April 2009 Archives

SO the promotion dream is over after Colwyn Bay suffered the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat after a 2-2 draw in the play-off semi-final at Newcastle Blue Star (April 29).
In the end the loss of key players, through injury and Ash Taylor's recall by Tranmere, was too much for the small squad. Only 13 outfield players were available at Newcastle and two of those were not fully fit, while Danny Jarrett got injured in the second half and had to be replaced.
But nobody can fault the effort that the players put in and the club remain upbeat about the future.
Chairman Geoff Cartwright said: "This game really was a bonus for us. When we sat down with Neil in December the play-offs were a distant dream and all the talk was about building a team that could challenge for promotion next season. It is all credit to Neil, Gary and the players that we actually made the play-offs this time; that has been a fantastic effort.
"In the end it went down to the lottery of penalties to end it for us, but I can't feel disappointed because we have made such progress this season both on and off the field and plans are in place for that to continue."
Manager Neil Young admitted the injuries that have ripped the heart out of the squad had scuppered their chances of snatching promotion this year, but praised the effort that the players had put in.
"We have the nucleus of a squad that can challenge next season already in place and I am going to be busy over the next couple of months trying to bring in the players that take can us that extra step. I can promise the fans, who have been magnificent this season, that we will do everything we can to bring success next season."
The Bay got a great start to the semi-final when they were awarded a penalty after just five minutes, as Rob Hopley was tripped from behind as he latched onto a long ball into the area and Lee Hammond scored from the spot.
But they had to defend for much of the rest of the first half with Hopley often left too isolated on his own up front.
Blue Star had a goal by Paul Bryson ruled out for offside and Chris Sanna made a tremendous diving save to deny Dave McTiernan when he broke clear of the Bay defence.
But the pressure finally told when Bryson scored from 25 yards following a poor headed clearance by Tim Brandreth from a long ball that he could have allowed to run through to the keeper.
The Seagulls changed their formation at half-time and posed much more of an attacking threat in the second half with Blue Star keeper Dan Lowson tipping a Danny Jarrett header over the bar and Eddie Jebb wasting a great chance when he shot straight at the keeper after Hopley's flick on header had put him clear.
It needed two outstanding saves by Sanna to keep out shots from Blue Star player-manager Steve Bowey, while Bryson also went close, before the home side had skipper Steve Baker sent off for a second yellow card.
The Bay, who had to pull top scorer Hopley back into defence to replace the injured Jarrett on the hour, couldn't make the extra man count as the game went into extra time and in fact it was Blue Star who took the lead 10 minutes into the extra half hour when they broke quickly from defence and substitute Josh Gillies rifled in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards.
Four minutes later the Bay were level when Eddie Jebb jinked his way through into the area before being brought down by keeper Lowson, and Dean Canning slid the ball into the net as it ran loose.
The referee, faced with sending the keeper off, opted to give the goal instead of a penalty.
Jebb then had another strong claim for a penalty ignored as he seemed to be felled from behind after another powerful run into the box, but Bay's hopes of snatching a winner were diminished when Dean Canning was also sent off for a second yellow card for dissent at one of several frustrating offside decisions.
Sanna then made another great save from Bowey and the tie went to penalties.
Jebb and Hammond successfully converted their spot kicks but Robbie Williams fired over the bar and Mike McGraa saw his effort saved by Lowson who then scored the decider himself after Bowey, Convery and Craddock had all beaten Sanna.
Sanna had earlier kept the Bay in the game with some outstanding saves, and I thought Lee Hammond also had a storming match, but the midfield again badly missed Steve Aspinall, who lost his battle to recover from a calf injury, and Ashton Taylor, and that was significant.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Spearritt, Hammond, Brandreth, Jarrett (Webb 61mins), McGraa, Canning, Williams, Hiopley, Lee (Edwards 58mins), Jebb. Subs not used: Wood, Jackson.

COLWYN BAY will be at home to Curzon Ashton if they reach the play-off final with victory at Newcastle Blue Star on Wednesday (April 29).
The Manchester side pulled off a shock 1-0 win at Skelmersdale United in the other semi-final on Tuesday night and, because they finished below Colwyn Bay in the final table, will have to travel to Llanelian Road on Saturday if Colwyn Bay should win in the North East.
That's a tremendous incentive for both teams and Colwyn Bay have been racing against the clock to try and get Steve Aspinall fit for the game to bolster their chances.
The influential midfielder who played over 200 games in the Conference with Altrincham has missed the last three games with deep bruising to a calf muscle, and manager Neil Young reported: "He has been with the physio for the past two days and we are doing everything we can to get him right. We will leave it until Wednesday lunchtime before deciding if he travels or not."
Lee Davey, however, has recovered from a knee injury and Matty Wood also travels after shaking off a groin niggle which forced his early retirement on Saturday.
Neil Young said the mood in the camp is positive and added that the players deserved to get to a final for the commitment and determination they have shown over the last seven months.
At the end of October, shortly after Young was brought in as manager, the Seagulls had won only three of their 17 games and with three points being deducted for bringing on an unregistered player as substitute in the opening match due to an administrative error, they were third from bottom of the Unibond Division One North.
In the next 26 games they won 19 of them, including an 11-match unbeaten run, to lift themselves into the play-off places and twice won the Division's Club of the Month award.
"Some of the players we brought in had not played at this level before and have had to virtually change their lifestyle to cope with the demands of making the step up from the West Cheshire League," says the manager.
"They were signed really to groom them for next season, but the commitment they have shown has been extraordinary.
"It has been a meteoric rise by the team since November and all the players deserve to be in a final for the effort they have put in."
Long-term injuries to key players like Dave Challinor and Graham Branch, and Tranmere Rovers recalling on-loan midfielder Ashton Taylor, have derailed the train a little in recent weeks, but the manager says: "When you have six of your better players taken out of a small squad it is bound to have an effect, but if we believe in ourselves and if we play like we did in the second half last Saturday (a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in the final league game) then we can go there and win."
The one worrying element is that the team's only goal in the last three matches has been an injury- time penalty last Saturday and the side have struggled to create many clear cut chances in those three games - despite dominating possession in the second half at Newcastle.
"That has been a concern, although the games have been against difficult opponents, but Gary (assistant manager Gary Jones) and I have been looking hard at ways we can address that and make the most of the ability of Dean Canning and Eddie Jebb to run at defences," added the manager.
"We need to be tight at the back to stay in the game early doors and then hopefully make the most of what openings we do create.
"In semi-finals you always need a bit of luck and most importantly a strong referee, as we have had some harsh decisions given against us in recent games, but if the players perform the way we know they can then we can certainly win the game."
Club skipper Dave Challinor, who recently suffered a broken leg in training, is travelling to give the team his support and encouragement.
Colwyn Bay (from): Sanna, Spearritt, Hammond, Brandreth, Jarrett, Williams, Canning, Garside, Hopley, Jebb, McGraa, Wood, Aspinall, Davey, Edwards, Webb, Jackson.

A BATTLING second half performance wasn't enough for Colwyn Bay to avoid a return trip to the North East on Wednesday in the play-off semi-final after a 1-1 draw at Newcastle Blue Star in their final league game on Saturday (April 25).
But the way they played in that second half must give the players belief they can go back and win.
Manager Neil Young agreed with that, commenting: "We didn't have enough self belief in the first half and it was a terrible decision to award them a penalty, but after some strong words at half-time we were much better and if we play like that on Wednesday we can win."
The referee ignored a foulat a cornerwhich caused keeper Chris Sanna to drop the ball and then immediately awarded Blue Star a controversial penalty for a challenge by Rob Hopley on Peter Snowdon.
Paul Brayson scored from the spot, but Colwyn Bay came back strongly after the break and forced Blue Star to defend for much of the second half.
Eddie Jebb and Lee Hammond both had shots saved by keeper Daniel Lowson who also came to claim a lot of high balls thrown into the box, before the Bay were awarded an injury time penalty for a trip on Rob Hopley.
Lee Hammond scored from the spot, but even though Tim Brandreth, who had an outstanding game, was thrown up front there wasn't enough time for the Bay to force a second goal which would have meant a home tie in the play-off semi-finals.
Earlier Sanna had denied Brayson in a one-on-one from the Newcastle side's only real threat in the second half.
The Bay suffered an early blow when Steve Aspinall had to pull out of the starting line-up after aggravating his calf injury in the warm-up, and Matty Wood also had to be replaced after half-an-hour with a groin injury which makes him very doubtful for Wednesday.
Without Aspinall and Ash Taylor, who was recalled by Tranmere the previous day, the Bay struggled to control midfield in the first half and although Robbie Williams in particular worked hard, there was nobody able to put their foot on the ball and provide accurate passes to the front men and put real pressure on the home side.
But the team showed they can still get through to the play-off final if they can play as they did in the second half, although they need a bit more quality with the final ball as Blue Star keeper Danny Lowson came off his line well to claim a lot of the high balls into the box.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Spearritt, Wood (Hammond 31mins), Brandreth, Jarrett, Williams, Canning, Garside, Hopley, Jebb, McGraa (Edwards 79mins). Subs not used: Webb and Jackson
Skelmersdale play Curzon Ashton in the other play-off semi-final after Durham finished as champions.

COLWYN BAY have suffered a huge blow ahead of Saturday's third-place decider at Newcastle Blue Star with Tranmere Rovers recalling Ashton Taylor.
The midfielder has been included Tranmere's squad for their crucial match against Yeovil as they chase a play-off spot in Coca Cola League One.
Colwyn Bay manager Neil Young admitted: "It can't get much worse. It is a terrible blow, but it is something we always knew might happen."
The Seagulls boss, however, is hoping to have Steve Aspinall and Tim Brandreth back from injury.
Blue Star's shock win at Skelmersdale on Thursday has lifted them above the Seagulls on goal difference, so the Bay have to win on Saturday if they are to avoid a long return trip to the North East next Wednesday.
But the manager added: "We beat them 4-1 at our place so we know how to get a result against them and we'll be giving it our best shot."

NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR sprung a major shock by winning 2-1 with a understrength side at Skelmersdale United on Thursday (April 23) which means Colwyn Bay will now have to WIN when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday to gain home advantage in next week's play-off semi-final.
Two goals from Alex Benjamin, including an injury time winner, gave Blue Star the win which was also a crushing blow to Skelmersdale's title hopes.
Durham will now be champions if they win at Woodley Sports on Saturday, and Skelmersdale would play Curzon Ashton, where they play on Saturday in their final league game, in the other semi-final.
Blue Star are now ahead of Colwyn Bay on goal difference so nothing but a win on Saturday will prevent another long trip to the North East next Tuesday or Wednesday.
But Colwyn Bay manager Neil Young says he and the players are looking forward to the challenge they face.
He says on the club website: "For the first time since I have been at the club I have felt a sense of pessimism around the club, but this group of players have been in difficult positions throughout the season and have always come back fighting with great professionalism and commitment."

COLWYN BAY must avoid defeat at Newcastle Blue Star on Saturday or it will be a long return trip to the North East next Tuesday in the play-off semi-finals after losing 1-0 at Wakefield on Tuesday night (1-0).
Newcastle's 4-1 win at Rossendale means they are only three points behind the Seagulls with a much better goal difference and should they spring an upset and win at Skelmersdale on Thursday, the Bay would then have to win on Saturday to secure home advantage in the play-offs.
Injuries have ripped the heart out of the side in the past week or so with five players unavailable on Tuesday - not including Danny Hughes who broke his leg at Christmas.
Tim Brandreth is the latest victim with a shin injury (blaming the curse of the captain's armband that he wore last Saturday!) while Steve Aspinall failed a fitness test on his calf before Tuesday's game and both players now look like being doubtful again for Saturday.
Lee Davey also broke down in the pre-match warm-up with suspected knee ligament damage and could miss the remaining games along with Dave Challinor and Graham Branch.
"To have five of the squad out injured makes it very difficult and it couldn't have come at a worse time," admitted manager Neil Young after Tuesday's defeat.
"After a slow start, in which we got done at a set piece, I was quite happy with our first half performance, but in the second half we never got the ball down and passed it and were guilty of too many long balls."
In a nervy start Colwyn Bay were behind after only four minutes when Wakefield's Mark Roberts fired the ball into the net following a corner, and it needed two goalline clerances by Tom Spearritt in a frantic goalmouth scramble to prevent the home side doubling their lead.
The Seagulls did improve for a time after that and the home goal had a couple of narrow escapes when defender Wes Milnes headed against his own crossbar in trying to clear the ball for a corner and from an Eddie Jebb free kick Spearritt headed the ball back across goal with two Colwyn Bay players unable to get a touch to divert it over the line.
The second half, however, was pretty much dominated by the home side with the Colwyn Bay goal surviving several close shaves while up front the Seagulls created virtually nothing.
Too many long hopeful balls were easily mopped up by the home defence and there was no creativity in midfield or down the flanks.
Wakefield keeper Andy Woods only had to make two saves in the whole match - from shots by Taylor and Danny Edwards which were both straight at him.
Even when the Bay switched to three at the back and pushed Ashton Taylor, who had been playing at the back alongside Danny Jarrett, up front in the closing minutes it made little difference.
The second half performance was poor and the players will need to lift their game on Saturday if home advantage next Tuesday is not to be lost.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Spearritt, Wood, McGraa, Jarratt, Williams (Edwards 57mins), Canning (Webb 70mins), Taylor, Hopley, Garside, Jebb. Subs not used: Hammond, Davey, Jackson.

COLWYN BAY'S grip on third place in Unibond Division 1 North was made much stronger by Curzon Ashton suffering a shock 1-0 home defeat at home to Clitheroe on Monday night (April 20).
That defeat means they can no longer overtake the Seagulls as they are still four points behind with just one game left at home to Skelmersdale on Saturday.
Newcastle Blue Star, who Colwyn Bay visit in their last game on Saturday, are now the only team who can deny Colwyn Bay third place. They are six points behind the Seagulls with three games to play including long trips to second-from-bottom Rossendale on Tuesday and then title-chasing Skelmersdale on Thursday.
Colwyn Bay manager Neil Young, however, is likely to make changes for Tuesday's trip to Wakefield as his side chase the three points they currently need to be sure of a home tie in next week's play-off semi-finals.
Steve Aspinall remains a doubt with a calf injury and will face a late fitness test, while midfielder Craig Garside is added to the squad for the first time in several weeks.
After losing 2-0 to Durham last Saturday, the manager said: "There will be changes to the team that played on Saturday, although our numbers are dwindling through injuries and we don't have that many options.
"But we need to get our act together and get these three points done and dusted."
Wakefield, who Colwyn Bay beat 3-2 at home in February, are currently in 10th place in the Unibond Division 1 North table but have failed to win any of their last four home games.
They did, however, beat championship favourites Skelmersdale United 2-1 in February and were 2-1 winners away to Mossley last weekend.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Sanna, Spearritt, Hammond, Brandreth, Jarrett, Williams, Canning, Taylor, Hopley, Davey, Jebb, McGraa, Garside, Webb, Edwards, Wood, Jackson.

A DREADFUL 48 hours, which has seen skipper Dave Challinor break a leg in training and Graham Branch ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on a fractured eye socket, was capped by two second half red cards in a 2-0 home defeat to Durham City (April 18).
The dismissals mean Dean Canning and keeper Chris Sanna will now also miss the play-off final should the Seagulls get there.
Manager Neil Young felt Sanna was a little unlucky, but commented candidly: "I am not going to use the referee as an excuse. We just weren't good enough today.
"We didn't defend properly, we didn't talk to each other and we got punished for a lack of discipline.
"Give credit to Durham, they were the better side on the day, but the game demonstrated how serious the injuries to Dave Challinor and Graham Branch are to us.
"In matches like this there is no substitute for experience. We badly missed their talking and organising at the back.
"Overall we were poor today, but we have to pick ourselves up and come back strongly at Wakefield on Tuesday."
I asked Neil that if the Bay should meet Durham in the play-off final, which at the moment is very possible, can his side can still beat them without four key players.
He replied: "We will need to set ourselves up differently, but in the end it will be down to the players and they need to perform better than they did today."
By the letter of the law, Canning had to go after a needless clash with Durham's giant centre back Richard Smith, although I thought Smith should have got at least a yellow card for his part in the confrontation, and Sanna went after bringing down Gavin Cogdon after the Durham dangerman had gone past him in the area - although he looked to make the most of any contact after pushing the ball too far ahead of him.
I am sure a lot of referees would have been content to show the keeper a yellow card, but his dismissal has opened the door for Farai Jackson to play in the play-off final after nine months fighting back from injury.
The stand-in keeper got a standing ovation from the 600 plus crowd when his first touch after coming on to replace Sanna was to save Keith Graydon's penalty kick with a flying dive to his right.
Jackson said afterwards that to play in the final would be a great way to end a hugely frustrating season for him.
"If we do get tho the final I would love to help Colwyn Bay win it and get promotion as that would be my chance of saying thank you to everybody at the club who have given me so much support during what has been a long nine months," he said.
To do that the Bay may have to go to Durham and win and that will be a big ask against what is clearly a very strong side.
The pace of Cogdon and Stephen Richardson up front caused the Bay defence problems all afternoon, with Matty Wood brought on for Lee Hammond after only 24 minutes to try and deal with the problem, while the Durham defence looked solid and allowed the home side, with injured Steve Aspinall also missing, few opportunities to test keeper Craig Turns.
Matty Moffatt looked offside as he broke clear to set up the opening goal for Richardson after 26 minutes, but Durham had started the game much the stronger, forcing five early corners and always looked the more accomplished team.
Canning and Danny Jarrett came closest to an equaliser with efforts narrowly over the bar, but after Canning's dismissal early in the second half, Colwyn Bay never really threatened a goal.
Chris Sanna came off his line to make three heroic one-on-one saves from Richardson (twice) and Moffat to earn himself the man of the match award, before his red card on 72 minutes.
Jackson kept up the good work in goal for nine-man Bay with that penalty save, but Moffatt beat him for Durham's second goal on 77 minutes after another pacy run by Cogdon.
With Curzon Ashton winning again, the Bay may now need to win on Tuesday or at Newcastle next Saturday to secure third place.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Spearritt, Hammond (Wood 24mins), Brandreth, Jarrett, Williams (McGraa 66mins), Canning, Taylor, Hopley, Davey (Jackson 73mins), Jebb. Subs not used: Webb, Edwards.
Attendance: 606.

COLWYN BAY have been hit by a massive end-of-season blow with skipper Dave Challinor suffering a broken leg in training on Thursday night.
Shocked manager Neil Young reported today: "Dave was hurt in an innocuous challenge in training last night and x-rays have revealed a fractured tibia.
"It is a huge, huge blow for us."
I'm sure all Bay fans will join me in wishing Dave a full and speedy recovery.
The injury follows news that Graham Branch is also out for the rest of the season with what has been diagnosed as a fractured eye socket following the kick in the face he received at Rossendale.
Challinor is the second Colwyn Bay player to suffer a broken leg this season, with Danny Hughes breaking his tibia and fibia in a 50-50 challenge at Woodley Sports on Boxing Day.
Steve Aspinall is also a big doubt for Saturday's home game against league leaders Durham City after missing training last night with a calf injury.
Durham went back to the top of the table with a 5-0 home win over Woodley Sports on Wednesday and will certainly be up for tomorrow's game as they chase the championship and automatic promotion.
"It is going to be a tough game for us, but all my thoughts at the moment are with Dave Challinor," said the subdued manager.
Fortunately Colwyn Bay have new signing Danny Jarrett to come back in alongside Tim Brandreth in the centre of defence, and they still remain favourites for a third place finish and a home tie in the play-off semi-finals - although they probably need at least another three points from their remaining three games to be sure.
Fourth-placed Newcastle Blue Star are six points behind with four games to play, while fifth-placed Curzon Ashton, who have put together a nine-match unbeaten run in the last few weeks, are seven points behind with three games left.

COLWYN BAY'S grip on third place in Unibond Division One North was strengthened on Wednesday (April 15) when Newcastle Blue Star were held to 1-1 draw at home by Mossley.
That leaves fourth-placed Blue Star still six points behind the Seagulls with only one game in hand - and a tough fixture against Skelmersdale United to come this Saturday.
Durham, who play at Colwyn Bay on Saturday (April 18) are back on top of the table after a 5-0 home win over Woodley Sports.
Colwyn Bay would have to win on Saturday as well their remaining two games at Wakefield next Tuesday and Newcastle Blue Star on April 25th, and hope Durham City take no move than two points from their last three fixtures, to pip them for a top two spot.
Skelmersdale are a point behind Durham with four games to play, including two against Blue Star.