Colwyn Bay 2 Harrogate 0
THE INTRODUCTION of an 18 year-old on-loan substitute brought the second half of this dour contest to life.
Towyn-born Crewe apprentice Alex Titchener showed a dynamism of youth and skills beyond his years to galvanise a Bay team which just could not get going.
With title rivals Lancaster soundly beaten 4-1, and five other key matches frozen out, the Seagulls needed to take advantage of their return to the field.
However, they struggled on a difficult pitch against opponents who mixed strength in defence with sharp-witted attacking and some late tackles.
It was one such tackle that saw Neil Black limp off the pitch after nine minutes.
Black’s absence left Bay without a cutting edge, but Titchener’s arrival for Russ Headly after 56 minutes heralded a whole new ball game.
Bay’s new-found determination set the visitors’ nerves on edge with Tom McGill who hit an overhead shot by keeper James Mann and Ian Sheridan finding space.
Then at last a Dave Challinor long throw fell to Sheridan who nutmegged a defender and bent a 15 yard shot around Mann's despairing dive at 76 minutes.
A complete transformation found Bay playing to feet despite the pitch with Ryan Williams and Ian Sheean, on for James Olsen active in midfield and with full backs Lou Denson and new comer Anthony Lynch joining in down the flanks set the fans purring.
James Kelly found Sheridan across from right to left and he slipped in Titchener who from a tight angle shot across high and handsomely into the net to seal the youngsters man's man of the match tag and three points made more special by title rival's Lancaster's 4 - 1 defeat with no one else in the top five playing.
Manager Neil Young said the game had shown “how badly the side needs a big,
strong forward who can hold the ball up and compete with opposing centre backs. Harrogate were a big side who set their stall out to get in our faces and close us down, but a raised second half tempo and the introduction of Alex certainly stretched them.”
"Being left with three teenagers up front in Ian Sheridan (19), Tom McGill (19) and then Alex Titchener (18) and all things considered they have done well to get us two goals and win a game we could easily have lost."
Although the Bay boss failed to sign Rhyl’s top scorer Mark Connolly, he has enlisted the Lilywhites’ utility player Greg Stones, and the search goes on to ensure a successful end to the season.Stuart Graves (pulled thigh muscle) and Carl Clampitt (knee) missed out on Saturday.
Llandudno are due at Llanelian Road tonight (Wednesday) with a 7.15kick-off for a friendly match.