Hopley double defeats Worksop

TWO first half headers from Rob Hopley gave Colwyn Bay a 2-1 win over Worksop Town as their fourth win in 11 days consolidated second place in the table.
With Matlock and North Ferriby both dropping points on a big night in the race for play-off places, the Seagulls have opened up a six point gap over their two nearest challengers.
And manager Dave Challinor believes it was a big win psychologically.
"This result has made a big statement to teams who have been expecting us to blow up and have dropped points themselves tonight," he said.
"That's four wins on the spin and that has been really good for us, but we need to keep this level of performance going if we can.
"We were able to give Jon Newby a rest tonight which will benefit him, and all the lads will have a night off from training on Thursday and hopefully come back strong again for Saturday."
With Karl Noon playing in a slightly deeper midfield role in Damien Allen's continued absense, and Jimmy McCarthy and Alex Titchiner raiding down the flanks, the Bay looked a much more potent attacking force, while Fraser McLachlan and Anthony Sheehan played their part in giving the midfield much more substance than in some recent games.
Once again McCarthy caught the eye and he has really lifted the Bay's attacking play to another level.
He again linked up well with Luke Denson down the right and played a big part in the first of Hopley's two goals.
Rob, in fact, should have gone on to complete a second hat-trick of the season as Colwyn Bay created enough chances to win comfortably - yet they were left hanging on at the end after Worksop pulled a goal back with eight minutes left.
Manager Dave Challinor admitted that was his one disappointment of the night.
"We switched off at the corner and got punished. I used to room with Luke Beckett when we were at Stockport together and I had warned before hand that if you leave him unmarked in the area he will score. That was disappointing because it left us hanging on at the end after we'd played really well," he said.
"But all in all it has been a brilliant night. The way we set up worked really well; everyone has put in a shift and I can't ask for more than that.
"Before the game I'd have settled for a point, so to win is fantastic."
The Bay had most of the possession in the first half and took the lead on 27 minutes.
McCarthy's long throw was headed back to him and from his cross Hopley scored with a well directed header from six yards.
Worksop looked dangerous on the break and Bay keeper Chris Sanna had to make a good diving save from Matty Young, while Mikel Suarez shot narrowly wide and Chris Bettney blazed another Worksop chance over the bar after breaking free in the area.
But after Mike Lea was narrowly wide with a free kick, the Bay doubled their lead on 41 minutes.
Following an excellent ball into the box by Luke Denson, Worksop keeper Jon Worsnop could only parry a firm shot from Alex Titchiner and Hopley headed the rebound over the keeper and into the net.
Hopley had a great chance to complete his hat-trick early in the second half but couldn't force the ball past Worsnop from Luke Denson's cross, and the keeper then made a diving save from a Danny Grannon header.
Fraser McLachlan should also have scored, but fired into the sidenetting after the keeper could only parry another shot from Titchiner, who then volleyed over the bar from Bay's sixth corner of the game.
They should really have had the game wrapped up at this stage and Hopley missed another good chance when he shot wide after being put clear inside the area by McCarthy.
Worksop didn't force their first corner until the 72nd minute, but then got two more fairly quickly and pulled a goal back from the third.
On loan striker Beckett scored with a free header from Chris Bettney's cross on 82 minutes to set up a tense finale, but Colwyn Bay held on for three massive points.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Grannon, McLachlan, Noon, Sheehan, Hopley, Titchiner (Evans 84mins), McCarthy (Davey 88mins). Subs not used: Newby and Challinor.
Challinor had hoped to bring back midfielder Max Power from Tranmere Rovers this week, but says that now looks a no-goer.
He is, however, still looking at trying to bring in at least one extra midfielder before the signing deadline and may possibly bring back one or two of the lads currently out on loan to give him extra bodies for the final run in to the season.