Dan Atkins goal sees Seagulls clinch title

A FIRST half goal from Dan Atkins was enough to give Colwyn Bay a 1-0 away victory at Penrhyncoch which secured the JD Cymru North title and promotion back to the Welsh Premier next season.

Great scenes at the end as Bay finish three points clear of rivals Airbus UK Broughton, who beat Caersws 3-2 in their final game.

The only goal of the game at Penrhyncoch came after 16 minutes when Dan Atkins raced onto a ball that bounced over a defender’s head and drilled a lows shot into the far corner of the net for his sixth goal in the last five games.

The Bay had to replace Will McKinley through injury after 34 minutes, but were close to doubling their lead when Sol Forde had a header cleared off the line.

It was an edgy performance overall and Penrhyncoch put up a good fight despite being having Rhys Jenkisnm sent off for a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time and having to play the whole of the second half with 10 men.

In the second half Dan Atkins blasted a close range chance over the bar and should have made the game safe when he was clear one-on-one with Leigh Jenkins, but a poor finish saw him shoot against the advancing home keeper’s legs.

Rhys Williams made a couple of saves but was not really tested thanks to some solid work in front him from the like of Sol Forde and Lewis Sirrell as the Bay kept a fifth successive clean sheet and complete an extraordinary 29 match unbeaten run in the league.

COLWYN BAY: Rhys Williams, Sam Hart (c), Lewis Sirrell, Sol Forde, Jay Owen, Craig Lindfield, Ethan Roberts, Josh Carey (George Nugent 90), Rhys Nash, Dan Atkins (Lloyd Marsh-Hughes 89), Will McKinley (Cai Owen 34). Subs unused: Rhys Lloyd (G), Jamie Cumming, Guto Williams, Tom Creamer.

Attendance: 407

Delight for Dan Atkins (centre) after he scored the title-clinching matchwinner.