UniBond League Division One
Llanelian Road, Colwyn Bay, North Wales
Saturday, 22nd January 2005, 3.00pm
Brown on target for the Moatmen
Gresley Rovers made the long journey up to North Wales hoping to get back into winning ways but had to be content with a share of the points.
In an entertaining game both sides had chances to win the game and with both keepers in fine form a draw was probably the fairest result.
Colwyn Bay had the first chance on 3 minutes when Dan Webster's through ball found Calvin Davies but his shot was superbly saved by Gresley keeper Dale Belford.
Gresley's first attempt came on 12 minutes when Gary White sent Aaron O'Connor in on goal but his shot was well saved by Matt Parry.
Two minutes later, however, the home side took the lead. Alex Kevan found Carl Furlong with a accurate cross and the striker, who had just returned to the seagulls after a short spell at Runcorn, made no mistake firing past Belford.
A mistake by Jason van Blerk allowed Gresley the chance to get back almost immediately but Parry saved well from Emeka Ejiofor.
The visitors continued to look for an equaliser and on 20 minutes Ejiofor had another chance but he put his header, from a Liam Hebberd cross, just past the post.
The Seagulls defence was coming under attack after attack and O'Connor almost punished their hesitance. A long ball from Matt Smith saw the striker beat the back line only to be denied by an outstanding save from Parry.
Gresley had further chances with White and Brown both going close before the interval. Colwyn could have doubled their advantage almost on the half time whistle but Furlong's shot was blocked by Andy Marlowe.
A poor piece of refereeing by Mr Hughes denied Gresley a glorious chance of getting back on terms in the first minute of the second period. He pulled play back after a foul by Paul Roberts on Brown when O'Connor had the ball and was clean through on goal. Bizarrely, the official then apparently went over to the Gresley manager on the touchline and apologised for his action!
On 52 minutes O'Connor once again found himself with just Parry to beat after a running onto a through ball from White but the home keeper was again in superb form denying the frontrunner.
It looked as if it was going to be another of those days for Gresley as chances went begging and the keeper making match winning saves.
A pass from Marlowe found Jamie Barrett who tried to lob Parry but the keeper managed to get a touch on the ball. The rebound fell nicely for Ejiofor but a defender blocked his shot.
Belford, still struggling with a thigh strain picked up against Tamworth, found his clearance of Kevan's free kick on 56 minutes go only as far as Furlong but his first time shot went wide of the mark.
Three minutes later Marlowe was beaten for pace by Calvin Davies who then managed to cut the ball back for Furlong whose shot was deflected wide.
Belford was having as good a game as his opposite number and was called on to make a tremendous save from a free kick from Kevan that took a wicked deflection off a defender.
Manager Gary Norton decided to make changes bringing on Chris Freestone for Ejiofor and the change brought the desired outcome. Brown collected the ball took a few strides forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
Gresley then had chances to grab all three points, the best of them coming for O'Connor who slid in for a cross from Hebberd but the ball went agonisingly wide.
Manager's View
"I was disappointed with the first half performance not helped by a difficult surface and a side that battled it out.
"Four or five players seemed to be playing on reputations gained in the first half of the season and at half time I asked them if they were big enough to go out there and turn things around.
"I got the response I was looking for and the second half was better although we can't keep missing chances.
"In the end either side could have won it and it was a fantastic advert for UniBond football.
"Hopefully this will act as a foothold, we now need a bit of luck and we need to get opur heads down.
"With regards to the referee bringing the game back after a foul on Brown when Aaron was bearing down on goal. Well, to be fair to the ref, he came over to the touchline and apologised, which was big of him as not many referees would have done the same thing.
"That's the sort of thing that's going against us, but they say these things even themselves out over a season. I hope they do as I think we're owed a few!"
