Controversial goal denies Bay victory

A HUGELY controversial equaliser eight minutes from time denied Colwyn Bay what could have been a very important victory at top five rivals Curzon Ashton.
The Seagulls were defending well under pressure after taking the lead just before half-time with Dave Challinor's looping header over the keeper from a Greg Stones corner, and they looked like taking all three points until referee Martin Thornley stepped in.
Bay keeper Chris Sanna came off his line to catch a high ball into the box and was caught by a flailing arm from challenging home forward Michael Norton.
Sanna, clearly hurt amd struggling, sank to his knees but the referee refused to award him a free kick or to let him receive treatment and when the keeper protested he needed the trainer, to everybody's astonishment the referee awarded Curzon an indirect free kick inside the area.
With all the Bay defenders having moved up field in readiness for Sanna's clearance kick, the referee allowed Curzon to take the free kick quickly for Ajay Leitch-Smith to put the ball in the unguarded net with Sanna still out of position and before any Bay outfield player could get back to defend it.
The referee, who booked both Dave Challinor and Greg Stones amidst Bay's furious protests and, I am told, also threatened to send Challinor off, said afterwards the free kick was awarded for Sanna holding onto the ball for longer than the permitted six seconds.
Sanna says he weas caught by an elbow, not for the first time, and was winded, and for the rerferee to award a free kick against him in those circumstances seems harsh in the extreme. The official did himself no favours either by not allowing the Bay to defend the free kick and the enthusiastic way he signalled the goal.
I have never seen anything quite like it in over 40 years of covering football, and it could have been even worse because the referee then ignored a clear foul on Sanna as he came off his line to catch another high ball into the box and as the ball bounced free, Norton's shot hit a post - and would have won the game for Curzon had it gone in.
Sanna will have learnt a harsh lesson to get the ball out of play if he needs treatment, but I still thought it was an extraordinary second half performance by the referee. He seemed to give every decision Curzon's way and ignored two strong Colwyn Bay claims for penalties when first substitute Lee Davey was past the last defender and was barged over from behind inside the box as he was about to shoot, and then Adriano Rigoglisio's driven cross struck the arm of another defender just inside the box.
Throughout the second half he seemed to give Curzon free kicks for the slightest challenge and ignored a number of what seemed clear fouls on Bay players. Having said that, Ian Sheridan missed a good chance to make it 2-0 when he fired over the bar after Rigoglioso's well-timed pass put him clear.
In the end Chris Sanna has not had a save of note to make in the game with Challinor and Grannon again excellent at the back and well backed up by Greg Stones when he dropped back to reinforce the defence in the second half.
The Bay had edged the first half for possession, with three corners to one, although unable to force a save out of home keeper Michael Hale.
Furious Bay manager Neil Young, who is already serving a touchline ban for remarks made about a controversial refereeing decision, had to be careful what he said afterwards, but admitted: "Myself, my management team and the players are utterly distraught over a decision we feel has robbed us of the three points we had worked very hard for and deserved.
"I thought our lads were excellence. We had a game plan and the players carried that out to the letter. We got our goal to put us in front and although people will say we were under pressure in the second half, that is always going to happen when you are playing away to a good side - but they hadn't really troubled us up until the referee intervened.
"I thought we should also have had a blatant penalty for a foul on Lee Davey.
"I am very, very disappointed; but its gone now and we have to knuckle down and prepare for Mossley on Tuesday."
On a brighter note, a home defeat for sixth-placed Leigh Genesis means they are now seven points behind Colwyn Bay having played a game more and a win for the Seagulls against Mossley on Tuesday will guarantee a play-off place.
Halifax's 4-0 win over Lancaster in front of a crowd of over 3,000 has put them top, and with five games left are now favourites to take the automatic promotion spot - and I would imagine Colwyn Bay would far rather be playing Lancaster than Halifax in the play-offs.
Halifax could now do the Bay a favour by beating Curzon Ashton on Monday - providing Mr Thorley is not in charge!
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Graves, Grannon, Challinor, Sheehan (Rigoglioso 56mins), Sheridan, Rule (Kelly 84mins), McGill (Davey 70mins), Stones, Williams. Subs not used; Brandreth and Jackson.