COLWYN Bay suffered a blow to their Evo-stik North playoff hopes after a late collapse resulted in a 2-1 home loss to Scarborough Athletic.

The Seagulls remain in seventh spot but failing to secure anything from a clash they led for more than 70 minutes against the second placed side could prove crucial at the end of the campaign.

Alan Morgan’s side will look to put things right in their remaining three games, which begin at home to Clitheroe on Saturday (3pm).

The Bay boss, said: “We never really got going second half. They went more direct with long balls and we didn’t deal with it.

“Sam (Barnes) has not trained since his baby was born so that is part of it, also Josh (Brizell) has done well and I wanted to bring Granty (Gaz Grant) back because of his pace at the back, but it just wasn’t to be.”

The home side started the game in positive fashion and went ahead early on after Lass Mendes found the net after three minutes following good work from Will Booth and Astley Mulholland.

Danny Andrews missed a good chance to double their tally soon after, and they were made to pay after the break when Mike Coulson’s looping header levelled matter on 75 minutes, and things got even worse three minutes later when Jerome Slew prodded home from close range after Brizell had initial cleared an effort off the line.

The Seagulls almost rescued a share of the spoils late on when Jamie Rainford’s thunderous effort sailed narrowly over, and a red card for the visiting Luke Dean in stoppage time came too late to make a difference.

Another concerning factor is the injury to Bay striker Mulholland, who suffered a hamstring injust late in the first half which may end his season.

With Tadcaster held to a draw at Ossett Albion, Bay stay in seventh place but the pressure is on now to win the next three games in order to overhaul sixth-placed Trafford.