Gresford Athletic 0-3 Colwyn Bay: Seagulls set marker with sublime display
Colwyn Bay blew Gresford Athletic away in the opening fixture of the JD Cymru North thanks to a magnificent performance by Cai Owen.
Right-winger Sam Jones opened the scoring with a bullet header from Cai Owen’s cross midway through the first half.
Robbie Parry, making his first Seagulls appearance, added the second with a fierce half volley finishing again from a smart Cai Owen cross.
Cai Owen put the cherry on top of a fantastic performance when he added Colwyn Bay’s third with a fabulous strike from outside the box which sailed into the top corner.
Colwyn Bay started the brighter of the two sides, no doubt buoyed on by a large travelling contingent from up the coast. Sion Edwards pegged Gresford right-back Joe Sullivan down in defence and the Seagulls were able to maintain early momentum down the left side.
A quick succession of free-kicks was drawn by Edwards and gave Colwyn Bay their first opportunities of the match. Tom McCready should have done better with his first set-piece before Cai Owen whipped a well-struck attempt at Robbie Williams who held well.
Gresford were finding it difficult to get a foot in the game with their diamond midfield against Colwyn Bay’s five men in the middle of the pitch. However, the hosts would create the first two real chances of the game. Slack passing in the Bay backline allowed Chaplin the chance to get a shot away, the former Seagulls man snatching his effort wide.
The second of Gresford’s chances should have seen them go ahead. Danny Holland effortlessly threaded through a ball to Sullivan, playing the striker clean through on Andy Coughlin’s goal. Lacking composure, Sullivan blasted over the bar in what would prove Gresford’s last chance of the evening.
Colwyn Bay grabbed their first goal of the league season just before the half-hour mark. Cai Owen was afforded too much room in the middle of the park and weighed a lovely ball into the box over the Gresford backline. Sam Jones charged in first to meet the cross with a bullet header and put the visitors one nil up.
However, for all their possession Colwyn Bay were struggling to connect the ball to their two most attacking outlets Julian Williams and Owain Morris. Williams, the focal point of the two, was able to highlight his pace with some fruitless ventures towards the Gresford goal, but the hosts defensive line remained too deep for the Colwyn Bay tactics to penetrate.
The Second half yielded a much slower-paced contest and there were few chances to speak of in the halves first twenty minutes. Both sides were battling well and cancelling each other out. It took Gresford to tire to allow Colwyn Bay to capitalise and they did so in impressive style.
Halfway through the half substitute, Robbie Parry doubled Colwyn Bay’s lead to enjoy a dream debut. The tremendous Cai Owen was growing into the game with every minute and generated the chance with a fine cross across the box. Parry positioned himself well, controlled the ball on the bounce, and slammed the ball into the top corner from the penalty spot.
Not to be denied a goal to cap off his performance Cai Owen made it three with a wonderful strike ten minutes before full time. Robbie Parry, now playing behind the striker was pulling the strings and played a ball along the box to meet the onrushing Owen. The ball sat up perfectly and Owen unleashed a drive into the top left corner from 25 yards.
Neither side exerted much pressure in the final minutes and seemed consigned to the result. There will be much to learn from this game for the hosts. They offered hardly any width all game and tired badly in the second half in what was a similar story to last week.
Tom Williams’ analysis: Of course, they’re unlikely to face such fierce opposition all season. Colwyn Bay were very impressive with a depleted side and played the ball well all game.
Cai Owen the main man and one to watch for the season. The Seagulls go to Holyhead Hotspurs on Tuesday hoping to continue their winning run, whilst Gresford venture to Conwy.
Gresford Athletic: Robbie Williams (GK), Kieran Evans, Nathan Williams, Adam Hesp, Jack Jones, Josh Griffiths, Joseph Sullivan (Harvey Ellis 70′), David Macintyre (Aaron Hassall 70′), Joseph Chaplin, Michael Pritchard (Sam Molyneux 58′), Daniel Holland
Yellow cards: Jack Jones 10′, Michael Pritchard 13′, David Macintyre 66′, Sam Molyneux 75′
Colwyn Bay: Andy Coughlin, Joseph Williams, Cai Owen (Ilan Hughes 83′), Lewis Sirrell, Sam Downey, Julian Williams (Robbie Parry 57′), Tom McCready, Owain Morris (Jack Higgins 72′), Sion Edwards, James Ellison, Sam Jones
Goals: Sam Jones 28′, Robbie Parry 67′, Cai Owen 78′
Yellow cards: Owain Morris 36′, Lewis Sirrell 70′
