February 2009 Archives

COLWYN BAY'S players were left feeling they'd been cheated out of a seventh straight league win after a controversial goal eight minutes from time denied them victory in a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 1,224 at Halifax (February 28).
The home side's Nigel Jemson used his arm to keep the ball in play before playing in Junior Brown to hit the late equaliser. Bay's angry protests saw manager Neil Young sent from the dug out by the referee and goalkeeper Chris Sanna booked - one of six Colwyn Bay bookings of which probably only three were justified.
Jemson freely admitted afterwards he had handled the ball and although the Seagulls would have gladly taken 1-1 before the game, skipper Dave Challinor, who had an outstanding game, admitted the players felt they had been robbed.
"Halifax had a lot of the ball in the second half but they were struggling to get through us and we felt comfortable.
"A draw is not a bad result, but we were all in the dressing room feeling a bit cheated at the end."
Manager Neil Young said: "I daren't say too much or I'll get in more trouble but the lad has admitted he handled the ball and I feel gutted for our players because they've been robbed of a win they had worked their socks off to get.
"Having said that, we should have been two or three goals up at half-time with the chances we had. "
Colwyn Bay played with Rob Hopley as the loan striker in a 4-5-1 formation, but still created the best scoring chances in the first half.
Tom Spearritt mis-hit a shot wide with a great chance to open the scoring when Tim Brandreth flicked on a long throw by Challinor, while Lee Davey and Matty Wood also missed out on good chances, and Hopley saw his angled shot hit the bar.
The Bay did finally go in front on 43 minutes when Wood was fouled on the left and Challinor scored with a header from Aspinall's free kick.
Halifax dominated possession in the second half, but the Bay defended well and apart from one flying save to tip a shot from Mark Peers round a post, keeper Chis Sanna was never seriously threatened.
The home side were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes left when Scott Phelan was carried off injured with Halifiax having already made their three substitutions, but the controversial equaliser rescued the game for them.
Colwyn Bay were then hanging on a bit at the end with subsitite Paul Evans shooting straight at Sanna when he had a great chance to win it for Halifiax in added time.
There was also a heart-stopping monent right at the end when Paul Evans went down in the area at the end of a strong run and for a second it looked like the referee would award a penalty, but he ended up booking the Halifax player for diving.
The Bay, however, could also have won it on the break in thopse hectic last 10 minutes, with Eddie Jebb firing two shots inches wide.
With none of the top five winning, the Bay remain in a strong position to make the play-offs.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Spearritt, Wood, Brandreth, Challinor, Branch, Williams (Canning 52mins) , Taylor, Hopley (Jebb 80mins), Davey, Aspinall. Subs not used: McGraa, Edwards, Webb.
Good news for the Bay is that Tranmere Rovers have agreed to extend Ashley Taylor's loan period for a further month.

COLWYN BAY are in talks with Tranmere Rovers over possibly extending the loan deal of 18-year-old midfielder Ashley Taylor beyond Saturday's (Feb 28) big game at FC Halifax Town.
This is due to be Taylor's last match before returning to Prenton Park, but Seagulls boss Neil Young revealed: "We are talking with Tranmere about trying to extend the loan because he has been a major asset for us while he has been with us.
"I would say he has been involved in well over half the goals we have scored while he has been with us and for a kid of 18 he has made a massive impact.
"Tranmere, of course, are chasing a play-off place themselves at the moment so we'll have to see what they say, but he is the type of box to box player I have been looking for since I came here and it would be great if we could keep him a bit longer."
Taylor is certain to play in what the manager is expecting to be a very tough game.
But Colwyn Bay's 3-1 win over Halifax at Llanelian Road last week means the Yorkshire side are now one of three teams in the top five that Colwyn Bay can overtake by winning games in hand - and the Seagulls are keen to be in the same position after today's game.
"We are in a position that I never thought we would be in a few weeks ago, but the last month or so has been fantastic for us with 18 points out of 18 and it would be nice to keep our unbeaten run going," added the manager.
" Halifax are a tough, well-organised side, and I see some of their players have been saying they are determined to pay us back for last week's result, but we will go there focused on doing a professional job."
Halifax have strong home support, but seven teams have already taken points away from the Shay this season so they are far from unbeatable on their home patch.

COLWYN BAY'S home match against Trafford (Februay24) was abandoned due to a floodlight failure without a ball being kicked.
The lights went out just as the teams were about to kick off and although every effort was made to resolve the problem, the referee made the decision after a 30 minute wait to call the game off.
It means Colwyn Bay have lost their place in the top five to Ossett Albion, who beat Harrogate RA 2-0, although the Seagulls do have two games in hand.
The top four game between Bamber Bridge and Skelmersdale United ended in a 0-0 draw which means Colwyn Bay are five points behind third-placed Bamber Bridge with six games in hand on them.
The Colwyn Bay v Trafford game has now been re-arranged for Tuesday, March 31.

COLWYN BAY moved into the play-off places in Unibond Division One North with a 3-1 home win over FC Halifax Town (Feb 21) in front of their biggest crowd of the season (752).
It was a fantastic result for the Seagulls, who extended their winning run to seven games.
It was not their most convincing performance from an attacking point of view, but manager Neil Young said: " We knew it would be a very tough game and set out to keep things as tight as possible and look to hit them on the break, and in the end that worked well.
"The players did everything we asked of them and I was delighted with them." Goalkeeper Chris Sanna made a tremendous save to tip a bullet-like shot from Scott Phelan over the bar in the first half and that could have been a significant moment.
Colwyn Bay finished the half strongly after that with Lee Davey, who had a fine game, volleying narrowly over the bar from Dean Canning's cross before the home side took the lead on 43 minutes following a long throw-in by skipper Dave Challinor.
Rob Hopley headed the ball on and Steve Aspinall got in front of Halifax keeper Don Kennedy to head it over him into the net.
Halifax had a lot of the ball in the second half, forcing a number of corners, but Colwyn Bay defended solidly with Tim Brandreth and Challinor again outstanding in the middle and the home side doubled their lead on 70 minutes from another long throw into the area by Challinor.
Rob Hopley controlled the ball well on his chest before laying it off for man of the match Brandreth to fire past the keeper from 12 yards.
Substitute Robbie Williams came on six minutes later and his first touch helped set up Colwyn Bay's third goal on 76 minutes.
He won the ball in midfield and from his pass Hopley fed Lee Davey on the right and his cross was turned into his own net by defender Richie Sutton under pressure from Ashley Taylor.
Davey then had a shot well saved by Kennedy and substitute Eddie Jebb shot narrowly wide before Halifax had Tom Baker sent off late in the game for a bad tackle on Mike McGraa.
Halifax got a late consolation goal with the last action of the match with a headed goal from Junior Brown following a cross by Nigel Jemson - but it was Colwyn Bay's day.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Spearritt, Wood, Brandreth, Challinor, Branch, Canning (Williams 75mins), Taylor, Hopley (Jebb 82mins), Davey, Aspinall (McGraa 80mins), Subs not used: Edwards and Garside.

MY 23 years as Weekly News sports Editor comes to an end today (February 6).
I have had the privilege to meet some wonderful people in that time and I would like to thank everybody who has supported and helped me in my efforts to try and bring the best possible sports coverage for the Conwy area.
Thank you to everybody who has sent me emails and cards - far too many to mention, but all your kind messages are appreciated very much.
I will still be around at Colwyn Bay games, but to everybody else many thanks again for everything and all the very best in what ever you do in the future.

NANT CONWY'S hopes to opening an eight point lead at the top of rugby's Division One North were foiled on Wednesday night (February 4) when Dolgellau pulled out of the re-arranged match.
Although the Trefriw pitch was perfectly payable, Dolgellau had assumed it would be off due to the bad weather and had cancelled travel arrangements.
The game will now have to be fitted in at the end at a later date.

LLANDUDNO won 2-0 away at Welsh Premier Prestatyn Town to reach the quarter-finals of the North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup on Tuesday night (February 3).
The holders are now away to Llangefni Town or Bangor City.
They led at half-time with a goal from Gwyn Peters after 32 minutes and were unlucky when Gaz Owen rattled the crossbar early in the second half after Prestatyn had lost keeper Jon Dunt through injury and player-manager Neil Gibson took over in goal.
Llandudno then had to withstand strong Prestatyn pressure in the second half, with keeper Sean Pearson making three fine saves to deny Steve Bowes, before Gaz Owen intercepted a wayward pass and broke clear to score a second goal 12 minutes from the end.
Full report in this week's Weekly News.