Seagulls' hope to clinch third place

By Tim Channon on Apr 21, 10 11:48 AM

COLWYN BAY hope to clinch third place, and a home tie in next Tuesday's play-off semi-final, with victory in their rearranged fixture at Clitheroe on Thursday (April 22).
The Seagulls go into the match currently needing four points from their last two games to guarantee third place - although they could sew it up on Thursday if Curzon Ashton (away to Lancaster) and Skelmersdale (away to Mossley) both fail to win.
"Ideally we would like to put it to bed at Clitheroe, but obviously that will depend on results elsewhere," commented manager Neil young.
"Clitheroe is also a difficult place to go and they got a good result at Halifax on Tuesday (2-2), but hopefully that will have taken a bit out of them."
Clitheroe have won only two of their last 10 games, but they took a shock 2-0 lead at The Shay on Tuesday before Halifax came back with two late goals to retain their unbeaten home record and be crowned champions with a 2-2 draw. Even so, Clitheroe became only the second side to take a point away from The Shay this season.
"If we have to go to Saturday's final league game (home to Fylde) still needing a win then so be it," added Young. "In any event I think it has been a great achievement by the players to get us in the position we are in. We have already exceeded last season's points total (73), despite being without our leading goal scorer (Rob Hopley) for most of the season, and feel that we are going into next week's play-offs with every chance of promotion."
Colwyn Bay have fitness doubts over Adriano Rigoglioso (hamstring) and Stuart Graves (back) for Thursday's game and are again likely to be without injured forwards Neil Black and Tom McGill (although they could be back in contention for Saturday). The club, however, are hopeful that they will finally get international clearance through from FIFA for former Chester City striker Ben Jones to be involved for the first time.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Sanna, Denson, King, Grannon, Challinor, Sheehan, Sheridan, Rule, Rogoglioso, Stones, Graves, Kelly, Brandreth, Davey, Williams, Jones, Ablett, Jackson.