Colwyn Bay claimed a 2-1 victory over Trefelin, with three players catching the eye late spell of pressure from the hosts threatening to make for a nervy finish.
The visitors dominated much of the contest and looked comfortable for long periods, taking the lead through an unfortunate Jacob Jones own goal before Dan Roberts doubled their advantage shortly before half-time.
Andy Hill’s side struggled to find a consistent attacking rhythm, although there were signs of encouragement in the second half. Lewys Ware provided the standout moment of the evening with a stunning late strike, giving the home supporters something to cheer and setting up a tense finale.
While the result ultimately went Colwyn Bay’s way, there were individual performances on both sides that deserve recognition.
Declan Poole helped Colwyn Bay control proceedings
Declan Poole was one of Colwyn Bay’s most impressive performers, offering plenty of energy and quality down the flank as the visitors looked to dictate the game.
Bay enjoyed plenty of early possession and territory, with captain Sam Hart pushing high up the pitch as they applied constant pressure on their opponents.
Poole played an important part in keeping that momentum going, making things tick out wide and providing an outlet whenever Colwyn Bay looked to build an attack.
His understanding with teammates was particularly noticeable, while he also came close to creating another opportunity for Hart shortly before the interval.
In the 40th minute, Poole was unfortunate not to find the Bay captain with a promising delivery as the visitors looked to extend their advantage.
It was a performance that perhaps did not grab the headlines, but his influence on the flank was clear throughout.
Callum Bratley brought energy to Colwyn Bay’s midfield
Another Colwyn Bay player who stood out was Callum Bratley, whose energy and willingness to drive forward gave the visitors an added dimension in the middle of the park.
He was involved in one of Bay’s promising early attacks, linking up well with Jordan Davies before carrying the ball forward and firing a shot narrowly wide in the sixth minute.
Bratley continued to look lively as the first half progressed, showing good movement and an appetite to get involved in attacking situations.
His influence was also evident in the build-up to Colwyn Bay’s second goal.
In the 36th minute, Bratley saw an effort blocked by Shaun MacDonald, but Trefelin failed to clear their lines. The loose ball fell kindly for Dan Roberts, who made no mistake in a crowded penalty area to put Bay 2-0 ahead.
Bratley’s contribution went beyond that involvement, however, with his energy in the centre helping Colwyn Bay maintain control for much of the contest.
Lewys Ware gave Trefelin hope with a stunning late goal
Despite the hosts spending much of the game chasing their opponents, Lewys Ware provided a moment of genuine quality that almost sparked an unlikely comeback.
The home side had shown greater attacking intent as the second half developed, with Kane Owen looking particularly threatening from set-pieces.
Josh Williams also tested Colwyn Bay goalkeeper Scott Coughlan with a powerful effort from distance in the 63rd minute, forcing him into a parry, although Trefelin were unable to capitalise on the resulting opportunity.
As the clock ticked down, Ware produced the moment of the match.
With just a minute remaining in normal time, he let fly with a powerful left-footed strike that flew into the net to make it 2-1.
It was a brilliant finish and thoroughly deserved its place as the standout moment for the hosts.
Trefelin continued to push in search of an equaliser, with Ware almost repeating the trick in stoppage time. However, his late effort drifted wide as the home goalkeeper also ventured forward for the set-piece.
It was not enough to rescue a point, but Ware’s contribution ensured Trefelin finished the match with renewed belief.
