COLWYN BAY VS RHYL
Colwyn Bay started this season’s campaign with a pre-season friendly against Welsh Premier League Champions, Rhyl FC.  With Rhyl using this match as final preparation before Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Partizan Belgrade; it was a full strength team that took the field.

After a scrappy start, Rhyl showed their strength as they nearly put themselves in front after 17 minutes. Luke Holden crossed into the box where Mark Connelly rose highest to head the ball past Fariah Jackson only to see Danny Jarrett clear the ball off the line.

Colwyn Bay took the lead on 22 minutes when Lee Davey beat Rhyl defender Martyn Naylor and goalkeeper Lee Kendall to the ball. Davey chipped the ball over the out coming Kendall and neatly skipped past him.  Naylor failed to make the same manoeuvre as he collided with his keeper, leaving Davey free to tap home the Bay’s first goal of the campaign.

Rhyl pressed hard looking for an equaliser, but Colwyn Bay were never really threatened for the rest of the half.

During the second half, Neil Young made several changes as he gave all of the available squad a run out, including a few of the young trialists. Rhyl capitalised on the Bay’s changes as they scored three headed goals throughout the half.

Speaking to Tim Channon, Neil Young said he was very pleased with the way his new look side played for an hour.

Young went on to say "Considering this was their fourth game and we have only had the ball out for one session in training, I was very pleased. We also had some key players missing in Rob Hopley, Tim Brandreth and Chris Sanna, so the performance was very encouraging and gives us something to work on.  I thought our midfield three of Carl Clampitt, Jimmy Kelly and Steve Aspinall did very well and I was pleased with how Matthew Holt played at the back, while Lee Davey put in some good work down the left."

Pictures courtesy of Martin Lyons Photography