A dramatic late equaliser from Ryan Astles ensured that Colwyn Bay salvaged a 2-2 draw against Connah’s Quay Nomads in their Cymru Premier match on March 15, 2024. The contest, attended by over 1,600 fans, saw the Nomads in a commanding position at halftime, leading by two goals.
The Nomads took control of the match in the 35th minute when Jacob Cook scored with a header from a corner delivered by Rhys Hughes. Just six minutes later, Callum West doubled their lead with a low shot following a well-executed one-two with Noah Edwards.
Colwyn Bay needed a quick response in the second half, and they found it less than five minutes after the restart. Jordan Davies converted a cross-turned-shot that found its way into the far corner, reigniting hopes for the home side.
As the match approached its conclusion, Connah’s Quay appeared poised to secure the victory. Yet, in the dying moments, a corner from George Hughes fell to Astles, who marked his debut with a dramatic equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
The mood in the Nomads’ camp was one of disappointment. Manager John Disney expressed frustration with his team’s second-half performance, stating, “Of course, we’re gutted. But our second-half performance wasn’t good enough from ourselves.” He noted the team’s failure to maintain defensive discipline, allowing Colwyn Bay to capitalize on set pieces, which they are known to excel at.
Astles, reflecting on his first match for Colwyn Bay, remarked, “My debut couldn’t have gone any better, really, last minute. But I think overall we probably deserved to at least get something out of the game.”
The draw kept Colwyn Bay in fifth place, four points behind the top four, while Connah’s Quay equalled their record for the longest unbeaten run in the Cymru Premier at 15 matches. Despite the disappointment of not securing a win, they remain in a strong position for a top-two finish as the season progresses.
In other matches, the league leaders, The New Saints, continued their strong form, defeating Barry Town United 1-0, thanks to an early goal from Ryan Brobbel. The Championship Conference clash between Penybont and Caernarfon Town ended in a goalless draw, keeping Caernarfon in fourth place, four points behind Penybont.
As the season enters its critical phase, both Colwyn Bay and Connah’s Quay will look to build on their respective performances and secure their desired positions in the league standings.
