Bay win again as Halifax lose

COLWYN BAY extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games with a 4-2 home win over Ossett Albion (Nov 7) - and with main title rivals Halifax losing for the first time in the league at Prescot, this could prove a very important win for the Seagulls.
Two goals in each half did the trick and manager Neil Young felt in the first half particularly, work done on the training ground last week had paid off.
"Everything we asked them to do they did pretty much perfectly," he said later. "There are one or two things that we still need to work on, but if the players continue to take on board what we ask of them then we will get there and the things we are working on in training will start to come naturally.
"I thought Ossett were a decent side with some lively players, but we worked very hard. Some of our players are still not quite up to the fitness levels we require so it was good to give Neil Black 75 minutes or so and Carl Clampitt 60 minutes and hopefully they will benefit from that.
"We probably still need to bring in a couple more players of real quality to make the next step forward. I am talking to a young player on Tuesday who we think will make the grade and I would like to make one more significant signing before Christmas if I can to further strengthen our challenge."
The Seagulls are now 11 points clear of Halifax, who have five games in hand, and would have opened an eight-point gap at the top of the table but for second-placed Curzon Ashton snatching an injury-time winner against Rossendale.
"All we can do is to try and keep winning our games and see what happens," says the manager. "We've now gone 15 games without defeat and hopefully that is breaking a few hearts amongst the teams chasing us.
"I know teams have games in hand, but we were in that position last year and it is very, very difficult to keep churning out results week in and week out when you are playing catch up, so the more points we can pick up now the better."
Colwyn Bay went in front after 24 minutes when a great ball from Jimmy Kelly, who was outstanding in midfield, released Stuart Graves on the left and his cross was expertly headed into the net by Josh Macauley.
The Tranmere youngster had earlier missed an easier chance when he fired high and wide after being put clear by a great ball from Louis Corrigan in the first minute.
Chris Sanna had to make three excellent saves before half-time to deny the lively Ossett striker Steve Smith, but after Macauley had missed out again by sidefooting wide from another Graves cross with just the keeper to beat, the Bay did double their lead on 40 minutes.
After they forced four consecutive corners, Kelly nutmegged a defender and crossed for Luke Denson to head his first goal for the club.
Denson got man of the match for another fine performance at right back and is really blossoming after being given his chance in the side.
"Luke is a confidence player and may be Steve Aspinall going has also given him a lift because it has shown him that I've got faith in him by allowing such an experienced player to go," said the manager.
It took the Bay just 14 seconds of the second half to make it 3-0 as they attacked down the right and Eddie Jebb crossed for Neil Black to volley his first goal since returning to the club.
He got his first start in this game and was able to show glimpses of his very best form.
"I had a new pair of boots today and it was nice to christen them with my first goal," he told me. "It is just great to be back here and getting games again!"
Osett keeper Lee Ashforth was fortunate to only get a yellow card when he pushed down Ian Sheridan after the Bay substitute had taken the ball past him outside the box and looked certain to score, but justice was done when Eddie Jebb scored direct from the resulting free kick to put Bay 4-0 up on 65 minutes.
The Bay went slightly off the boil after that, allowing Ossett to pull a couple of goals back through Andrew Catton and a Damien Hopkins header form a corner, but Ian Sheridan was again denied a certain goal in the final minute when he was cynically chopped down from behind by full-back Thomas Harban on the edge of the box as he was sprinting clear with just the keeper to beat - and this time referee Darren Strain did produce the red card.
In the end the scoreline was probably just about right because although Colwyn Bay produced some good attacking play and could have scored more than their four goals, it needed some fine saves from Sanna to keep Ossett from making it a very close game.
Tim Brandreth had to pull out of the game late on with a stiff neck and back, but Anthony Sheehan did well as a makeshift central defender alongside Dave Challinor.
Black and Macauley started up front and troubled Ossett with their pace, while transfer-listed Eddie Jebb had an excellent game on the right.
"That was one of the best games Eddie has played for us for a while," said the manager. "He wants to stay here and I want him to stay, but he has to start producing performances like that week in week out."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Corrigan, Clampitt (Williams 56 mins), Challinor, Sheehan, Jebb, Kelly, Macauley (Sheridan 61 mins), Black (McGill 77 mins), Graves. Sub not used: Davey.