FRIENDLY FIRE
BAY BEAT LLANDUDNO IN PRE-SEASON CLASH:
COLWYN BAY go into tomorrow night’s (Friday) game against Championship club Burnley buoyed by their first preseason victory at neighbours Llandudno on Tuesday night.
Llandudno started the game well, but two second half goals by Rob Hopley gave Bay a 2-0 win and Seagulls boss Ash Hoskin described his side’s second half display as “the best we’ve played so far.”
Before the kick off the Bay completed the signing of Caernarfon-based winger Cory Williams who did well when he came on in the second half and set up Hopley’s second goal with a penetrating right wing cross.
The 19-year-old, who was with Caernarfon Town and then Chester last season and has also had a spell with Hereford United as a youth, is the type of wide player Hoskin has been looking for to complete his squad.
FC United and Southport were both interested in him, but Seagulls head of recruitment Phil Staley has convinced him to come to Llanelian Road.
“He gives us some width, gets in good crosses and tracks back well to help his full back. He’ll be a big asset to us,” said Hoskin.
Williams will make his home debut tomorrow against Burnley’s Under-21 development squad and Hoskin is expecting a good game.
“I coached some of the Burnley lads when I was at Turf Moor and I know they are good players,” he said. They will be strong opponents and a good challenge for us.”
He’ll be hoping his side can continue where they left off on Tuesday, although Welsh Premier League new boys Llandudno had the Bay on the back foot at the start of the game, with former Seagulls skipper Marc Williams prominent in midfield, and only a tremendous reflex save by Chris Sanna prevented a Danny Hughes header giving the home side the lead.
Later Gaz Evans put a great chance over the bar after being set up perfectly by Lewis Buckley, but Colwyn Bay came more into the game in the latter stages and they should have taken the lead only for Harry Clayton heading wide from less than a yard out.
“We weren’t strong enough off the ball in the first half, but we had a good discussion at half-time and were much better in the second half,” said Hoskin.
The Seagulls quickly started to dominate, with John Dillon outstanding in midfield, as Llandudno made numerous substitutions, and they took the lead on 61 minutes when home keeper Paul Roberts could only parry a Robbie Booth free kick and Hopley scored from close range.
Hopley slid in to score his second 15 minutes later from Cory Williams’ cross.
Luke Denson had a header tipped over the bar by Roberts and Damian Ketley saw another header cleared off the line as Bay pressed for a third goal, although it needed another good save by Sanna to deny Llandudno’s Lewis Moynes a goal at the other end.
Tomorrow’s game against Burnley (7.30 kick off) is being sponsored by Simon and Nina Cole of the White Lion Inn, Llanelian, who happen to be Burnley fans, and before the game Colwyn Bay will present a cheque for £1,000 to representatives of Ty Gobaith Children’s hospice as proceeds from the club’s recent 10k run, bucket collection and other donations.