tommy Creamer (Sam Turner 81), Jamie Cumming, Matty Hill, Udoyen Akpan. Subs not used: Brandon Diau, Lloyd Marsh-Hughes, Joel Giblin, Will McKinley, Szymon Tyszko (G).

Attendance: 320