TIM BRANDRETH volleyed a 90th minute equaliser to keep Colwyn Bay in the FA Cup on Saturday with 2-2 draw against Congleton.
But the Seagulls know they face another tough test in Tuesday night's replay if they are to progress in the competition.
Two give-away goals in the first half handed the North West Counties side a 2-0 start and Colwyn Bay struggled to reproduce the attacking flair of the previous two home games against a determined and uncompromising defence.
"I really thought it was not going to be our day," admitted manager Gary Finley. "We conceded two calamitous goals which you just can't legislate for and after that we peppered their goal but the ball wouldn't run for us. It would have been devastating if we'd lost after having so much of the play, but we stuck at it and we've given ourselves another chance to put things right - although Tuesday will be another tough game."
Colwyn Bay were behind after only 56 seconds when Tim Brandreth slipped to allow Congleton's Jordon Johnson a clear run along the byeline before pulling the ball back for Matt Haddrell to score.
Mark Quayle put James Olsen clear but he was denied by Congleton keeper Paul Forrester in a one-on-one, and Robbie Williams headed wide from an Olsen cross before Bay keeper Jamie Speare gifted Congleton a second goal on 37 minutes.
Coming off his line to try and incept a cross, he only succeeded in palming the ball one-handed straight to Scott Williams who hit it first time into an unguarded net.
Colwyn Bay pulled a goal back four minutes later when a John Lawless corner beyond the far post was headed back into the goalmouth by Brandreth for Mark Quayle to get the final touch. Colwyn Bay dominated possession in the second half but failed to test the Congleton keeper as the outstanding Robbie Williams (twice), John Lawless (twice), Martin Crowder, Anthony Murt and Mark Quayle, from a great chance set up by Olsen's excellent pass, all missed the target, and it needed a match-saving tackle by Kyle Armstrong to prevent Andy Hurst putting the tie out of reach from a Congleton break.
The clock was ticking into the 90th minute when Colwyn Bay's eighth corner of the game produced a goalmouth scramble, with Neil Black's close range effort cleared off the line, before the ball broke out for Brandreth to send a sweetly-struck volley into the top corner.
John Lawless suffered a partially dead leg and could be a fitness doubt for Tuesday's replay (7.45pm).
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Brandreth, Boardman, Armstrong, Swan (Callaghan 71mins), Williams, Crowder (Black 60mins), Olsen, Quayle, Murt, Lawless. Subs not used: Paul Roberts and Colin Roberts.
Attendance 398.

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