JAMIE SPEARE got off his sick bed to help Colwyn Bay get what manager Gary Finley believes could be a very important point in a 1-1 draw with runaway champions Retford United.
The manager reported: "Jamie sent me a text early this morning to say he had been up all night vomiting and wouldn't be able to play, but he is the only keeper we've got and I phoned him and said we needed him to give it a go.
"He was feeling rotten, but fair play to him he's gone out there and made some very important saves to help us get a point."
A 25th minute goal from Neil Back, his 30th of the season, put Colwyn Bay in front after Retford keeper Ross turned had blocked shots from him and Anthony Wright, and Retford were fortunate in the build up to their 72nd minute equaliser when the referee ignored a clear foul on Lee Hoolicken and then immediately afterwards gave Retford a free kick on the edge of the Bay penalty area.
Speare did well to keep out Ryan Ford's deflected shot, but from the resulting corner the ball deflected into the net off Anthony Wright's shoulder.
"Everybody in the ground saw we should have had a free kick in the build-up and the referee admitted to me afterwards he had made a mistake. It has cost us a goal and I've lost count of how often poor refereeing decisions have cost us points this season," reflected Finley.
"But it's no use moaning. We never really got going for the first 20 minutes of the second half . We took our foot off the gas and allowed them back into the game instead of taking the game to them as we had done in the first half," he added.
Colwyn Bay, who had Lewis Callaghan playing much of the game with his wrapped in bandages after receiving a gash above his eyebrow in a clash of heads, were unlucky when Anthony Wright's quickly taken free kick hit the foot of the post
with the keeper beaten. But Retford then finished the game strongly and had claims for a goal turned down in added time when a Ben Chambers header hit the underside of the bar and was cleared off the line.
"A point against Retford is not a bad result and in the end it could prove a very important point for us," added Finley.
With Belper and Goole both losing, Colwyn Bay are four ponts behind sixth-placed Goole with two games in hand and still in with a chance of the play-offs as they prepare for a hectic period of six games in 12 days.
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Callaghan, P Williams, Rowland, Taylor, Wade (Olsen 67mins), Fowler, Hoolickin, Black, Wright, Quayle. Subs not used: Walker, Wynne.

LLANDUDNO have lost second place in the Cymru Alliance after being beaten by an 89th minute goal from Tim Nunnerley in a 2-1 defeat at Guilsfield.
Danny Hughes put them level at 1-1 at half-time after conceding the opening goal after just six minutes.
Bala easily beat Buckley 4-1 to take over in second place and, and with Holyhead and Flint both dropping points, now have runners-up spot in their own hands with three games remaining.

BETHESDA increased their lead in the Welsh Alliance to five points with a 2-0 home win over Rhydymwyn, while second placed Glan Conwy had their home game against Nefyn postponed. Llandudno Junction lost 4-2 at Llanrug, who are now six points behind fourth-placed Conwy United with five games in hand.

Penmaenmawr Phoenix had their Premier Cup tie against Clwyd League title rivals Abergele Rovers postponed.

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