Kirby is top scorer in more than a decade

COLWYN BAY travel to Holywell Town on Saturday (2.30pm kick off) with James Kirby having become the highest goal scorer over a season at the club in over a decade. 

Last weekend’s opening goal against Guilsfield was the 20th time he has hit the net in just 23 appearances (including the void game at Bangor) since making his debut in the Welsh Cup game at Gresford in September. 

In what is Bay’s first full season back in Welsh football, that puts him ahead of Rob Hopley’s 19 in 2012/13 (42 games played) and the 18 scored by Astley Mulholland (from 42 games in 2017/18) and Jon Newby (from 48 games in 2010/11).

 There are three games left for Kirby to possibly top Ian Sheridan’s 21 (from 38 games) in 2009/10 and perhaps even Rob Hopley’s 23 in 2008/9. 

Neil Black remains top of the Bay scoring charts over the past 15 years with 29 in the 2007/8 campaign in the Northern Premier League – although the team played 56 games that season. 

This Saturday will be a tough challenge, however, against a Holywell side who have already beaten the Seagulls twice this season (in the MG Cup in July and most recently at the 4 Cross Arena), and are in hot form.   They have won  nine of their 10 games since the league resumed in January, following a month’s suspension for covid, scoring 21 goals (with nine different goal scorers) and conceding just three.

  A Bay win would keep alive their chances of a top three finish, although Guilsfield, Holywell and Ruthin all have games in hand.