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Goal in added time earns derby draw for Bay


July 29, 2022 - 717 views

A screamer from substitute Stefan Edwards five minutes into added time rescued a point for the Seagulls in a ‘derby’ thriller at Llandudno in front of a tremendous crowd of 1,585 on the opening day of the JD Cymru North league campaign.

Llandudno had earlier come from behind to lead 2-1 after Bay lost their momentum when they had to replace key attacking players Dylan Allshorn and Matty Hill through injury.

The Seagulls had created the better chances in a goalless first half, when they had a big shout for a penalty waved away when Joe Williams went down in the area.

James Kirby had three efforts saved by Llandudno keeper James Roberts, Ryan Edwards screwed an effort narrowly wide from Allshorn’s run and cross, Lewis Sirrell shot wide after a run from deep in his own half, and Matty Hill fired a big chance over the bar from another Allshorn cross.

At the other end Llandudno’s best chance came from Joe Chaplin’s pull back but Bay keeper Ryan Woods saved well down to his left to deny Cavanagh.

Colwyn Bay took the lead seven minutes into the second half when Matty Hill headed over the keeper into the net from Allshorn’s cross, only for Llandudno hit back immediately and equalise through Danny Brookwell’s low driven shot.

Kristian Platt fired a free kick over the bar before Llandudno took the lead on 77 minutes with a sweetly-struck Cavanagh free kick after substitute Sam Jones had been brought down on the edge of the area.

Bay pressed hard the closing minutes with Ryan Edwards having a shot saved from Kirby’s pass, while Sirrell shot over the bar from another Kirby pass and Kirby had a header blocked for a corner by a defender.

Llandudno looked like holding on, but deep into added time Stefan Edwards rifled a shot through a pile of bodies in the area to earn a share of the points.

Manager Steve Evans reflected afterwards: “I feel a bit deflated because I thought we deserved to win the game on the chances we created.

“We could have been two or three up at half-time and those missed opportunities has come back to bite us. We’ve got to learn from that moving forward, but fortunately Stef’s goal at the end has earned us a deserved point and given the fans, who were outstanding again, something to cheer about.”

The good news is that the manager added it was only cramp that forced the withdrawal of Matty Hill and Dylan Allshorn.