There wasn’t hardly anything to separate the two sides, apart from a Jordan Davies strike on 28 minutes, that eventually swung the match in favour of the visitors. Clear cut chances were at a premium, but whereas Flint were unable to capitalise on the few that fell their way, particularly a couple of chances
that fell to Darren Stephenson, Davies swept his away with aplomb to give his side the points.
Once again the Silkmen struggled to break down a dogged defence, and had to rely on set pieces to create most of their chances, but came up against a goalkeeper, Alex Brown, who was in commanding form. The youngster showed great composure in dealing with crosses into his box and was generally unflappable.
The visitors had the first real sight of goal on 7 minutes, when a ball was delivered to Sol Forde at the far post. He headed downwards into the 6 yard box, and Louis Robles was just unable to bring the ball under his control before the Flint defence managed to smuggle it away in the nick of time.
The game developed into an absorbing contest, but one without too much goal action, that was until just before the half hour mark, when the Bay grabbed the decisive goal. Jamie Cumming played a dangerous low cross in from the left. It evaded Robles on the near post, but ran through to Davies, who had escaped his marker, and received it in space, to convert from 6 yards out.
Robles then received the ball with his back to goal, and smartly turned his man, creating a wonderful opportunity for himself, but Jack Flint pulled off a good save to deny him.
In echoes of last Saturday’s game, Flint were being restricted to long range efforts, and Mikey Burke saw one thunderbolt tipped over by Brown. On the one occasion that Brown did misjudge a cross, Alec Mudimu was unable to force it over the line at the far post, as the ball was scrambled away.
On 50 minutes, Jake Canavan produced a good defence splitting ball to send Stephenson away. His run took him to the left side of the goal, and from an acute angle his shot crashed into the side netting.
Down the other end, Flint was called upon to tip a Cumming header over the bar, as the Bay threatened again.
The best chance for the hosts came on the 65th minute, when Burke drove forward, slipped the ball to Stephenson, who was through one on one with Brown, but the keeper denied the striker by saving with his legs.
Not to be outdone, Jack Flint then produced his own excellent save using his legs, as he blocked a Forde header from a corner.
As the home side committed more men forward to try and force the equaliser, the Bay looked to exploit the spaces being left at the back, and Flint had to be alert to keep out efforts from Ethan Roberts and Davies.
Davies then raced away from the half way line getting onto a long clearance, and looked to be clean through on goal, only for Burke to sprint back, seemingly out of nowhere, and produce a tremendous last ditch tackle to take the ball from his feet just as he was about to shoot.
At the end of the game, the Silkmen may feel aggrieved not to have shared the points, based on the amount of possession they had, but the lack of genuine goal scoring chances they are creating is becoming something of a worry, and if teams can defend set pieces against them, as Colwyn Bay successfully did, then it’s hard to see where the goals are going to come from.
Report by Nigel Sheen. Photos by Geoff Quinn.
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – J. Flint, I. Lee, M. Burke, S. Fofana (B. Hughes 77), H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, J. Phillips, A. Mudimu (D. Davies 90), E. Reeves, J. Canavan, D. Stephenson (J. Jones 69). Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), G. Maire, K. Imariagbe, L. Morrison
Colwyn Bay – A. Brown (GK), I, Kargbo (U. Kargbo 81), G. Hughes, N. Peate, L. Sirrell (c), S. Forde, J. Cumming, A. Edwards, J. Davies (O. Davies 90), L. Robles (A. Williams 62), E. Roberts
Flint MOM – Mikey Burke (a great all round display, typified by that wonderful late goal saving tackle)
