Colwyn Bay 1

Whitby Town 4

BLUES recorded just their second away win of the season to condemn Welsh side Colwyn Bay to the drop and improve their own survival hopes.

Town manager Chris Hardy made one change from the side that defeated Marine, at the Turnbull, on Saturday.

Dave McTiernan was sidelined with work commitments, so Callum Martin returned to take his midfield berth.

Despite a 195-mile journey to the North Wales coast, The Seasiders dominated the first half with Anthony Hume forcing goalkeeper Andy Farrimond to smother at his near post, after firing goalwards from the right byline, inside three minutes.

Mikey Roberts then found space, after cutting in off the left flank and Farrimond had to throw himself to his right, to tip a low drive around the post. Town finally broke the deadlock, on 13 minutes, when Farrimond again parried a Roberts effort, conceding a left-wing corner which Roberts delivered onto the head of towering centre-half Richard Pell. Pell's downward finish, at the far post- his first goal of the season- gave Farrimond no chance. The gloveman then blocked with his legs following another Roberts break and shot, from 20 yards.

The home side, who were relegated from the National League North, a year earlier, mustered their first opportunity, on 18 minutes. A left-wing corner was met strongly by Pell's opposite number Jordan Fagbola, only for Town skipper Mark Robinson to head off the goal line.

Whitby were soon back on the attack and midway through the first half, Kieran Weledji bulldozed his way through, on the right-edge of the box. Again playing as a right wing-back, the ex-Middlesbrough defender's pass turned shot went straight through Hume and Farribond, skidding across goal and inches wide. Seconds later, Bay's number one produced the save of the night, a superb reflex tip-over to keep out Roberts' deflected 18-yard hit.

So the visitors were left shell-shocked when Colwyn levelled out of nothing, eleven minutes from half-time. A hopeful ball forward fell kindly for Carl Lamb, who was left in acres of space, to drive forward and slam into the bottom-right corner, from just inside the Whitby box.

Soon after, Hume headed over Andy McWilliams' left-wing cross, from 12 yards, while at the other end, Shane Bland held skipper and joint player-manager Carl Rodgers' speculative near-post drive, from close to the left touchline.

As Town pushed to regain their lead before half-time, Jamie Poole saw his header deflected over the Colwyn crossbar, McWilliams' central 20-yard free-kick was pushed around his right-hand post, by Farrimond. A third chance in as many minutes saw another Pell downward header touched wide by Farrimond with Dale Hopson's 20-yard, rising drive, from the resulting Roberts corner, clipping the keeper's right-hand stanchion, leading to many suspended cheers.

The home side began the second half strongly, without truly testing Bland, despite winning a left-wing corner and having the better of the early possession. For Whitby, Pell turned just too high and wide, while it took a moment of brilliance to regain Town's advantage. Just before the hour, Roberts, with his back to goal, hooked the ball over his own head before rounding Farrimond and clipping into the empty net.

Bay should have levelled, within five minutes, however, as great work from Lamb saw him released Jordan Harper. Bland raced out to narrow the angle, but was beaten by Harper, who lost his footing, allowing Town's young stopper to claim.

Hopson cut in off the left flank and saw his 18-yard hit towards the top-left corner, deflected narrowly wide, while Roberts was again unlucky to see his low shot for the bottom-right corner kept out by a combination of strike-partner Hume and Farrimond, on the goal-line. This followed great skill from McWilliams to beat more than one defender as he skipped along the left byline and cut back to Town's top scorer, lurking just inside the box.

Town finally put the result beyond doubt, nine minutes from time. Roberts turned provider after cutting in from the right corner flag and teeing up Hume to force home his first Whitby goal, at the near post.

Roberts wasn't done there and ensured he moved to 24 goals for the season as he worked an opening patiently, on the right-edge of the Bay box, before blasting into the top-right corner of the net.

The final whistle saw Town's intrepid travelling support celebrate with players and management, just as Roberts had moments earlier after netting Whitby's fourth.