Controversial equaliser denies Seagulls

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.