August 2008 Archives

COLWYN BAY are out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle after conceding a late winner in a 4-3 defeat at Bamber Bridge on Saturday (Aug 30).
They looked to have rescued the tie by coming from 3-1 down to level the scores at 3-3 in the second half and seemed to have the home side on the ropes, but in the end they paid for some poor defending in the game.
A very disappointing first half display saw them 2-0 down at half-time.
Indecision by Neil Coverley after just six minutes allowed Mike Mason the break clear on the left and the unmarked Alex Parker scored from the cross, and then on 35 minutes Bamber Bridge skipper Glenn Steel got between Coverley and Tim Brandreth to head a second from Porter's cross.
Dean Canning and Andy Moran both had shots blocked on the line in a goalmouth scramble just before half-time when Moran really should have scored, but apart from that Colwyn Bay had hardly offered a threat, with a shot from Rob Hopley over the bar their only effort at goal.
Colwyn Bay changed formation at half-time to 3-4-3, with Karl Frost introduced from the bench to join Hopley and Moran up front, while Steve Aspinall pushed up into midfield from the back four and was much more effective.
They got a goal back after just five minutes when Hopley beat keeper Andy Banks to Aspinall's hanging cross to head into the net, but within two minutes Bamber Bridge had made it 3-1 when the Bay failed to close down Danny Mahoney just inside the area and he drilled a shot inside the far post.
But the home side were struggling against Bay's three-man attack and Colwyn Bay pulled level with two goals in the space of three minutes.
Hopley headed his second from a Aspinall free kick from the left touchline and then Frost laid the ball off for Moran to hit the equaliser with a fine shot from 20 yards.
Moran had earlier got the ball in the net from Hopley's pass but was given offside and Frost shot narrowly wide as Colwyn Bay pushed for a winner.
But with eight minutes left Bamber Bridge broke down the right and the dangerous Porter outpaced Scott Lycett in a 30 yard run before cutting inside and firing the winner past Parry.
Diasappointed manager Steve Pope said: "For the second match running we didn't turn up in the first half. We changed things at half-time and they couldn't handle us.
"After we equalised I really thought we would go on and win it, but in the end inexperience at the back has cost dearly."
For me, Scott Lycett has looked a weak link in the last couple of games and I would like to see Paul Roberts given a chance.
Any thoughts from Bay fans on that?
Also the decison to play Aspinall at the right of a back four in the first half backfired badly as he is much more affective in midfield and I think Colwyn Bay generally are much better when they look to attack teams rather than sitting deep and trying to hit the front two with long balls as they did in the first half.
Bamber Bridge certainly looked vulnerable at the back when put under pressure and it could have been a different story if the Seagulls had been more adventurous from the outset - especially as Bamber Bridge suffered a major pre-match blow with their top striker Neil Zarac pulling a hamstring in the warm-up and having to be replaced by Sean Oliver.
The two teams meet again in the league at Llanelian Road next Saturday and hopefully some lessons have been learnt.
Colwyn Bay: Parry, Hughes (Frost 45mins),Lycett, Coverley, Brandreth, Aspinall, Canning, Williams, Hopley, Moran, Wood (O'Mahoney 60mins). Subs nots used: Brown, Roberts, Colulo.

LLANDUDNO'S disappointing home form continued with a 1-1 draw against Buckley in the Cymru Alliance.
Jason Sadler got Llandudno's equaliser two minutes after Buckley had taken a 56th minute lead, but they couldn't take it on and force a winner.

IN the Welsh Alliance LLANRWST UNITED won 6-0 at Amlwch Town with hat-tricks from Bryn Jenkins and Lee Allen, GLAN CONWY beat Nantlle Vale 3-0 with an own goal sandwiched between a Howard Vaughan goal and a Shaun Shannon penalty, but CONWY UNITED lost 3-2 at home to unbeaten Pwllheli and LLANDUDNO JUNCTION drew 2-2 at Barmouth.

COLWYN BAY welcome back Dean Canning to boost their attack for tomorrow's FA Cup preliminary round at fellow Unibond Leaguers Bamber Bridge.
His industry and guile up front was missed in the 1-1 draw with Woodley Sports on bank holiday Monday, when he was attending the birth of his baby daughter, and his return is important to the Seagulls' hopes of making progress in the FA Cup.
Manager Steve Pope is also hopeful that Karl Frost will be fit after suffering a dead leg in Monday's game, while on loan striker Andy Moran has been given permission to play by Blue Square Conference North club Fleetwood Town.
Moran and Steve Aspinall will both be keen to do well having played for Bamber Bridge in the past.
The Colwyn Bay squad were filmed by ITV Wales in training on Thursday night which has given the tie a 'big match' feel and Steve Pope commented: "The FA Cup is the greatest club competition in the world. Having a good run in it lifts the profile of the club and gives everybody a buzz - as well being financially lucrative."
 With prizemoney again increased this year through sponsors e-on, preliminary round winners tomorrow will pick up £1,500 compared to £1,000 last year, and any team able to battle through to the final qualifying round  will collect £16,500, compared to £12,000 last year.
Bamber Bridge have won only one of their opening four games this season, but Colwyn Bay assistant manager Paul Ogden was impressed with them when he went to watch them a couple of weeks ago.
 "They have conceded a few goals but they have also scored a few and  had an excellent 3-0 away win at FC Halifax Town in their opening league game. They carry a real threat up front and it is a tough tie for us," said Steve Pope.
"But I've been lucky enough to have had a few good runs in the FA Cup in my career and hopefully that can continue."
Colwyn Bay: (from) Parry, Roberts, Lycett, Coverley, Brandreth, Aspinall, Frost, Williams, Hopley, Canning, Moran, Wood, Brown, Hughes, MacIntosh, O'Mahoney, Colulo.

LLANDUDNO claimed their first win of the season in the Cymru Alliance with a 3-2 success at Mold Alex on Wednesday (Aug 27) - with the help of two own goals.
Darren Pritchard put Mold in front after 27 minutes, but Craig Hogg equalised for Llandudno just before half-time.
Two second half own goals from Chris Guy and Craig Roberts put Llandudno 3-1 up before Owain Roberts pulled a goal back for Mold four minutes from the end.
Llanudno will hope that result kick starts their season after going three games without a win, although joint manager Grant Montgomery said before the game that it was important not to panic.
"We know we have enough quality players in the squad to be challenging at the top; we just haven't clicked yet, but I am sure it is only a matter of time," he said.
In the Welsh Alliance Llanrwst United beat Conwy United 1-0 on Wednesday, while Llandudno Junction lost 5-1 at Rhydymwyn.
Mochdre dropped their first points in the Clwyd League with a 1-1 draw at Rhuddlan.

COLWYN BAY failed to capitalise on their second half chances after wrestling the initiative away from Woodley Sports on banj holiday Monday, and had to settle for a 1-1 scoreline in a second drawn game over the bank holiday weekend.
The Stockport side were much sharper in midfield in the first half and took the lead on 40 minutes when they broke free down on the right, and Gavin Salmon scored with a crisp finish after Danny Queeley had his shot blocked.
Colwyn Bay missed the industry and guile up front of Dean Canning, whose wife went into labour overnight, and from the only openings they created Matty Wood and Andy Moran finished poorly and Rob Hopley volleyed narrowly over the bar.
Colwyn Bay were better in the second half and were level after 53 minutes when Scott Lycett put in a strong run on the left and cut in along the by-line before pulling the ball back for Hopley to fire past Woodley keeper Ben Connett.
The Seagulls should have gone go on to win from there as Woodley hardly created a threat, but Andy Moran had a header cleared off the line, Tim Brandreth volleyed over the bar from six yards from a Steve Aspinall free kick, Aspinall had a shot tipped over the bar by Connett and Moran was put clear by Aspinall's pass only for Connett to save at his near post.
Woodley Sports conceded a flurry of free kicks around the edge of their area and had defender Clive Brown sent off for two yellow cards for fouls as the game went into added time, but Colwyn Bay couldn't make anything of the opportunities.
And in the end it needed an excellent point blank save by Matt Parry in the closing seconds to prevent Salmon stealing the points for the visitors.
Colwyn Bay remain unbeaten after three games, but assistant manager Paul Ogden was unhappy with the performance.
"We struggled to cope with their diamond formation in the first half and changed things at half-time, but after getting the goal back we didn't take the game on as we should have done.
" Playing a second game in three days, with a number of the players suffering from blisters after playing on Durham's artificial pitch last Saturday, clearly didn't help us, but we shouldn't use that as an excuse. The game was there to be won today and we didn't play well enough to take the opportunity, which was disappointing."
Colwyn Bay: Parry, Roberts, Lycett. Coverley, Brandreth, Aspinall, Frost (Hughes 74mins), Williams, Hopley, Moran (MacIntosh 77mins), Wood (Brown 50mins). Subs not used: O'Mahoney, Colulo.Attendance: 357.

MOCHDRE and LLANDUDNO will go into their bank holiday Monday clash at Black Marsh Fields separated by just two points at the top of the North Wales Cricket League's Premier Division table.
Llandudno went back into top spot with an early 10 wicket victory over Brymbo on Saturday (Aug 23), beating the late afternoon rain which for the second week running caused the majority of games to be abandoned.
Brymbo were bowled out for just 69 and Llandudno swept to victory at 70 without loss.
Mochdre were among the sides hit by the weather. They had scored 152 all out after being put in by Hawarden Park, with Will Evans top scoring on 65, and the visitors were 35 for 2 off 16 overs in reply when the rain came.
Llanrwst dropped to bottom place in the table after rain also ended their game at Menai Bridge early after they had been bowled out for 143.
Conwy, however, beat the weather to gain a 70-run victory over Halkyn after scoring 149 for 7 and dismissing their opponents for 79 with Ioan Williams taking 5 for 38 and Dave Owen 3 for 21.
IN the Liverpool Competition COLWYN BAY were denied victory against Formby by the weather. After scoring 241 for 5 declared with 95 by Sion Morris and half centuries from Dave Tatylior (59) and Pat Leach (51), they had Formby struggling on 35 for 4 (Debasis Mohanty taking 3 for 6) when rain ended play.

COLWYN BAY gained an excellent point with a 0-0 draw at Durham City on Saturday (Aug 23), despite suffering another goalkeeping injury.
Defender Neil Coverley had to play in goal for almost 80 minutes after Chris Senna injured his back in a challenge with Durham's Gavin Cogden and had to come off.
It was the second game running the Seagulls have lost their keeper with a serious injury, following Farai Jackson's torn groin muscle last weekend.
"I just can't believe it," said manager Steve Pope afterwards. "I've never known anything like that in all my years in football.
"Considering everything we have to be delighted with a point and a clean sheet after playing without a recognised keeper for most of the game on a 3G surface which we have never even trained on before let alone played.
"I'm really chuffed with the players. They have worked their socks off to keep a clean sheet against a very good side and we've also created chances to have won it."
Senna looks like joining Farai Jackson on the sidelines for some time and it is fortunate that the club do have a third keeper in Matt Parry on the books with a home game to come against Woodley Sports on Monday.
"Trying to sign on another keeper over the bank holiday weekend would have been a nightmare," added the manager.
Senna's injury early in the game meant resuffling the line-up, but manager said: "We stuck to the game plan and it worked well."
In fact, Colwyn Bay, it seems, were unlucky not to take the lead when they twice hit the bar in a matter of seconds.
Matty Woods hit a shot from 25 yards which beat the keeper and came back off the bar to Karl Frost, whose header then hit the underside of the bar again and was cleared off the line.
Rob Hopley also went close with a header for Colwyn Bay, while Cogden missed the target with Durham's best chance just before half-time.
Colwyn Bay had to defend for much of the second half but I am told Coverley, apart from one save on the line from another Cogden shot, was never really tested.
Colwyn Bay then had chances to win in the last 10 minutes when Hopley, Dean Canning and substitute Andy Moran all missed the target from good scoring opportunities.
Colwyn Bay: Senna (Roberts 12mins), Hughes, Lycett, Coverley, Brandreth, Aspinall, Frost (Moran 45mins), Williams, Hopley, Canning, Wood; Subs not used: Cululo, Brown, O'Mahoney.

LLANDUDNO'S poor start to the season continued with a 4-2 defeat at Lex in the Cymru Alliance.
They were 3-0 down at half-time after a poor first half performance, but improved in the second half and got the score back to 3-2 with goals from Jason Sadler, who rounded the keeper to score in a one on one, and Jody Hamilton from Lee Thomas cross, before Lex secured the victory with a hat-trick goal from Keiron Jones five minutes from the end.
That leaves Llandudno with just one point form their first three games, and already eight points adrift of leaders Ruthin Town.

I ECHO Colwyn Bay manager Steve Pope's disappointment at the news that goalkeeper Farai Jackson is likely to be out for at least four to six weeks with a torn groin muscle.
After starting pre-season behind Matt Parry as initial first choice keeper, he has earned the number one spot for himself on merit with some excellent performances, and to be injured in the first league game of the season is cruel luck on him.
Despite concern over his lack of inches, his handling has been good for the most part and nobody can doubt his agility. Here's hoping the injury heals quickly.
The manager described Jacko as a great shop stopper and that quality will be needed by whoever replaces him at Durham City tomorrow (Saturday) against a side who are likely to be a real handful on their synthetic pitch.
The Bay will need to put away their chances better than last weekend, and it will be interesting to see how Andy Moran does, if he plays, after signing on a month's loan from Fleetwood with a view to a possible permanent move if he proves a success.
Rhyl's former record goalscorer, who hit 99 goals in 148 games for the Welsh Premier side, including 47 in one season, has failed to impress in his short time at the Blue Square Conference side, but Steve Pope believes dropping down a couple of divisions will help him refind his form and will add to competition for places up front.
"We need to start scoring more goals and hopefully Andy can help us do that," he said.

LLANDUDNO badly need to get their season up and running at Lex on Saturday after taking only one point from their two opening home games in the past week.
I understand new signing Chris Boulton could be back in contention, but Lex has never been a happy hunting ground for Llandudno and they will need to show a big improvement to get a result against a side who have taken four points of a six so far.

CONWY UNITED are also looking for their first win in the Welsh Alliance at home to Llanberis with new manager Eifion Jones in charge, while GLAN CONWY, after beating Rhyl 1-0 in midweek with a late Chris Beardmore goal to make it two wins out of two, are in Welsh Trophy action at home to Newbridge on Wye. LLANRWST UNITED, who were beaten 6-3 at home by Bethesda on Wednesday, are away to Llanrug.

MOCHDRE SPORTS are top of the Clwyd League's Premier Division with two wins out of two after a 4-2 victory over Penmaenmawr Phoenix in midweek.
Mochdre were 3-0 up at half-time, but manager Adam Lavender tells me his side were under the cosh for most of the second after conceding two goals in five minutes, and were indebted to Carlos Martins for saving a penalty low to his right before Joe Jennings scored Mochdre's fourth goal from 40 yards to clinch the points following a poor clearance from outside his box by the Phoenix keeper.
Mochdre are away to Greenfield on Saturday, while Penmaenmawr look for their first points at home to Aston Park Rangers.

IN cricket, MOCHDRE can cement top place in the North Wales Cricket League's Premier Division with home victories over Hawarden Park on Saturday and Llandudno on Monday, and on current form with bat and ball I expect them to do that.
It is a must win game for Llandudno Monday, of course, but they can't get any consistency going with their batting at the moment and it will need a big swing in form for them to get a result.

LLANDUDNO drew 1-1 at home to Flint Town United and had Joe Morgan red carded near the end as their disappointing start to the new season continued on Tuesday night.
After a goalless first half they took the lead through Jason Sadler from a Gwyn Peters cross on 58 minutes, but Flint equalised through Ian Parry from a corner six minutes later.
Both sides had chances to win it after that, with Lee Thomas missing the best of them when he was clean through on goal, but put his chip over the advancing keeper wide of the target.
A flare-up between the two sets of players near the end saw Morgan red carded and three other players booked.

MOCHDRE made it six wins in their last seven games to go top of the North Wales Cricket League's Premier Division on Saturday (Aug 16).
While their rivals, including Llandudno, had their games abandonded late on through rain, Mochdre sprinted to an early victory at Bethesda, bowling the home side out for 75 in less than 30 overs after putting them in, with Gareth Goodson (4 for 24), Adam Campion (3 for 8 in 4.3 overs) and Russ Boswell (2 for 30) taking the wickets.
Will Evans then hit 47 not out as Mochdre rattled off the runs to win on 76 for 1 in just 10.4 overs.
On current form Mochdre must now be favourites for the title with five games left.

AN injury time penalty by Steve Aspinall gave Colwyn Bay the points with a 2-1 victory over Garforth Town in their opening Unibond Division One North fixture of the new season.
And you could see by the reactions of manager Steve Pope and chairman Geoff Cartwright at the final whistle just how much victory in the opening game meant to them.
The Seagulls had led 1-0 with a 32nd minute headed own goal by Garforth's Wayne Harratt from an Aspinall free kick, but they suffered a double blow with 15 minutes left .
Goalkeeper Farai Jackson had to go off with an abdominal injury after being hurt in a goalmouth scramble which saw the ball cleared for a corner, and then from the flag kick Harratt headed the equaliser past stand-in keeper Neil Coverley.
Harratt's topsy-turvey game saw him red carded for a two-footed tackle on Colwyn Bay substitute Mark Soribow, who then headed against the bar from a corner as Bay pressed for a winner.
And in the first of six minutes of added time at the end of the game, Dean Canning was brought down as he burst into the area past Garforth defender Nick Jagger, and Aspinall coolly put away the penalty to win the game.
"Heads could have gone down after the injury to Jacko and their goal, but the players showed great character to come back and win it," said Steve Pope.
"We've instilled in the players to keep going for the full 90 minutes and they did that and got the reward, but we made it hard for oursleves. We got through them three times in the first half but failed to finish and we have to kill games off when we get chances like that."
Dean Canning shot over the bar when he was played in by Karl Frost and had a shot saved at full stretch by Garforth keeper Gavin Phillips, who also blocked two efforts from Rob Hopley in one-on-one situations.
Phillips was relieved, however, to see a lobbed shot by Steve Aspinall from the halfway line land on top of the net with the keeper out of position.
Hopley and Canning were a handful for the Yorkshire side in a hectic game, while Robbie Williams worked hard in midfield, but there were some anxious moments for the Seagulls who were fortunate that the Yorkshire side missed the target with a couple of clear cut chances.
Neil Coverley was disappointed to concede the goal after taking over from the injured Jackson. "I've played in goal three times before and that's the first goal I've conceded," he said with a smile.
Physio Colin Edwards said Jackson would be going for a scan to see the extent of his injury, but the club do have cover in Matt Parry and newly signed Chris Sanna from Chester.

LLANDUDNO suffered 2-1 home defeat to Ruthin Town in their opening game in the Cymru Alliance as Ruithin manager Adie Jones continued his good record in matches against Llandudno in recent years.
After Mike Garrod gave Ruthin an early lead, Joe Morgan equalised for Llandudno shortly before half-time, but Ruthin won it with a goal from Kevin Breeze 15 minutes from the end.

IN the Welsh Alliance Glan Conwy won the local derby 4-0 at Conwy United, while Llanrwst United drew 0-0 at Rhydymwyn and Llandudno Junction were beaten 4-1 at home by Halkyn.