January 1, 2026
Fatbear decided to start the New Year with a bang by watching an early kick-off in the Cymru Premier on S4C !
Today would be the first time these diaries had featured a game from the Cymru Premier, although The New Saints were covered playing Dundee in the 2022/23 Scottish Challenge Cup, and Haverfordwest Town against Shkendija of North Macedonia in the 2023/24 Europa Conference League was also reported on.
Cymru Premier
Formally known as the League of Wales, the Cymru Premier was first played for in 1992/93, and currently consists of 12 sides, but will be expanded to 16 teams for next season. Each side plays each other twice, and after 22 matches the top 6 split to form the Championship Conference and play a further 22 games, whilst the bottom 6 form the Play-Off Conference. Two sides will be relegated and six sides promoted, subject to Tier 1 licences being granted.
Today’s match was part of Round 21, with Colwyn Bay needing one point from their final two games to be assured of reaching the Championship Conference, whilst Flint Town United were already assigned to the Play-Off Conference.
Colwyn Bay FC ( Clwb Pêl-Droed Bae Colwyn )
Colwyn Bay is on the north coast of Wales and is known for its 3-mile beach. The population of the greater area is around 30,000
Its football team were founded in 1881 and have nicknames of The Seagulls or The Bay. Although initially playing in the Welsh National League ( North ), Colwyn Bay moved to the English League structure in 1983/84 when they joined the North West Counties Division Three. Three promotions led to promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League at the end of 1990/91.
At the end of 1991/92, Colwyn Bay were ordered by the Welsh FA to join the newly formed League Of Wales, but Colwyn Bay were a refusenik, and part of what was dubbed the “Irate Eight”, along with Barry Town, Bangor City, Caernarfon Town, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Newtown and Rhyl. To stay in the English non-league pyramid, Colwyn Bay were barred from playing in Wales, so they initially played at Northwich Victoria, and then Ellesmere Port, before successfully winning a court case enabling them to return home.
Promotion via the play-offs in 2010/11 took The Seagulls to step 2 Conference North where they stayed for four seasons before being relegated back down to the Northern Premier League. Another relegation to NPL Division One North followed until Colwyn Bay opted to rejoin the Welsh Leagues and entered the second tier Cymru North for 2019/20. The Seagulls won the 2022/23 Cymru North title to earn promotion but their stay in the Cymru Premier lasted only one season. However, The Seagulls bounced back at the first attempt to be promoted back to the Cymru Premier for this season.
Home is the 3,000 capacity Llanelian Road, which has 1,850 seats, and for sponsorship reasons is now known as the Blue Turtle Arena.
Colwyn Bay This Season
Colwyn Bay came into this round of fixtures in 5th place with an 8-6-6 record, and were 4-4-2 at home. They started the season with a 1-1 home draw with Connah’s Quay Nomads, and they drew four of their opening 5 matches until a 4-1 victory at Cardiff Met University. A 3-0 home win over Haverfordwest followed, but a run of just two goals in six games followed, but eight points were procured with two wins and two draws.
The Seagulls had won three of their last matches, beating Llanelli Town ( H 3-1 ), Penybont ( H 5-4 ) and last time out, 2-1 at Caernarfon Town. However, they had lost 0-1 at Haverfordwest and 1-2 at Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Colwyn Bay were currently the best supported team in the Cymru Premier with an average attendance of 886, with the highest being the 1,516 for the game against Connah’s Quay Nomads on Day 1.
Colwyn Bay Squad
Ex-Connah’s Quay Nomads and Haverfordwest striker Jordan Davies was the Seagulls top scorer with 10 goals after joining from Greenock Morton in August. Forward Louis Robles, ex-Wigan, Macclesfield, Grimsby, TNS and Bala, joined in the summer and had 5 goals to his name.
19-year-old keeper Alex Brown was on loan from Chester City, centre-back Lewis Sirell had played for Gateshead and Swedish side Ostersund, midfielder Aeron Edwards spent 12 seasons with The New Saints, whilst centre-back Nathan Peate had played for Cefn Druids and Bala.
Winger Aron Williams had played for Connah’s Quay Nomads and forward Aaron Williams, no relation, had played in the Football League for Walsall, Peterborough and Newport County, and Harrogate, Brackley and Newtown were amongst his other clubs. Midfielder George Hughes had played for Shrewsbury and Newtown.
Manager Micheal Wilde had played for Fleetwood Town, The New Saints, Chester, Flint Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Watching Colwyn Bay
Fatbear had seen Colwyn Bay play on one occasion, when as a National League North side they visited Oxford City in 2013/14, and won 2-1. Ex-Chelsea and Leicester City defender Frank Sinclair was the Seagulls manager at the time, and defender Danny Meadowcroft scored both goals.
Colwyn Bay finished 13th that season and had an average home attendance of 348.
Flint Town United
Flint is a town on estuary of the River Dee and opposite The Wirral, and has a population of around 15,000. Its most prominent feature is probably Flint Castle.
Its football side were founded in 1886 and are known as The Silkmen. They haven’t bothered to translate their name into Welsh but interestingly, home is Cae-y-Castell ( The Castle Field ), although for sponsorship reasons it is now called The Essity Stadium. Connah’s Quay Nomads moved in as tenants in 2023.
The club had played in the North Wales League, the West Cheshire League, Welsh League ( North ) and the Cymru Alliance before becoming founder members of the League of Wales in 1992/93. Flint Town United were relegated at the end of the 1997/98 season and thereafter they played at the second tier Cymru Alliance/Cymru North until a second placed finish at the end of 2019/20 saw promotion back to the top level.
Another relegation followed in 2022/23 after a last day defeat, but they bounced straight back when a second placedfinish meant promotion after Cymru North champions Holywell Town failed to be awarded the necessary licence for the Cymru Premier.
Last season Flint Town United finished 9th to stay in the division.
Flint Town United This Season
Flint came into today’s match in 11th place with a 4-6-10 record, and were 1-4-5 away from home. Scoring goals had not been a problem, their 32 was the 5th highest in the division, but 48 conceded was only better than bottom side Llanelli Town.
Flint started the season reasonably well and after 5 matches they stood in 6th place in the table. Victories had been registered at home to Cardiff Metropolitan University ( 4-2 ) and at Llanelli Town ( 5-0 ) and the opening game had been a 1-1 draw at Bala Town.
However, only two wins had been achieved since, 2-1 over Briton Ferry Llansawel and 4-0 against Llanelli, both at home. The Silkmen were currently on a run of 8 games without a win, but 4 of these had been drawn. Last time out, Flint Town United slipped to a 0-2 loss at home to tenants Connah’s Quay Nomads in front of their best crowd of the season with 720 in attendance
The average crowd for the season to-date was 346.
Flint Town United Squad
Ex-Alfreton Town centre-forward Elliott Reeves was the top scorer with 11 goals, the joint-second best in the League. Ex-Aberystwyth and Caernarfon midfielder Ben Wynne was next with 4 goals.
The keeper was the aptly named Jack Flint, who had played in the youth teams at Crewe Alexandra and Bolton Wanderers, Spanish defensive midfielder Sidi Sanogo-Fofana had played for several non-league clubs including Macclesfield and Runcorn, and centre-back and captain Harry Owen had played for Colwyn Bay and Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Jamaican forward Darren Stephenson had played for Bradford City, Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, Chester and appeared in these diaries for Farsley Celtic at Oxford City. Full-back Ben Wollam and midfielder Jake Canavan were on loan from The New Saints.
Midfielder Jake Phillips had played for 6 Welsh sides, including Airbus UK and Connah’s Quay Nomads, left-back Dan Davies was a former Welsh Under 18 international whilst at Wrexham and had also played for Colwyn Bay, and midfielder Jack Thorn was ex-Wrexham, Newtown and Aberystwyth, and was the son of former Wimbledon, Newcastle and Crystal Palace defender Andy Thorn.
Zimbabwe defensive midfielder Alec Mudimu ( 26 caps ) has had an exotic career, playing for Sheriff Tiraspol, Ankaraspor, two sides in Georgia and Tunisians Olymique de Beja, in addition to Stalybridge Celtic, Altrincham and Cefn Druids, and was in the Zimbabwe squad for AFCON 25 in Morocco but didn’t get to play.
Flint’s manager was Lee Fowler, a maverick playmaker fondly remembered by Crawley Town supporters for his half a season there in 2015, and who numbered Coventry City, Huddersfield, Newport Country, Wrexham, Burton Albion and Forest Green Rovers amongst his other former clubs. Fowler had been in the Flint hot-seat since 2022.
Matchday Information
According to AA Route Planner, the journey from Flint to Colwyn Bay is 28 miles and should normally take 36 minutes along the North Wales Expressway.
Tickets for the game were £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for children.
The weather at the 12.30 kick-off was light rain and a stiff breeze, with a temperature of 7 degrees.
The match was shown live on S4C, and also on the Sgorio YouTube Channel with a choice of Welsh and English language commentaries available.
Bet365 made Colwyn Bay 7/10 favourites, with Flint Town United at 14/5 and the draw also 14/5
Colwyn Bay made one change to their team, with defender Sol Forde replacing Aaron Williams. Forde had a short loan spell at Flint when on the books of Chester.
Flint made three changes with Mudimu returning after Zimbabwe’s elimination from AFCON 25, and forwards Michael Burke and Josh Jones were selected. Top scorer Reeves and Ben Wynne dropped to the bench and Dan Davies missed out completely.
Colwyn Bay were playing in their usual claret and blue shirts, with claret shorts and socks whilst Flint were in black and white stripes, with black shorts and socks.
Colwyn Bay started with eight Welshman in their line-up compared to just three for Flint.
Match Report
With less than a minute played Colwyn Bay won a throw-in near the left-hand corner flag, which was launch long and bounced across the 6-yard line until Fofana headed away. Flint attacked and won the first corner of the game, which was headed clear by Sirell.
Sirell than played a pass down the left-hand touchline for Ethan Roberts, who skillfully cut inside Wollam but the dangerous low cross was gathered by Flint keeper Flint.
The game was initially end-to-end and in the 4th minute Stephenson’s left footed shot lacked power, and Brown saved at his near post.
The visitors were starting to get on top and Canavan floated a lovely ball in the Bay area. The touch from Phillips went to Stephenson, who blazed over from 8 yards, he really should have scored. The impressive Canavan then sent a low ball across the goalmouth but just ahead of Stephenson, who retrieved the ball and laid back to Canavan, but his shot was blocked on 6-yard line.
In the 7th minute Flint won their second corner, but Phillips’ delivery was well caught by Brown. A minute later Davies won Colwyn Bay’s first corner of the match, which came to nothing
Flint nearly opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Canavan’s through pass found Jones in space and his shot from the edge of the area hit the post and bounced to safety.
Thorn then brought down Roberts to give Colwyn Bay a free-kick on the left-hand side just outside the Flint penalty area, but Flint, the keeper, produced a good punch under pressure and Phillips helped the ball away.
With 16 minutes played Flint created another good chance. Stephenson did well to keep the ball in play and laid back to Fofana, but with the goal in his sights the Spaniard slipped and spooned the ball high and wide.
Colwyn Bay had their first effort in the 19th minute when Roberts played a low ball from the left wing but Cumming’s first time shot went high and wide from just inside the area.
Colwyn Bay were now enjoying a brief spell of pressure and Davies turned and shot just over the bar from the 18-yard line. Poor control from Mudimu then resulted in the concession of a corner, which Edwards took, but Peate under pressure from Fofana headed wide from 6 yards.
Flint were soon back on the attack and Wollam’s great cross-field past was well controlled by Burke, who received a return pass from Stephenson and then passed to Canavan 10 yards from goal, but the fierce left footed effort was matched by a great save by Brown.
Brown then undid his good work with a sloppy pass out from the back which was intercepted by Fofana, who went for goal but saw his shot blocked. The Silkman regained possession and Jones shot narrowly wide from the edge of area.
In a rare foray by Colwyn Bay into the Flint area, Robles’ low shot from a tight angle was helped around post by Flint, but a foul at the corner gave the visitors a free-kick. Madimu then fouled Williams for a Bay free-kick on the right. The delivery from Hughes was well claimed by Flint.
The first yellow card of the game arrived in the 39th minute when Robles fouled Wollam, after which the free-kick from Phillips was headed away by Peate, who a couple of minutes later headed away a Phillips corner.
The last action of the half saw a Flint free-kick from the half-way line caught above his head by Brown.
It was goalless at the interval but Flint had created the best chances and probably should have been ahead.
The wind had got much stronger as the second half started but despite playing into the wind, it was Flint who started the better of the two sides. Phillips played a nice pass to enable Jones to get to the byline, and his pull back found Canavan just inside the Colwyn Bay area, but the TNS loanee put a great chance over the bar.
A poor kick from the Colwyn Bay keeper was headed back by Fofana on the half-way line and Jones ran clear. and finished by sliding the ball between advancing keeper’s legs and into the net. 0-1 after 51 minutes.
Colwyn Bay almost immediately grabbed a fluke equaliser as a long free-kick caught the wind and was heading for the top corner until the Flint keeper dived and pushed the ball away for a corner
Flint were not going to sit back on their lead and Jones ran onto a pass down the right-hand channel and laid the ball back to Phillips, whose cross was met by the diving Burke, but under pressure the header went well wide.
Burke then played an inviting low ball from left after a pass from Thorn but no-one was at far post for a tap in. Stephenson then played Jones clear but an offside flag denied the visitors.
With 62 minutes on the clock, Colwyn Bay came close again. Flint punched a cross clear but only as far as Cumming on edge of area, who headed goalwards, but the ball smacked against the crossbar and keeper Flint claimed the loose ball.
Cumming went for goal from 25 yards but Flint made a regulation catch above his head, then at the other end a cross-cum-shot from Jones was caught above his head by the Colwyn Bay keeper.
With 73 minutes played, after a Roberts cross was headed away by Owen, Sirell’s left footed drive from angle of penalty area went straight at Flint, who held well.
Colwyn Bay patiently built up an attack until Flint’s Canavan sliced his attempted clearance high and back into his own area. Davies challenged with Thorn, who fell to the ground, but the referee allowed play to continue and Hughes swept the ball into the bottom corner from 14 yards. 1-1 with 76 minutes played.
The Seagulls attacked again and Davies kept the ball in play near the corner flag and found Roberts, who delivered a left footed cross. The attempted clearance by Owen was wildly sliced across his own goal but Madimu cleared to start a Flint counter. Phillips put Jones clear, but the shot from 20 yards was well saved by the diving Brown.
Play was held up with around 10 minutes remaining to be played as the referee had picked up an injury, and the Fourth Official needed to take over.
Flint were still going for the win, and Reeves and Wynne were brought on to freshen up their attack. However, it was the home side who pressed next, as a long throw from substitute Matty Hill bounced across the Flint area until being sliced in to the air for the Flint keeper to punch away for a throw on the opposite side of the pitch, which Fofana headed away. Colwyn Bay pumped the ball back into the mixer and the keeper again punched away.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Hill’s cross from right was met by susbstitute Aaron Williams but his header flews a couple feet wide of the near post.
Reeves’ first involvement was to get to the left byline and cross low across the goalmouth where Hughes hurriedly cleared.
Eight additional minutes were indicated as Flint won a corner. Canavan sent the set-piece to the near post and Owen headed towards the goal. Brown parried the header on his line and then claimed the ball as it rebounded of the post. However, the linesman signalled that the ball had crossed the line before the keeper clutched it, and the TV replays showed it was a good decision by the assistant. It was now 1-2 in the 92nd minute.
Colwyn Bay frantically surged forward searching for an equaliser and after the ball bounced around the Flint area, Cumming’s shot struck a defender and was cleared.
With Colwyn Bay leaving gaps at the back, Reeves got to a long ball ahead of the Bay keeper and poked it past him, then ran on to it. However, with the ball running away from the goal, Reeves shot left footed over the bar as defenders desperately raced back to cover.
Reeves had another good chance to seal the victory a minute later as Jones and Wynne combined to tee-up the striker, but Reeves shot over the bar from 12 yards.
The game ended with a bit of a whimper. A Colwyn Bay free-kick was launched from their own half into the Flint area where Fofana headed away. The ball was pumped back in but a couple of Bay attackers were offside, and the referee blew for full time.
With this defeat Colwyn Bay remained in 5th place in the table and technically still needed one more point to finish in the top 6, although 7th placed Cardiff Metropolitan would need to win and make up an 8-goal difference. Flint moved above Bala and into 10th in the table.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dASn-lyydRs
Colwyn Bay : Brown – Forde, Peate, Sirell – Aron Williams ( U Kargbo ), Cumming, Edwards ( Aaron Williams ), Hughes, Roberts – Robles ( Hill ), Davies
Flint Town United : Flint – Wollam, Owen, Mudimu – Phillips ( Wynne ), Canavan,H Thorn, Fofana, Burke – Stephenson ( Reeves ), Jones
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