Gateshead

The Bay's run of three consecutive defeats in the Unibond League Premier Division came to an end in the north east but they should really have come away with all three points from Gateshead after leading 3-1 at half time.

Gateshead made a furious start, forcing the Seagulls back, and it came as no real surprise when they went in front after 14 minutes.

Steve Preen applied the final touch to a flowing move which the visitors' defence failed to cut out.

But the Bay hit back and Dean Williams broke down the middle to fire home the equaliser from 12 yards in the 24th minute.

It looked like the teams were set to change round at 1-1 until the Seagulls suddenly conjured up two goals just before the break. James McIlvogue was in the right place to make it 2-1 in the 40th minute to take his tally for the season to six, and then right on
the stroke of half time, Deiniol Graham punished another defensive lapse by the hosts to give his side a two-goal cushion.

The visitors needed to make a solid start to the second period and not give anything away at the back but they failed to do so. Phil Ross threw Gateshead a lifeline in the 48th minute with an opportunist effort.

The Welshmen tightened up at the back and braced themselves for an expected onslaught from Gateshead but the second half was anything but one-way traffic.

The Seagulls continued to push forward in search of what would have been a killer fourth goal and they went close to catching their opponents on the
counter-attack on quite a few occasions.

But just when the Seagulls seemed poised to pull off a rare victory at the International Athletics Stadium, they were breached five minutes from time by Preen who pocketed his second goal of the game to rescue a point for his side.

Colwyn Bay: Paul Smith, Stuart Scheuber, Alun Evans, Paul Jones, Glen Graham, Dean Williams, Owain Roberts(Colin Caton 86), Graham Roberts(C), Deiniol Graham(Joe McMahon 88), James McIlvogue(Jon Fisher-Cooke 79), Craig Lawton. Attendance 201.