Colwyn Bay 3-2 Boston United

Danny Sleath and Marc Newsham twice handed United the lead — but two long-range strikes from Karl Noon and a fine effort from Shelton Payne clawed the Seagulls to an unlikely victory.

The result was hard to take for the Pilgrims who had braved sub-zero temperatures to make a mammoth midweek trip to North Wales — and came so close to leaving Llanellian Road with a positive result.

Showing an unchanged XI for the third successive match, the Pilgrims defied the logic that their performance may be ‘leggy’ after such a long journey — and arguably bossed the opening stages.

Sleath whistled a 20-yarder narrowly wide following neat build-up play from midfield partners Ben Milnes and Ian Ross while Paul Bastock was called upon to produce a smothering save to keep out an angled drive from Bay player-boss Jon Newby.

The Pilgrims took the lead on the half-hour mark. Newsham was wrestled to the ground by Matt Hughes and after Ross had laid the free-kick sideways, SLEATH angled home a 25-yard effort through a crowd of bodies.

United thought they had doubled their lead moments later when Sleath put Newsham clear to finish neatly beyond Chris Sanna, but the assistant referee’s flag cut short any Boston celebrations.

Bay responded with Rob Hopley’s header bouncing up off the hard ground and to safety via Bastock’s right-hand post, while the Boston keeper also had to deny Newby at his near post.

Sanna was back in action shortly afterwards — standing tall to block a Spencer Weir-Daley effort which appeared goalbound.

The second half started with Noon introduced in place of the injured Frank Sinclair — and the substitute was in the thick of the action within five minutes.

United were unable to sufficiently clear their lines and NOON flashed a long-range drive beyond the reach of a stranded Bastock.

There was not much time for the hosts to savour parity though as United retook the lead on 53 minutes. Ross clipped a quick free-kick into the path of NEWSHAM, who neatly controlled the ball before firing it beyond an exposed Sanna.

Play was swinging from end-to-end and Bastock made a terrific fingertip save to keep out Payne’s low drive.

United’s respite was shortlived though and from the resulting partially-cleared Michael Lea corner, PAYNE sailed home a brilliant 25-yarder into the top corner.

Boston had chances to assert their advantage for a third time with Weir-Daley glancing a Conor Marshall cross over the bar, before having a deflected drive clutched by Sanna.

United’s best chance was still to come and with three minutes remaining, skipper Gareth Jelleyman delivered a tremendous cross from the left and with Sanna grasping at thin air, Constantine stabbed the ball wide at the back post.

The Seagulls made the most of their reprieve with NOON seizing possession 25 yards from goal before picking his spot high to Bastock’s right — a matter of seconds after Constantine’s miss.

Colwyn Bay (4-4-2): Chris Sanna; Luke Denson, Frank Sinclair (Karl Noon 46), Matt Hughes, Michael Lea; Gareth Evans, John McKenna, Lee Davey, Shelton Payne; Jon Newby, Rob Hopley. Subs (not used): Lee McEvilly, Liam Benson, Jamie McKernan.

Boston (4-3-3): Paul Bastock; Conor Marshall, Lee Canoville (Kevin Austin 75), Tom Ward, Gareth Jelleyman; Ben Milnes, Ian Ross, Danny Sleath; Ben Fairclough (Leon Constantine 65), Spencer Weir-Daley, Marc Newsham. Subs (not used): Chris Hall, Nathan Stainfield, Tyrone Kirk.

Referee: Rob Jones