Point at Lancaster boosts confidence for play-offs

SHOULD Colwyn Bay have to make a return trip to Lancaster City in two weeks time for the play-off final, they will go there in optimistic mood after today's (April 17) 1-1 draw at Giant Axe - because it was a game they could and should have won.
Only five excellent saves by home keeper Martin Fearon, and missed opportunities, prevented a Seagulls win after taking the lead just before half-time - although once again they will feel they didn't get the rub of the green with the refereeing decisions in the second half.
Lancaster's equaliser came from a disputed free kick just outside the area after referee Peter Gooch had ignored fouls on Glenn Rule and then Greg Stones as they tried to clear the ball (Stones getting booked for his protest), and then later the official waved away a strong penalty appeal for what looked to be a clear trip on Ian Sheridan inside the box.
Manager Neil Young certainly felt it was a blatant penalty and he was again left bemoaning "some very odd refereeing decisions".
Having said that, Lancaster were unhappy with the award of the free kick which led to Bay's goal and also thought they should have had a penalty in the first half.
In any event, Neil agreed his side had created more than enough chances to have won the game and he remains confident about his side's chances in the play-offs.
"I believe we are playing as well as, if not better, than any of the other contenders and we can go into the play-offs not fearing anybody," he said.
"We are better equipped and in better form for the play-offs than last year. The only questions are can we keep our form going? And can we put away our chances when they come?
"We've created good chances to beat both Curzon Ashton and Lancaster over the past week or so and not taken them - and we can't afford to be that wasteful in the play-offs."
Once again Chris Sanna has not really been tested apart from the free kick equaliser, while his opposite number has been by far the busier and, in fact, has kept his side in the game (Lancaster made Fearon their man of the match which tells it all).
The Seagulls were the better team in the first half with Fearon turning shots from Adriano Rigoglioso and Glenn Rule over the bar, while Sheridan hit the bar with a header and Chris King's free kick across the goal was just a fraction too high for Sheridan to get his head on it at the far post.
The Bay forced four corners to just one by Lancaster in that first half and they took the lead on 41 minutes when Glenn Rule's free kick into the goalmouth skimmed off the head of defender Chris Ward high into his own net as he jumped to challenge Danny Grannon.
The keeper saved headers from Dave Challinor and Stuart Graves and Rule shot wide after a great run by Sheridan, while Lancaster's only threat was a goalbound volley by Andy Teague which Grannon did well to block with his body.
Grannon and Dave Challinor were again excellent in the centre of defence - so good, in fact, that Lancaster finally pulled off star striker Jordan Connorton because he was having no joy against them.
Ian Sheridan had two one-on-one opportunities to kill the game off early in the second half as his pace twice took him clear of the home defence. But Fearon got down well to fingertip the first shot round the post for a corner and then Sheridan fired the second chance against the keeper's body as he spread himself to narrow the angle.
"I should have scored, but the pitch was very bobbly and when you were running with the ball at the your feet it was bobbling around and it was difficult to get a clean strike," explained Sheridan afterwards.
The Bay paid for those missed opportunities when Lancaster got their equaliser on 70 minutes with Paul Jarvis' well struck free kick from 20 yards into the bottom corner of Chris Sanna's net.
Jarvis was only inches wide with another free kick shortly afterwards as Lancaster had a strong 10 to 15 minutes after making a triple substitution.
But Colwyn Bay regrouped and finished the game strongly.
Fearon made a tremenous reflex save at point blank range from Glenn Rule's header, when the Bay midfielder probably should have scored from four yards out, then Ryan Williams struck another good chance over the bar when set up by Sheridan and the industrious Anthony Sheehan, and Sheehan miscued his cross into the sidenetting after a good run by Jimmy Kelly had opened up another opportunity.
Those chances surrounded the big shout for a penalty when Sheridan was tripped from behind as he was about to pull the ball back to Greg Stones after cutting in along the by-line, but the referee waved it away.
In the end Colwyn Bay were disappointed only to get a point against the side already certain of second place, but although Curzon Ashton and Skelmersdale both chalked up emphatic wins, a point means the Seagulls still have third place in their own hands with two games to go.
"These are exciting times because we feel we are going into the play-offs in good form," added Ian Sheridan afterwards.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, King, Grannon, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan, Rule, Rigogliso (Kelly 81mins), Stones, Graves (Williams 61mins). Subs not used: Brandreth, Dave and Jackson.
Attendance: 238.
Halifax officially need one more point to be crowned champions after they won at Ossett today - but with such a superior goal difference they can already consider the title as won following Bay's draw at Lancaster.