September 2009 Archives

TWO goals in the last three minutes of normal time saw Colwyn Bay snatch a thrilling 3-2 victory from the jaws of defeat against bottom side Salford City on Tuesday (Sept 29).
It keeps them a point ahead of Halifax at the top of the table and extends their winning league run to 10 games - but Salford gave them a fright by twice taking the lead.
They scored their two goals from just four attempts, while Colwyn Bay had 20 attempts, but found Salford keeper Andy Robertson in good form.
He prevented the Bay taking an early lead by diving to turn Tim Brandreth's header round the post for a corner, before Salford took the lead with their first shot at goal after 15 minutes as Domain Rouse was left unchallenged to volley past Chris Sanna from a right wing corner.
Colwyn Bay moved up a gear and forced a spell of sustained pressure, but Josh Macauley, Brandreth and Eddie Jebb all missed the target from chances to equalise and Ian Sheridan had a weak shot easily saved.
The Bay then had to replace Stuart Graves through injury after 34 minutes and substitute Anthony Sheehan was unlucky not to equalise with a shot from 25 yards that rebounded off a post after Sheridan had a shot blocked in the area.
Early Bay pressure in the second half produced a great chance for Sheridan, but he couldn't direct his shot on target with the keeper out of position.
The equaliser, however, came on 58 minutes when Macauley had a shot blocked on the line and Eddie Jebb scored from the rebound.
Robertson then produced the save of the game to finger-tip a Louis Corrigan free kick for a corner and Macauley twice went close as the Bay surged forward.
But they were caught out again by a long ball over the top and Domain Rouse, who was always a threat on the break, ran clear to chip advancing keeper Sanna and put Salford back in front on 68 minutes,
Robertson saved from Rob Hopley and Steve Aspinall, while Macauley shot narrowly wide and the Bay were facing a shock home defeat until that dramatic finale.
With 87 minutes on the clock, man-of-the-match winner Eddie Jebb got the equaliser with a shot that hit the inside of the post and went in off the keeper, and two minutes later Jamie Dunn put Hopley free on the left and his low cross was deflected into his own net by Salford substitute Russ Courtney for the winner, with Tom McGill waiting to pounce behind him.
In the end a big slice of luck got the Bay out of jail, with what should probably go down as two own goals in those closing minutes (although Eddie Jebb tells me he is definitely claiming the first of them!), but full credit to the Bay for the way they battled right to the end when heads could have dropped.
I thought Jamie Dunn did really well on the left when he came on as a late substitute and manager Neil Young commented: "We ended the game with five strikers on the pitch in a late gamble, and fortunately it paid off."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan (Dunn 84 mins), Brandreth, Challinor, Clampitt, Jebb, Macauley, Hopley, Sheridan (McGill 76mins), Stuart Graves (Sheehan 34 mins). Sub not used: Hay.

TOP of the table Colwyn Bay play bottom side Salford City at Llanelian Road on Tuesday (Sept 29, 7.45pm) in what could be another key evening for them.
The second and third placed teams (Curzon Ashton and Halifax) play each other at The Shay, while fourth-placed Lancaster City and fifth-placed Leigh Genesis are both in cup action, so the Seagulls have a chance to pull further away from at least three of their top five rivals.
But although Salford City may be bottom of the table with just one win in seven league games, Neil Young, who celebrated his first anniversary as Colwyn Bay manager last weekend by seeing the side go top of the table for the first time in four seasons, is warning against any complacency.
"Ignore their position in the table; Salford will be a very tough game for us," he said. "With all the players they have brought in recently, including ex-Football League defender Carl Ruffer (ex-Chester City and Morecambe) from Droylsden, I expect them to start climbing the table very quickly."
Although they lost 5-1 to Trafford in the League Cup in their last outing, Salford won at Mossley in their previous league game with a goal from Rhodri Giggs (brother of Manchester United ace Ryan) and have also progressed in the FA Cup with notable wins over Skelmersdale United and Unibond Premier Division side Marine - and are awaiting news of closure-threatened Hyde United's fate to see if they get a bye into a home tie against Blyth Spartans in the third qualifying round.
Colwyn Bay have a doubt over Anthony Sheehan, who has sore ribs after last weekend's win at Rossendale United, and he will need a late fitness test along with Tim Brandreth (groin) and Stuart Graves (groin).
Jamie Dunn, who was substituted at half-time at Rossendale with a recurring knee problem, is expected to be fit to play, but Jimmy Kelly probably needs another 10 days rest to sort out his calf injury.
Josh Macauley, who scored twice at Rossendale after joining the Bay on loan from Tranmere Rovers, makes his home debut.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan, Sheehan, Challinor, Clampitt, Jebb, Macauley, Hopley, Dunn, Graves, Sheridan, McGill, Hay, Brandreth, Jarrett.

TWO goals from loan signing Josh Macauley helped Colwyn Bay to a 4-1 victory at Rosssendale (Sept 26) which has put them top of the Unibond Division one North table.
In fact, the teenage Tranmere Rovers striker should have marked his debut with a hat-trick, but fired over the bar with only the keeper to beat after being put in the clear by Alex Hay's pass.
"I should have had a hat-trick," he admitted afterwards, "but I really enjoyed the game. They (Colwyn Bay) are a good team and it was nice to get such a good win in my first game."
Macauley made a good first impression. He holds the ball well, has good pace and he took his two goals very well - particularly the second, which was a high class finish.
With Tim Brandreth still not fully fit, Rob Hopley switched back to a defensive role alongside Dave Challinor, but I will be interested to see how he links up with Macauley at the front once Brandreth is fit (possibly against Salford on Tuesday) because I think the two could be really good together.
Macauley started the Rossendale game alongside Jamie Dunn and, with Eddie Jebb looking lively on the right, the Bay had early chances to take the lead with Rob Hopley having a header cleared off the line from a corner and Carl Clampitt spooning a shot high over the bar after Jebb had put in a tremendous run before pulling the ball back for him.
Rossendale then threatened for a spell and Alex Leke missed the target with two good chances, before the Seagulls took the lead on 30 minutes.
An Eddie Jebb corner was headed on by Clampitt and Dave Challinor scored with a well-placed header back across the goal and inside the far post.
Clampitt then did well to head off the line for a corner to deny Rossendale's Chris Lawton an equaliser, before the Bay doubled their lead on 43 minutes.
A long throw by Challinor was not cleared and when Clampitt put the ball back into the middle Macauley scored with a neat header.
Alex Hay replaced Jamie Dunn up front alongside Macauley for the second half, and within three minutes of the restart Rossendale were reduced to 10 men when front man Vas Theophanous received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Anthony Sheehan.
From the free kick for that incident Colwyn Bay scored again, working the ball into the area for Macauley to run in and hit a first-time angled shot across keeper Tom Brocklehurst and inside the far post.
Ten minutes later the Bay got their fourth when another Jebb corner beyond the far post was played back into the goalmouth by Challinor for Rob Hopley to force the ball over the line from close range.
The Bay carved out further chances after that with Macauley missing the best of them while Tom McGill was unlucky with a curling shot from 20 yards which rebounded off a post, and Sheehan and Ian Sheridan both missed the target from other openings.
For a while it looked as though the Seagulls could run riot, but they seemed to lose concentration in the closing stages, allowing Rossendale to grab a late consolation goal when Lawton scored direct from a free kick following a foul by Clampitt, who otherwise had an excellent game in midfield.
That is now nine games unbeaten in the league for the Seagulls as they sit proudly at the top of the table, and in five unbeaten away games they have scored 17 goals.
All that should be a tonic for assistant boss Gary Jones who is ill with sceptic tonsilitis and was unable to attend the game.
Manager Neil Young said: "I believe it is the first time we've been top for quite some time and it is great for the club, but there is a long way to go and a lot of points to be played for yet."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan, Sheehan, Challinor, Clampitt, Jebb, Macauley (McGill 77 mins), Hopley, Dunn (Hay 46mins), Graves (Sheridan 59mins). Sub not used: Brandreth.

COLWYN BAY will have Tranmere Rovers striker Josh Macauley making his debut in Saturday's important away game at Rossendale United - where victory will put the Seagulls top of the Unibond Division One North table.
Manager Neil Young secured the teenage striker on loan on Friday and says: "He is a young striker who is very quick and has scored loads of goals for Tranmere's youth and reserve teams.
"We have not been getting enough goals from our front men and hopefully Josh can come in and do a job for us."
Macauley, who has been at Tranmere since he was 14, scored 27 goals last season and made one first team appearance against Carlisle United.
With current leaders Halifax involved in the FA Cup and two other top six sides (Lancaster and Skelmersdale) playing each other, this is a game Colwyn Bay are desperate to win and will be hoping Macauley will help them do that.
Rossendale are second from bottom of the table with only one win in seven league games and Neil Young said: "They are a hard, battling side who will give no quarter, but if we have any realistic ambitions of getting promotion this season then these are the type of games we have to win."
Colwyn Bay will have Jamie Dunn back after injury and Carl Clampitt will also be involved again after making his return in Tuesday's League Cup defeat at Prescot Cables and coming through with no reaction.
But are there are big fitness doubts over Tim Brandreth and Stuart Graves, who both picked up groin strains at Prescot, while Jimmy Kelly and Lee Davey are definitely out.
Matty Hurdman has returned to Wrexham after completing his loan spell
Colwyn Bay (from) Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan, Jarrett, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan, Jebb, Clampitt, Hopley, McGill, Hay, Macauley, Dunn, Brandreth, Graves.

COLWYN BAY manager Neil Young has today (Sept 23) let Matty Hurdman return to Wrexham while he tries to bring in a striker on loan from a Football League club.
Hurdman's loan period was due to finish on Saturday, but he has been allowed to return a few days early following Tuesday's League Cup defeat at Prescot.
Neil Young said the team's performance in that game reaffirmed the need for more strength in depth in certain areas.
"I am hoping to get a striker in on loan this week because we are not getting enough goals from our front men and are having to rely on Hops (Rob Hopley) far too much. We are also working hard to try and bring in another centre back.
"Going out of the League Cup is not a disaster because league promotion is our priority, but at the same time we are trying to get a winning mentality throughout the squad and we haven't got that at the moment. We gave lads who have not been in the side recently an opportunity to stake a claim for themselves at Prescot and they have let themselves down.
"We've played a lot of games in the last month and you can't expect the same players to keep doing it all the time, you have to have others who can be relied on to come in and do a job.
"The one positive thing to come out of the Prescot game was the return of Carl Clampitt. That was a late decision after he phoned me in the morning to say he had been cleared to play by the physio. We were only going to give him 60 minutes, but because of the circumstances we had to keep him on for the full game - and he seemed to come through it ok."
However, on the down side Stuart Graves and Tim Brandreth have both picked up groin injuries which could make them doubtful for Saturday's trip to Rossendale.

COLWYN BAY'S dismal cup record continued with a 3-1 first round defeat in the Unibond League Challenge Cup at Prescot Cables (Sept 22).
And the damage was done in the opening 19 minutes when they conceded all three Prescot goals as opportunist finishing punished a series of errors.
Paul London seized on a mistake by Lee Davey to score the first with a cracking shot from 25 yards after nine minutes, and seven minutes later Prescot full-back Che Morgan spotted Chris Sanna yards off his line and beat him with a perfectly judged shot from the near half-way line which dropped over the back-pedalling keeper into the top corner of the net.
Sanna then dived to turn a Paul Cliff shot round the post, but from the resulting corner a static Bay defence allowed Rob McIntosh to run in and score with a diving header.
It could and should have been worse as Phil Green shot wide of an open goal after going round Sanna and then lifted another shot over the bar with just the keeper to beat after a wayward pass by Matty Hurdman in his own half had been easily intercepted.
Shell-shocked Colwyn Bay tried to rally and Tom McGill was unlucky to hit the bar with an overhead kick, while Carl Clampitt, who was given a surprise start in midfield, had a close range effort blocked on the line.
An over zealous linesman continually flagged for offside whenever the Bay looked like breaking through on goal, but to rescue the tie after giving their opponents a three goal start was always going to be a big ask.
Neil Young made three substitutions at half-time with Rob Hopley, Tim, Brandreth and Louis Corrigan coming off the bench, but although the Bay pressed forward and were unlucky to hit the bar again with a Clampitt header, Prescot worked hard to close them down and restricted them to few scoring chances.
In fact, home keeper Andy Paxton did not have a save to make prior to Hopley stabbing a late consolation goal past him in the last 10 minutes from what, ironically, looked an offside position.
Matty Hurdman did have a good chance when he broke free in the area, but dragged his shot well wide.
Prescot, meanwhile, were always a threat on the break and Sanna made fine saves to prevent Aaron Rey and Paul Cliff from adding further goals.
With the league very much the priority, an early exit from the League Cup is not a disaster and was always a possibility with fringe players given a run out, but Bay fans will certainly want normal service resumed by a back-to-strength team for next Saturday's game at Rossendale, where (with Halifax in the FA Cup) a win will put the Seagulls top of the table.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Aspinall, Graves (Corrigan 46mins), Jarrett (Brandreth 46mins), Challinor, Hurdman, Jebb, Clampitt, McGill, Hay, Davey (Hopley 46mins). Subs not used: Sheehan, Sheridan.
Attendance: 91.

COLWYN BAY will use Tuesday's League Challenge Cup tie at Prescot Cables (Sept 22, 7.45pm) to give a game to players who have been on the bench in recent matches.
That means a start for the likes of Tom McGill, Lee Davey, Matty Hurdman and Danny Jarrett.
Jamie Dunn, Jimmy Kelly and Carl Clampitt are again ruled out by injury.
Manager Neil Young insisted: "In no way are we devaluing the League Cup competition as it is a game we want to win and to have a good run in the cup, but it is important that players who have been on the bench in recent weeks get a game to keep up their match fitness.
"We've also got players who are carrying knocks and they will have a turn on the bench at Prescot to give them a chance to recover.
"Ideally we would give them a night off, but with a small squad we do not have the luxury of that option.
"That's where the one-player-one-club rule imposed by the FA of Wales hits us hard and puts us at a big disadvantage with other clubs in England where that rule does not apply,
"Last year, for instance, Newcastle Blue Star had three players who also played for Whitley Bay and another who played for Gateshead in the Conference. If the same rule applied for us as it does for all the other clubs in our league we could have a bigger pool of players who could be getting match practice with other clubs in the Welsh Leagues or West Cheshire League when they are not involved with us.
"Unfortunately, if players who are signed by us are not in the team then they don't get a game on a Saturday - and not many will stick around for long under those circumstances."
The Seagulls will be looking to complete a league and cup double over Prescot, having beaten them 3-1 in the league at Llanelian Road last month. Prescot's home form has been patchy with just two wins in five games at Valerie Park - and they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bamber Bridge last Saturday.
Colwyn Bay (from): Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan, Brandreth, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan, Graves, Hopley, Hay, Jebb, McGill, Davey, Hurdman, Jarrett.

COLWYN BAY came from behind to go second in the table by extending their unbeaten league run to eight games with a 3-1 victory over Garforth Town (September 19).
With Curzon Ashton and Lancaster City both losing, it was an important win which puts the Seagulls clear in second place, two points behind Halifax.
Three goals in the last 22 minutes turned the game around, although manager Neil Young admitted they had made hard work of it against a side struggling in the bottom four.
"We did make hard work of it, but you have to give Garforth some credit for coming here with a game plan and making it tough - and other teams have found it hard to break them down this season with Halifax only beating them 1-0.
"We changed things after their goal and in the end came away with the three points, thanks to a little bit of magic by Hopley and good goal from Lee Davey, but we know we have got to work harder to break down sides that come here and play like that."
Colwyn Bay tended to get knocked off the ball a little too easily and struggled to keep hold of it for much of the first half, despite some outstanding work in midfield by Stuart Graves (my man of the match), but they still came closest to scoring.
Garforth keeper Tom Morgan tipped a 30 yard shot from Eddie Jebb over the bar and then dived to divert an Ian Sheridan effort round the post, while Dave Challinor was unlucky to hit a post with a header from the second of those corners.
The home side, however, were caught out badly at the back as Garforth broke quickly to take the lead early in the second half when Tom Greaves was left totally unmarked in the middle to score a simple tap in goal from a Darren Thornton cross.
Neil Young then switched things around, with Tom McGill and Lee Davey coming off the bench, and that helped turn the game round with two goals in five minutes.
McGill was hauled down in the area as he tried to reach a Louis Corrigan cross-shot and Steve Aspinall scored from the penalty spot on 68 minutes, and then Tim Brandreth's header from just inside his own half found Rob Hopley who oupaced his marker and scored with an angled shot inside Morgan's near post.
The referee waved away appeals for another penalty when McGill again went down in the box, but on 87 minutes Eddie Jebb played in Davey and he cut inside a defender before again beating Morgan low inside his near post with a right foot shot.
Garforth finished strongly and twice went close scoring again in the closing minutes as the Bay defended too deep, but although it was a far from faultless performance by the Seagulls, it is the third time this season they have shown the character to come from behind and win.
It is three more points in the bag - and with every chance of extending that unbeaten league run into double figures in their next two league fixtures against the two bottom sides (Rossendale and Salford City).
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Aspinall (Hurdman 84 mins), Corrigan, Brandreth, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan (McGill 56 mins), Graves, Hopley, Hay (Davey 63 mins), Jebb. Subs not used: Kelly, Jarrett.
Attendance: 302.

COLWYN BAY hope to build on their best start to a league campaign in the last seven years when they play Garforth Town at Llanelian Road on Saturday (Sept 19th, 3pm kick off).
They go into the match unbeaten in their last seven league games, having kept clean sheets in the last four of them, and are third in the table - just two points behind joint leaders Curzon Ashton and Halifax.
Garforth is the fist of three games in 11 days against teams currently in the bottom four of the Unibond Division One North table, providing a great opportunity to extend that unbeaten run, but manager Neil Young knows his team need to guard against any complacency.
"Curzon and Halifax are not going to drop many points and we need to hang on to their coat tails," he said.
"We gave the players a day off from training on Thursday after a hectic schedule of games in the opening weeks of the season, and hopefully they will report back refreshed and ready to go again."
Garforth will have been boosted by gaining their first league win of the season in midweek with a 4-2 success at home to Radcliffe Borough, despite having a player sent off, and Neil Young is expecting a tough game.
"They are a strong side and don't concede that many goals so we must not fall into the trap of taking them lightly because of their league position," he warned.
"We've had our best start in the league for quite a number of years so I hope the fans will turn up in numbers and really get behind the lads."
The Seagulls are again without Carl Clampitt, who has been told to have two weeks rest to try and cure a persistent abdominal injury, and Jamie Dunn will face a late fitness test on a knee injury.
Clampitt played at Skelmersdale last week and says: "I felt fine during the game, but woke up on Sunday morning in pain again. The doctor says the only cure is to rest for a couple of weeks which is very frustrating."
Jimmy Kelly, however, is available again after a calf injury and Tom McGill is also back in the squad after missing the midweek win over Leigh Genesis due to work commitments.
Colwyn Bay (from): Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan, Brandreth, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan, Graves, Hopley, Hay, Jebb, Hurdman, Jarrett, Davey, Kelly, Dunn, Denson.

A SECOND half goal by Tim Brandreth gave Colwyn Bay a fifth win in eight games and consolidated third place in the Unibond Division One North table with a 1-0 win over Leigh Genesis (Sept 15).
And in doing so, It extended the team's unbeaten league run to seven games and made it four consecutive clean sheets in the league (the longest run without conceding a goal by a Colwyn Bay side since November 2005).
And the fact that Chris Sanna did not have a save of note to make in the game shows how well the defence played in front of him again, with skipper Dave Challinor deservedly getting the man of the match honours.
After a slow start the Seagulls put together some sustained pressure in the last 20 minutes of the first half, with Eddie Jebb posing a major threat down the left.
He had the best chance to open the scoring but lifted the ball over the bar at the far post after Brandreth headed on a long Challinor throw.
Leigh keeper Stephen Drench held onto a Challinor shot after Rob Hopley chested down a Steve Aspinall free kick, and then dived to turn an Ian Sheridan chance round the post.
The Bay had 11 attempts at goal in that first half, to just three by Leigh, but the visitors started the second half strongly with a Chris Thompson shot and Jordan Stephien header both going close, before the Bay took the lead on 61 minutes.
A long throw by Challinor wasn't cleared and the skipper followed up to head the ball back into the penalty area where Brandreth volleyed into the net off a post from 12 yards.
Substitute Lee Davey had a header from a Jebb cross tipped over the bar by the keeper, Challinor had another header cleared off the line, and Jebb shot wide when he should have scored as the Bay chased a second goal.
But Leigh finished the game strongly and the Bay had to survive an anxious last few minutes and some missed chances by Leigh, before claiming the three points which keeps them within two points of joint leaders Halifax and Curzon Ashton.
It was another important win against top six rivals and was achieved despite Tom McGill, who has just started a new job, not making it because he had to work late, and with Carl Clampitt, James Kelly and Jamie Dunn all nursing injuries.
The club's new physio, incidentally, has also joined the injury list after she ruptured a thigh muscle in an accident last Friday!
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Aspinall, Corrigan, Brandreth, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan, Graves, Hopley (Dunn 90 mins), Hay (Davey 80 mins), Jebb (Hurdman 89mins). Subs not used: Jarrett, Kelly.
Attendance: 227