Colwyn Bay 1 Wakefield 1
MANAGER Neil Young and his staff have to try and relight the fire that has seen their Colwyn Bay squad in the top two for most of the last seven months or risk a nightmare six-match challenge during April.
Six clubs are locked together at the top of the Unibond First Division North league fighting over the one automatic and four play off places needed to win promotion to the Premiership, the stepping stone to the Conference fortune and nationwide media coverage.
Bay's chances lie in seeing off just one of Skelmersdale United, Curzon Ashton or Leigh Genesis.
The problem is that these rivals are hitting top form, all winning on Saturday, while the Seagulls are failing to see off opponents even when they are ahead.
It happened again on Saturday when Wakefield came from behind to draw. Young his staff and players will also need the support of the Bay fans, a factor that affects the outcome of the on field challenges. Bay are home on Easter Monday to face Woodley Sports after crucial away games at Clitheroe last night (Tuesday) and at Prescott Cables on Good Friday.
The Seagulls had a good enough start in a generally awful game, against a rough and ready Wakefield side, the home defence Danny Grannon and Greg Stones in central defence and new signing Glenn Rule were not troubled, Jimmy Kelly and Anthony Sheehan were busy in midfield but Ian Sheridan alone up front got short shrift from big defenders.
The result against the wind were a couple of clear cut chances while the one that did go in was Adriano "Celi" Rigoglioso made when a chase took him to 20 yards out at an acute angle he set himself to half volley a ball that found the net high up.
The home side's lack of confidence surfaced and the visitors made it 1-1 when Bay failed to clear a corner after 73 minutes, Mark Roberts's header came back off a post before he scored.