A home defeat to Colwyn Bay knocked Gresford Athletic out of the 2024/25 Welsh Blood Service League Cup in round two on Saturday.
Colwyn Bay were the dominant team from the off, but Gresford Athletic did well to keep the score level for the first 20 minutes or so.
However, in the 26th minute, The Seasiders found the breakthrough and Craig Linford put them ahead.
Charlie Mann tried his luck from range in the 35th minute, but Rhys Williams in the Colwyn Bay net was there to stop the shot.
Just moments later, in the 36th minute, Lewis Dutton pulled off a great save to deny a dangerous effort from The Seasiders.
The Colliers denied Colwyn Bay a second before the break, ensuring that they were still in the tie going into the second half.
HALF-TIME | Gresford Athletic 0-1 Colwyn Bay
Immediately from the restart, Colwyn Bay almost found their second goal of the game, pinging the woodwork in the 47th minute.
However, The Seasiders did double their lead not long later, with Josh Carey firing a free-kick into the net in the 51st minute.
The score maintained at 2-0 for most of the remainder of the game, but late on, in the 88th minute, Colwyn Bay debutant George Nugent played a cross into the box for substitute Gwion Dafydd to put The Seasiders three ahead with minutes left on the clock.
The full-time whistle blew and The Colliers exited the 2024/25 Welsh Blood Service League Cup and now turn their focus onto the remaining league fixtures.
FULL-TIME | Gresford Athletic 0-3 Colwyn Bay
Gresford Athletic
Starting XI: Dutton (GK), A. Smith, J. Smith, Hesp (Bennett - 75'), Nelson, Griffiths (C) (Ormrod - 68'), Johnson, Ozlu (Bagnall - 68'), Edge (T. Smith - 68'), Mann, Forbes (Gallagher-Keenan - 57')
Yellow cards: Forbes, A. Smith, Dutton
Colwyn Bay
Starting XI: R. Williams (GK), J. Williams, Hart (C), Sirrell, Forde, Owen, Lindfield (Marsh-Hughes - 63'), Roberts (Nugent - 63'), Carey (Creamer - 90'), Nash (Cumming - 90'), Atkins (Dafydd - 77')
Goalscorers: Lindfield, Carey, Dafydd
Yellow cards: Forde
Subs not used: Lloyd (GK), G. Williams
Match Officials
Referee: Andy Harms
Assistant Referees: Katie Hannah, Luke Allsop