SECOND half goals from Craig Lindfield and Lewis Sirrell (his third goal in the last five games) gave Colwyn Bay a 2-0 victory on a difficult pitch against a decent Gresford side to extend their unbeaten league record to 13 games.
It regained their three point lead over Holywell, who won at Ruthin last night (Friday), at the top of the JD Cymru North table, with a game still in hand, and they go six points clear of Llandudno who’s game at Holyhead was postponed due a waterlogged pitch.
Bay had chances in a goalless first half with Tom McCready having a shot from the edge of the area saved by home keeper Jonathan Hill-Dunt and Craig Lindfield hitting a post from Dylan Allshorn’s cross.
Shouts for a penalty when Alex Downes went down in the box were waved away by the referee as Tom Creamer curled a shot just over the bar.
Although the Bay lay siege to the Gresford goal in the closing minutes of the half, forcing four corners and a free kick, they couldn’t find the net as Craig Lindfield and Matty Hill both had efforts deflected wide.
The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half, however, when Alex Downes was again tripped in the area and this time the referee awarded the penalty, allowing Craig Lindfield to score his first goal of the season from the spot.
Bay doubled their lead nine minutes later with defensive kingpin Lewis Sirrell heading home at the front post from Lindfield’s free-kick for his fifth goal of the campaign,
Cai Owen had a goal disallowed, apparently for a foul in the build-up, and only a great block by Gresford defender Josh Griffiths prevented a third Bay goal.
Cameron Darling, in the Bay goal, kept a second successive clean sheet, saving well from a Charlie Man free kick.
Bay manager Steve Evans was pleased to have come away with three points amid “really difficult” conditions at Clappers Lane.
“The pitch was tough on the players and on the legs, but we stuck to the task and I thought we did really well, I thought we played the conditions well.
“Second half we came out and we were the dominant team. We penned them in and they struggled to get out and we got what we deserved in the end.
“The pleasing thing was the clean sheet. Cam hasn’t had an awful lot to do and I thought from the front all the way to the back we were tremendous.”
Watch the full interview with Steve Evans after the win over Gresford.
COLWYN BAY: Cameron Darling, Stefan Edwards, Lewis Sirrell, Sam Downey, Tom McCready (Guto Williams 46), Matty Hill, Dylan Allshorn, Craig Lindfield (Cai Owen 67), Kristian Platt, Alex Downes (Joe Williams 82), Tom Creamer. Unused sub: Ryan Woods.
Attendance: 189
