Noon double leads Bay fightback

KARL NOON came on as a half-time substitute and hit two goals as Colwyn Bay
twice came from behind in a storming second half to snatch a thrilling 3-2 victory over Boston United.
His second goal was a screamer from 30 yards four minutes from time to win it, but the whole side showed tremendous character to turn the game around - especially after they had lost defensive linchpin Frank Sinclair with a hamstring injury at the interval.
The problem is not thought to be too serious, although he looks certain to miss Saturday's home game against Halifax, while keeper Chris Sanna could also be a doubt with a recurrence of his shoulder injury.
But player-boss Jon Newby was delighted with the result and the performance, especially after Fraser McLachlan was a late withdrawal due to work commitments and Danny Meadowcroft was also an absentee after his baby daughter Evie was taken poorly again.
Lee Davey came in and had an outstanding second half, while Noon ended up being the matchwinner after coming on in midfield when John McKenna switched into the back four due to Sinclair's injury.
I would rate Noon's match-winning goal as possibly the best he has scored for the club, although he says he remembers a left foot volley which possibly topped it, but in any event it was great response after being relegated to the subs bench in the last couple of league games.
"I didn't expect him to make the impact he did, but I always felt it only needed a goal to get him going again and his two tonight were top drawer," said Newby.
"I couldn't have been more proud of every one of the lads," added the boss. "We showed unbelievable character, especially after going 2-1 down so quickly after getting back to 1-1, and we have won it with three fantastic finishes - the quality of the goals would not have been out of place in the Premier League.
"It has given me a selection headache for Saturday with Lee Davey and Nooney coming in and doing so well, but that is the kind of problem you want.
"I was possibly a bit disappointed with the way we played in the first half, despite creating some good chances, but we said before hand it was important not to get frustrated because it is different at home when teams sit in a little bit and you have to be patient and battle away to break them down.
"The second half became a little bit too open than I would have liked, but sometimes you just have take a chance and go for it and fortunately it has paid off for us."
Boston took the lead on 30 minutes when Danny Sleath scored from a free kick for a foul by Matty Hughes which earned him a booking, and it needed a fine save by Chris Sanna, who threw his body in the way of a Daley Spence-Weir shot, to prevent Boston making it 2-0 before half-time.
Rob Hopley missed a couple of chances at the other end and Jon Newby had a shot that rebounded off keeper Paul Bastock, but Colwyn Bay were level five minutes into the second half when Hopley laid the ball off perfectly for Noon to run on and fire past Bastock from the edge of the area.
Within three minutes Boston were back in front when Marc Newsham was left unmarked in the middle to shoot past Sanna, but then Shelton Payne levelled it again with a superbly-struck volley from 30 yards following a corner when Bastock had done well to tip a goalbound shot from Hopley round the post.
Those three goals in an extrordinary eight minute spell ignited a brilliant second half in which both sides chased victory, and Shelton Payne and Lee Davey really came to the fore for the Seagulls.
Boston forced a couple more saves out of Sanna, while Hopley had a good shout for a penalty tuned down when he was shoved in the back inside the area, and Matty Hughes missed a golden chance when he headed wide from five yards from Luke Denson's free kick.
But with four minutes remaining, Noon won it with a super strike from 30 yards which caught Bastock off his line after coming to punch away a cross.
The win lifts the Bay up to seventh place and just four points behind fifth-placed Gainsborough - albeit having played a game more.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Hughes, Sinclair (Noon 45mins), McKenna, Evans, Davey, Hopley, Newby, Payne. Subs not used: Benson, McKernan, McEvilly.
Attendance: 244