On the Left Wing
KIT NAPIER
Been living in North Wales for more than 5 years now and never realised this until I read this match report of the Evo Stick play-off final this morning:
Colwyn Bay 1 FC United of Manchester 0
ONE counter-attacking second half goal by John Newby was enough for Colwyn Bay to clinch the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-off final, ending FC United’s hopes of promotion to the Conference North, for this season at least.
There were chances for both sides during the Bank Holiday Monday contest but the Seagulls struck with 21 minutes to go to shade a narrow 1-0 victory in front of sell-out crowd of 2,000 in Llanelian Road, whilst a few hundred more supporters watched from the hill overlooking the ground.
The Reds had the lion’s share of the possession and endeavoured to play good football but Karl Marginson’s side failed to convert their hard work into a vital goal and almost inevitably they were made to pay the price.
It was a game that looked like it could go either way throughout whilst following a set pattern of play. United pressed forward for large spells whereas Bay were content to sit back, defend doggedly and hit their Mancunian visitors on the break with regular long balls launched forward to put the United back-line under pressure.
United dominated the opening stages of both halves as they looked to catch Colwyn cold, just as they had done to Bradford Park Avenue in the play-off semi-final on Thursday night.
In reflection, it was during these two 15 minutes spells that United could and should have got what would have been a priceless a goal. They didn’t though. And with the pressure being soaked up, Bay began to grow in confidence, exploiting gaps in the Reds’ defence before snatching the goal which takes them to the Conference North.
Colwyn Bay 1 FC United of Manchester 0
ONE counter-attacking second half goal by John Newby was enough for Colwyn Bay to clinch the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-off final, ending FC United’s hopes of promotion to the Conference North, for this season at least.
There were chances for both sides during the Bank Holiday Monday contest but the Seagulls struck with 21 minutes to go to shade a narrow 1-0 victory in front of sell-out crowd of 2,000 in Llanelian Road, whilst a few hundred more supporters watched from the hill overlooking the ground.
The Reds had the lion’s share of the possession and endeavoured to play good football but Karl Marginson’s side failed to convert their hard work into a vital goal and almost inevitably they were made to pay the price.
It was a game that looked like it could go either way throughout whilst following a set pattern of play. United pressed forward for large spells whereas Bay were content to sit back, defend doggedly and hit their Mancunian visitors on the break with regular long balls launched forward to put the United back-line under pressure.
United dominated the opening stages of both halves as they looked to catch Colwyn cold, just as they had done to Bradford Park Avenue in the play-off semi-final on Thursday night.
In reflection, it was during these two 15 minutes spells that United could and should have got what would have been a priceless a goal. They didn’t though. And with the pressure being soaked up, Bay began to grow in confidence, exploiting gaps in the Reds’ defence before snatching the goal which takes them to the Conference North.
