Colwyn Bay 0 AFC Telford 1 - match report
AFC Telford United picked up a vital victory to stay on top of the Skrill Conference North after a keenly contested one-goal win at Colwyn Bay.
A hotly-disputed penalty from Adam Farrell, his 15th league goal of the season, proved the difference between the two sides at Llanelian Road today.
Title-chasers North Ferriby United had led at third-placed Altrincham before conceding an equaliser late on to only manage a 1-1 draw, putting the Bucks three points clear having played a game more.
Telford and the hosts battled for every ball from the off and it was the visitors who first went close on 15 minutes through Mike Phenix, recalled to the starting line-up.
Farrell found him in a pocket of space with Phenix struggling to manoeuvre but he managed to get his header away, only for it to drop just wide.
A minute later, Colwyn Bay goalkeeper Chris Sanna had to tip over a header from Mike Grogan, who poised himself to stoop a looping effort towards goal.
A match-turning point came in the 26th minute when Farrell missed the ball completely, after Andy Owens rolled the ball into the box from the left wing.
Farrell went down under an alleged kick from Gareth Evans and referee Joseph Johnson pointed to the spot, to the fury of the home crowd and Bay manager Frank Sinclair.
With Sinclair marching up to the other end of the pitch to remonstrate, Farrell dusted himself off to send Sanna the wrong way with a cool finish straight down the middle.
Defender Neill Byrne nearly widened the lead just after the half hour, his header drifting just wide from Matthew McGinn's corner.
Bay substitute James Ellison made an impact after his introduction in the 55th minute and, seconds later, nearly steered the ball into the net.
He got the touch that pushed it past goalkeeper Ryan Young but captain Simon Grand acted before the ball could get over the line, hacking it wide.
Young had to be at his best to deny Ellison again in the 63rd minute, a brilliant one-handed save preventing an almost-certain goal.
Telford, themselves, had the ball in the net on 71 minutes through Dan Preston, who headed home Farrell's free kick but was judged to be offside.
