KINMEL Bay advanced to the Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup second round with a 4-2 home victory over Llandudno Amateurs.

The in-form Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division Two side enjoyed another profitable day at the office that resulted in a positive display from the outset, with returning forward Kie Ellis notching his first goal since returning from a long injury lay-off with a sensational header on the quarter hour mark.

This was swiftly followed by another neat passage of play on 25 minutes that presented a difficult opportunity to Jack Wilkins, who unleashed a ferocious half-volley that flew into the net to double Bay’s advantage.

After the break saw the home side punished for dropping the tempo early on when Sandy Malone’s side got themselves back into the tie thanks to a well-taken effort from Joseph Jones.

The home side used this as a wake-up call to retain their focus and they restored their two-goal cushion thanks to a clinical strike from a tight angle from Steve Flanagan with 71 on the clock.

Credit to the Amateurs, they remained undeterred following their latest setback and closed the gap yet again on 75 minutes courtesy of a neat finish from Aaron Rogers, but once again the hosts raised their game at the right time that saw Flanagan break clear for his second of the afternoon with ten remaining.

Flanagan went close to securing his hat-trick late on, but the forward opted to tee up strike partner Matty Griffiths for a chance that hit the cross bar from what turned out to be the final opportunity of note.

The Bay face a stern test of their credentials this Saturday when they welcome promotion hopefuls Holyhead Town to Y Morfa, who come into the game on the back of an unbelievable 7-6 defeat at Y Felinheli.