Match Report

COLWYN BAY survived late pressure to hold out for a 4-3 win in a seven goal thriller against Holyhead Hotspur.

The Seagulls were 2-0 up in  the opening half hour with Tom McCready scoring after a defensive mix-up on 13 minutes, and then James Kirby heading a second from a corner six minutes later.

Kirby twice went close to adding a third goal, while Mitch Bryant  had a shot deflected for a corner, Kristian Platt put a free header over the bar and Robbie Parry fired a shot wide from Bryant’s pass.

Holyhead, however, grabbed two goals in the space of four minutes, through Dylan Summers-Jones and Liam Morris, to level the scores at 2-2, before James Kirby slid in his second goal of the game to restore Bay’s lead before half-time.

Joe Williams scored a fourth for the Bay from the edge of the area four minutes into the second half to make it 4-2, and James Kirby struck the bar with a volley, but again Holyhead hit back with Liam Morris scoring their third and his second on 61 minutes.

Bay keeper Andy Coughlin made a fine save to deny Jay Gibbs an equaliser and Morris missed another good chance for the visitors in a tense finale, in which Holyhead had a penalty shout waved away.

Bay did break out for substitute Sam Jones to see a shot saved by Holyhead keeper  Paul Pritchard and Tom McCready fired a free kick straight into the keeper’s arms as Bay saw the game out for three welcome points.

Manager Craig Hogg commented: “The positive is four very good goals and three points, but again we’ve made life very hard for ourselves with the manner of the goals we’ve conceded.

“There were many plus points within the good spells we had on the ball in both halves and, at one point it felt like we could score at will.

“Some of our pressing and attacking play was very good to see, but errors for the goals we conceded pegged us back and halted the rhythm we were developing.

“You know what you get from Holyhead. They are a threat with the players they have and are a group of lads who will go to the end – and they did that.

“It was good to see Joe Williams on the scoresheet. That is the first goal for him in football for some time.

“We’ve played better than that throughout 90 minutes this season and lost, but we know what needs to be better from today and it will be.”

JAMES KIRBY WAS VOTED PEN-Y-BRYN MAN OF THE MATCH