July 2009 Archives

COLWYN BAY manager Neil Young believes Saturday's pre-season friendly against Welsh Premier full-timers The New Saints (August 1, 3pm) will give a true indication on how far his squad has progressed.
The Bay are still without striker Alex Hay (holiday) as well as Chris Sanna, who is not expected back from America until the weekend, but Danny Jarrett is available again and Kevin Holsgrove will also be in the squad after making a big impression in the win against Hyde United.
"I am looking for the same sort of performance and attitude that we have shown in the last couple of games," said the manager. "I feel we have made big strides, but this will be a much stiffer test and will give us a better idea of just how much improvement we have made."
The New Saints, who have made six new signings for the new season, are unbeaten in four friendlies so far, but suffered two 2-1 defeats (losing 2-4 on aggregate) to Fram Reykjavik in the Europa League qualifying round.
For the Bay, Saturday's game could be the last chance for some of the players to impress. The manager revealed that after the game he will be making a decision on two or three players to reduce the current 23-man squad to about 20 - although he is still hopeful of making one or two further signings in the next week.
The TNS game has also been designated as a testimonial match for long-serving former physio Colin Edwards and the club are hoping for a big crowd to show their appreciation of his 10 years loyal service.

TWO first half goals from Rob Hopley set Colwyn Bay on their way to a 4-0 victory at Cymru Alliance side Buckley Town on Tuesday night (July 28), with a performance that delighted manager Neil Young.
"We showed we are making real progress now," he said afterwards. "We passed the ball well and played some great stuff at times."
Dave Challinor played in the centre of defence and helped the side keep their first clean sheet in six pre-season games.
Hopley's two goals put the Bay 2-0 up at half-time and after Tom McGill had scored a third with a half-volley, Ian Sheridan capped the win with a fine individual goal, beating four or five defenders before slotting the ball under the keeper.
The Bay's next game is at home to Welsh Premier full-timers The New Saints on Saturday (August 1st, 3pm).

THE countdown to the new season starts in earnest this week with Seagulls boss Neil Young set to field what he considers his strongest available side in the remaining four friendlies - starting at Buckley Town on Tuesday (July 28, 7.30pm).
Although Alex Hay is still away and Danny Jarrett is unavailable through work commitments, Anthony Sheehan is back from holiday.
Left winger Kevin Holsgrove, who made such a good impression in the 4-3 win over Hyde United, has family commitments, but the manager says talks are continuing with him and he is expected to train with the squad on Thursday.
In goal at Buckley will be Terry McCormick, who was with Connah's Quay last season and could possibly be an additional goalkeeping option for the squad. Chris Sanna only returns from America this week but is suspended for the opening league game against FC Halifax Town, while Farai Jackson has been out with a hamstring injury, but is hoping to start light training this week.
Neil Young said that the decision to play Dave Challinor in goal last weekend was a planned move after early attempts to find a stand-in keeper were unsuccessful.
"We have not been playing well defensively and we thought it would be good for Dave to play behind the defence to help organise them a bit and to give us his thoughts on what the problems were.
"In that respect it was a useful exercise and we had a good chat afterwards. It was also a chance to give Dave some valuable minutes on the pitch to help him back to match fitness after his injury."
Also in the squad against Buckley will be Robbie Williams who has been training with Llandudno and played for them last Saturday.
The Manager explained: "Robbie is still a member of our squad, but he can't get up to Wirral to train with us and as Llandudno were a bit short last Saturday he asked if he could have a full game with them to help boost his fitness levels rather than have just 20 to 25 minutes with us against Hyde, and that made good sense."

JIMMY KELLY hit the match-winner with a screamer from 25 yards to give Colwyn Bay their first pre-season success with a 4-3 victory against Blue Square North side Hyde United on Saturday (July 25).
And after the game manager Neil Young reported that ex-Tranmere Rovers youth team player Lewis Corrigan, who had also been among the scorers playing at left wing back, had agreed terms and signed up for the new season.
He added talks are to continue with Cefn Druids left winger Kevin Holsgrove, who also scored and had a good game.
With no recognised keeper available, club skipper Dave Challinor had to play in goal, and Hyde took advantage of some sloppy marking to take a first half lead, only for Kevin Holsgrove to equalise before half-time with a well-taken goal.
The Bay then took a 2-1 lead early in the second half with an own goal and went 3-1 up when Lewis Corrigan scored after Rob Hopley's shot had rebounded off a post.
Neil Young then made a number of changes and Hyde hit back to make it 3-2 from a free kick and then 3-3 after more poor marking at a set piece.
But the Bay won it with Kelly's fiercely struck shot into the bottom corner of the net from outside the area.
"We played some good stuff at times, particularly in the second half, and although we again made some mistakes defensively, bits and pieces that we've been working on in training are starting to pay off," reported the manager.

COLWYN BAY will have another new face in their ranks for the home game against Hyde United of the Blue Square Conference North on Saturday (July 25, 3pm).
They will be giving a run out to left winger Kevin Holsgrove, who has been with Cefn Druids for the last couple of seasons and is a former youth team player at Everton.
"It is a chance for us to have a look at him and for him to look at us," said manager Neil Young.
Alex Hay and Anthony Sheehan miss the game due to holidays and manager Neil Young was yesterday trying to secure the services of another stand-in keeper to play in place of injured Farai Jackson.
After three defeats and a draw in the previous four pre-season games, the manager said: "We are looking for an improvement in the team performance; that is the main thing on our minds tomorrow."

TOM McGILL scored two goals and was unlucky not to complete a hat-trick as Colwyn Bay twice came from behind to draw 3-3 in their latest pre-season friendly at Denbigh on Tuesday evening (July 21).
But defensive errors for all three Denbigh goals was the main concern for manager Neil Young.
The Bay took the lead when McGill scored with header from a corner, but the home side were level at half-time when Colwyn Bay gave away a penalty after failing to clear the ball from a corner.
Another error allowed Denbigh to take a 2-1 lead and although Colwyn Bay equalised when Ian Sheridan scored at the far post from a cross by Gary Scott, the Seagulls gave the ball away in defence again for Denbigh to take a 3-2 lead.
McGill, who had a good match, then saved his side from a fourth successive defeat with his second of the match and was unlucky to have another effort cleared off the line.
"We forced a lot of corners and also hit the post in the second half after making a number of changes, but silly errors cost us three goals and that is a concern," admitted the manager.
"We gave a few lads who have not had much football a chance tonight and now we will be sitting down over the next couple of days to look at possibility reducing the size of the squad."

COLWYN BAY have today (July 20) completed the signing of experienced full-back Gary Scott.
The former Tranmere and Rotherham United defender, who can play right back or left back, had several seasons with Altrincham, making over 300 appearances, and was a contract player with Witton Albion last year.
He played for Colwyn Bay in last week's friendly against Wrexham and manager Neil Young was delighted to be able to tie up the deal this morning.
"He really looked the part against Wrexham and I am delighted he has agreed to sign," commented the manager.
Scott will be in the squad for Tuesday's game at Denbigh (July 21, 7pm kick off) with Steve Aspinall and James Dunne both available again after missing the Altrincham match.
Former Rhyl keeper John Gann will be in goal.
Lee Davey will be missing with a shoulder injury suffered against Altrincham, but x-rays have revealed just bad bruising and he should only be sidelined for about 10 days.
Neil Young says he is likely to start Tuesday's game with lads who have not had much football up to now, but added: "We will probably bring on the cavalry in the second half!"

MANAGER Neil Young has warned some of the players they are fighting for their places in the squad after describing his side's defending in the second half of Saturday's (July 18) 5-1 home defeat to Altrincham as worst than Sunday League standard.
"The players have been left in no doubt about my feelings and they've been told to buck up or be shipped out," he told me.
"Some of them have got two weeks to prove to me they want to stay at the club.
"After reaching the play-offs last season the fans now have high expectations for next season and the players need to show they are capable of carryinging those expectations.
"I was quite happy with our first half performance against a strong Altrincham side when we twice had efforts kicked off the line and their keeper made a couple of fine saves from Rob Hopley, but our defending in the second half was just not acceptable. We didn't even do the basics right.
"We have played quite well in the first half all three games so far against strong opposition, but we need to start showing that for 90 minutes."
He is looking for a big improvement in the remaining games starting at Denbigh on Tuesday (July 21).
Meanwhile, the Bay are waiting to hear the results of x-rays on Lee Davey who injured his shoulder in Saturday's defeat.
Complications with my broken leg means I am still unable to get to games at the moment, but I am told the Bay held their own in the first half in front of a crowd of over 350, but the visitors went in front just before half-time with an opportunist header.
Once the Bay started to make changes, with experienced players like Tim Brandreth, Carl Clampitt and Adriano Rigoglioso coming off to give other players a run out, Altrincham took advantage. They switched from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and scored three quick goals before the Bay pulled one back through Tom McGill from a Lee Hammond corner.
Altrincham then added a fifth with their goals shared by Colin Little (2), and trialists Paul McManus (2) and Ben Muirhead.
I understand Jimmy Kelly, who was captain for the day, had an excellent game for the Bay.

COLWYN BAY manager Neil Young has drafted in 18-year-old goalkeeper Jason Astbury, who was released by Stockport County at the end of last season, as replacement for injured Farai Jackson for the third pre-season friendly against Altrincham on Saturday (July 18, 3pm).
Jackson is expected to be out of action for a month with a hamstring injury suffered in Wednesday's game against Wrexham, while Chris Sanna does not return from America until the end of the month.
Also likely to be involved against Altrincham is Liverpool-based centre forward Adriano Rigolioso who played in the same Liverpool Youth team as Michael Owen and Jamie Garragher.
The 30-year-old has had spells with Doncaster Rovers, Morecambe and more recently Forest Green Rovers, but missed much of last season through injury.
"I've had a chat with him this week and told him about the club and what we want to achieve, and this is a chance for him to come and have a look at us and for us to look at him," said manager Neil Young.
The manager is also looking to try and make a couple more signings before finalising his squad.
"The opening two friendly matches have shown that we are still short in a couple of areas and we will be working to try and address that," said Neil.
"In the next 10 days or so we will also be looking to cut down the numbers in the squad a little so that we can concentrate on the players who we see as starting the new season for us."

A HAMSTRING injury that is likely to keep goalkeeper Farai Jackson out of action for a month has left Colwyn Bay manager Neil Young with a major headache after his side's 3-0 defeat to Wrexham on Wednesday night (July 15).
The Seagulls were holding the Conference side to 0-0 after a good first half performance when the injury happened and with no reserve keeper on the bench, Wrexham took full advantage to hit three goals past stand-ins Danny Jarrett and Dave Challinor.
With Chris Sanna not due back from America until July 28, the Bay must now try and find another keeper ahead of Saturday's friendly against Altrincham.
The manager commented: "I thought we did quite well in the first half and got behind them a few times to create some chances, but after the injury to Jacko we were always going to be up against it without a recognised keeper.We gave a couple of poor goals away because of that."
On the plus side the game attracted a good crowd of over 500.