April 2011 Archives

COLWYN BAY sold all their allocation of 1,000 tickets for Monday's play-off final against FC United of Manchester within 40 minutes of going on sale today (Saturday).
A full house of 2,000 is guaranteed and people without a ticket are urged not to go to the ground.
Highlights of the game are being filmed by BBC Wales and S4C to be shown later in the day.

TWO first half goals gave Colwyn Bay a 2-0 victory over North Ferriby in front of a crowd of 861 tonight and secured a place in Monday's play-off final against FC United of Manchester.
That game will be all ticket, with a crowd limit of 2,000, and tickets are expected to go on sale from 3pm, Friday - fans can telephone 01492 514680 for details.
It looks set to be the biggest game in Llanelian Road's history, with FC United certain to bring a big following after beating Bradford Park Avenue in the other semi-final.
The only down side for the Seagulls is injuries suffered by John Newby and star attacker Jimmy McCarthy.
Both had to be withdrawn at half-time with head and facial injuries and could now be struggling to make the final.
Newby had to go to hospital to have a nasty gash on the side of his head glued after being knocked unconscious when he collided with a defenders knee in the build-up to the goal, while Jimmy Mac had a huge swelling which completely closed his left eye - making him the biggest concern for Monday.
"I have never seen an eye as bad as that," said worried manager Dave Challinor afterwards. "We will have to see how he is in a couple of days, but it certainly doesn't look good at the moment."
To lose McCarthy would be a huge blow because he again carried Bay's main threat in the first half, setting up the first goal with his long throw and then crucially scoring the second with a brave, brave header.
Challinor admitted not many players would have shown the bravery to go in for that header knowing he would get hurt.
"It was such a brave header. Unfortunately he has taken an awful whack in the face, but it showed the sort of courage that was needed to win the game.
"These games are all about heart and who wants it most, and Jimmy has shown that."
It was McCarthy, in fact, who set up the first goal after just nine minutes.
His excellent long throw into the penalty area came off Fraser McLachlan for Rob Hopley to volley a right footed shot into the corner of the net from 16 yards.
McCarthy then broke through with a strong run only to shoot wide.
North Ferriby looked threatening on the attack but they were close to conceding a second goal on 15 minutes when another long throw by McCarthy picked out Danny Meadowcroft whose header hit the top of the bar and bounced over.
Wayne Brooksby fired a shot narrowly over the top, while Alex Davidson and Russell Fry both brought diving saves from Chris Sanna and skipper Paul Foot headed wide from a corner as the Yorkshire side probed for an equaliser.
But after Bay defender Joe McMahon saw his header from a McCarthy corner diverted over the bar by a defender, the Bay got that crucial second goal right on half-time.
Two minutes into added time McCarthy cut inside his fullback following a great crossfield pass and although his shot was blocked, he followed up to score with a courageous header as he was clattered by a defender in a sickening collision of heads.
Sadly it put him out of the game and Colwyn Bay also lost Jon Newby with the cut head suffered in the build-up to the goal.
Karl Noon and Alex Titchiner came on as replacements for the second half and Colwyn Bay started strongly with Damien Allen and Danny Meadowcroft both shooting narrowly over the bar.
But as the half progressed, and without the threat from McCarthy down the right, the Seagulls started to drop deeper and deeper into a defensive shell and played mainly on the break.
Even so they could have increased their lead when Allen played in substitute Karl Noon for a great chance, but he pulled his angled shot wide of the far post.
Titchiner was then tripped as he was breaking clear on goal, but North Ferriby defender James Williams escaped with just a booking.
Allen also went close with a volley from 20 yards that swung wide of the goal.
The closing minutes saw North Ferriby camped in Colwyn Bay's half, but the Bay defended superbly with Joe McMahon deservedly getting the man of the match award.
Apart from beating away a shot from Gary Bradshaw, home keeper Sanna was not really tested as Colwyn Bay ran down the clock and secured their place in Monday's final.
Challinor praised the team for their workrate and determination, and particularly the midfield three of Fraser McLachlan, Damien Allen and Anthony Sheehan.
"For me that was where the game was won and lost," he said. "The likes of Paul Harsvey, who has has played at Football League level, are very good midfield players and we knew we had to match them in there.
"We said before hand if we won our individual battles all over the field we would come out on top and we did that.
"We had to get in their faces, but they pass the ball so well and have such good attacking players like Davidson and Bradshaw, that you can't afford to over commit yourself.
"We knew they would put us under pressure in the second half, but we put our bodies on the line and really defended fantastically.
"Losing Newbs and Jimmy obviously wasn't ideal, but the lads who came off the bench were tremendous and that is what this season has been about - a real squad effort.
"When the lads all got their league runners-up medals after the game and the reception they received when they came off the field made me awfully proud, because every one of them has contributed this season.
"Now we are one step away from a fantastic achievement.
"When I signed these players I told them we were providing a platform for them to individually go on and perhaps play at a higher level. Now we have a chance to do that together as a team if we can take care of business on Monday - and that would be tremendous." .
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, McMahon, McLachlan, Sheehan, Allen, Hopley, Newby (Noon 45mins), McCarthy (Titchiner 45mins), Subs not used: Evans, Grannon and Challinor.

DAVE CHALLINOR has a full strength squad available for Thursday's play-off semi-final against North Ferriby United at Llanelian Road (April 28th, 7.45 kick off).
The players completed their preparations with a final training session on Wednesday evening, but final team selection will be left until just before the game - although Challinor says he is likely to leave himself on the bench.
Mike Lea and Jon Newby, who were rested on Monday against Nantwich, are likely to return to a side that has kept six clean sheets in their last seven league games, while Jimmy McCarthy has the potential to be a key figure on the night and returns to the starting line-up after changing the game when he came on as a second half substitute last Monday to inspire the 2-0 win over Nantwich.
North Ferriby have reached the play-offs for the second year running and have already won at Llanelian Road this season.
They won 2-0 in the league fixture in February, but Challinor said: "We didn't perform anywhere near our best that day - and yet could still have rescued something from the game in the second half.
"Both teams play a similar way and have finished the league strongly, so we are going into the game on a very level playing field and it will all be down to who plays the better on the night," he said.
North Ferriby finished their league campaign with three successive victories to dramatically snatch the final play-off spot from Buxton after looking to be out of it following a run of five games without a win.
The return from injury of skipper Paul Foot and 18-goal Alex Davidson have aided their revival and manager John Anderson is delighted with the form his side showed in smashing four goals past both Kendal Town and Ossett in the past fortnight.
"We possibly over-achieved when we reached the play-offs last year, but I know how hard the players have worked this season and they thoroughly deserve to be there again," he says.
Colwyn Bay are banking on another good crowd to cheer them on after averaging over 600 in their last three home games. That has helped increase their average home league gate this season by well over a 100 from 326 last year to 461.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Sanna, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, McMahon, McLachlan, Sheehan, Allen, Hopley, Newby, McCarthy, Noon, Titchiner, Evans, Grannon, Davey, Challinor, Metcalf.

TWO second half goals gave Colwyn Bay a 2-0 victory over Nantwich Town today which has seen them finish in second place in the table and given them a huge boost for the play-offs.
They will now be at home to North Ferriby United in Thursday night's semi-finals and if they win that they will be at home again in the final next Monday against Bradford Park Avenue or FC United of Manchester (who were beaten at home by Kendal today).
Colwyn Bay player-boss Dave Challinor said: "To have finished second in the table is something we never dreamed of at the start of the season and it is a great achievement by the lads, who have been fantastic.
"We have given ourselves a tremendous opportunity now, although North Ferriby are probably the best footballing side we have played here this season and they will certainly make it a very tough game for us on Thursday.
"Lancaster City finished a runaway second in Division One North last year and missed out in the play-offs when we beat them after finishing only fourth, so you can't take anything for granted and we know we have our work cut out. But the lads will enjoy tonight and then hopefully look after themselves and start to focus on the job we've got ahead of us on Thursday."
Nantwich, who have escaped relegation thanks to other results going their way, took the game to Colwyn Bay in the first half and home keeper Chris Sanna had to make two good diving saves to keep out shots from Andy Carr and Mike Lennon.
The Cheshire side forced four corners to none by the home side before half-time, with Colwyn Bay struggling to create an opening, with Karl Noon shooting over the bar from their only real chance.
But an early substitution in the second half turned the game their way.
Jimmy McCarthy was introduced from the bench and immediately began posing a threat down the right.
Within five minutes of him coming on, Colwyn Bay were in front.
They forced three quick corners and from the third, taken by skipper Damien Allen, Rob Hopley outjumped his marker to head past Nantwich keeper Dan Platt.
It needed a goalline clearance from Danny Meadowcroft to deny Lennon a Nantwich equaliser 10 minutes later, but a second Colwyn Bay goal on 75 minutes made sure of the victory.
McCarthy's cross from the right was headed away from goal by a defender, but only as far as Karl Noon who hit a first time shot past Platt from 17 yards to the delight of the big bank holiday crowd of 748.
Rob Hopley put a headed chance over the bar from another McCarthy cross as the Bay finished well in control.
Mike Lea was rested for this game and McCarthy and Jon Newby both started on the bench with Thursday's semi-final in mind.
Alex Titchiner got a start and put in a lively, hard-working performance while Joe McMahon was again a commanding figure at the back and was rewarded with the man of the match award.
That is now five clean sheets in a row for McMahon's central defensive partnership with Meadowcroft.
It is tough for Danny Grannon to have to watch from the bench after returning from injury, because he has been such a stalwart in the team all season. But he had a poor game against Stocksbridge Park Steels when Meadowcroft was ill, and he can't argue with the success that the partnership of Meadowcroft and McMahon have had in the crucial closing weeks (four wins and a draw with those five successive clean sheets together).
That has played a huge part in the team finishing runners-up in the Seagulls' first season back in the Premier Division.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Evans (McCarthy 52mins), Meadowcroft, McMahon, McLachlan, Sheehan, Allen, Hopley, Titchiner (Grannon 76mins), Noon. Subs not used: Newby, Davey and Challinor.

JON NEWBY scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Hucknall Town today to secure Colwyn Bay's place in the play-offs.
The worst they can finish now is fourth and the next target is to beat Nantwich at home on Monday to secure a home tie in next Thursday's play-off semi-final.
As manager Dave Challinor said: "That is one box ticked with two to go (securing a home tie in the play-off semi-finals and then hopefully going on to win promotion with victory in the final).
"It was never going to be pretty today, but we did what we needed to do to win the game on a very hard and bumpy surface. I never felt we were in danger of losing and on another day, on a better surface, we could have won by more."
Danny Meadowcroft returned to partner Joe McMahon in the centre of defence and helped the Bay keep another clean sheet - that is four consecutive clean sheets in which those two have been in partnership and the seventh in the last 10 games in which Meadowcroft has played.
The winning goal today came three minutes into the second half when Rob Hopley broke free on the right and crossed low for Newby to sidefoot past home keeper Ross Whalin from close range.
Hucknall lost both their central defenders in the opening 15 minutes of the game(achilles and hamstring injuries), but the Bay couldn't capitalise on that before half-time.
James McCarthy was their main threat down the right and the Bay gained several free kicks for fouls on him, but Joe McMahon headed two chances over the bar from set pieces and Newby had a shot blocked by the keeper's legs when Sheehan played a clever low free kick into him.
After the goal Hopley had a shot beaten away for a corner by the keeper and sliced another chance wide, while McCarthy went round the keeper but had his goalbound shot scrambled away for a corner by a covering defender.
Hucknall launched a late desperate bid to save the game, but Colwyn Bay defended well and the only save of note that Chris Sanna had to make was to punch away a shot from Jared Holmes early in the first half.
Damien Allen and Fraser McLachlan got through some tremendous work in midfield, on a really warm day (27 degrees) with Fraser just edging my vote as man of the match.
Colwyn Bay stay third on goal difference behind FC United, who won at Matlock and two points ahead of Bradford Park Avenue - who now look to be their most likely opponents in Thursday's semi-final.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, McMahon, McLachlan, Sheehan (Grannon 90mins), Allen, Hopley, Newby (Titchiner 79mins), McCarthy (Noon 89mins), Subs not used: Evans and Challinor.
With three games in six days, the manager hinted he may make a couple of changes for Monday's game against Nantwich in order to rest one or two players who have slight niggles ahead of Thursday's semi-final.
"Only Halifax have a better away record than us so we have no fear about having to go away in the semi-final, but it would be good for the fans and the club to secure a home tie and we have players in the squad who can come in and do a job - they wouldn't be here if I didn't believe they could," he added.

COLWYN BAY player-boss Dave Challinor must wait for a late fitness check on Mike Lea's hamstring before deciding his line-up for Saturday's crucial game at Hucknall Town.
"Mike has been for a bit a run this morning and is hopeful he will be okay, but we will have to wait and see," said the manager today (Friday).
He added that his team selection will depend on whether Lea is able to play or not.
"If Mike is okay then we will probably go with Sheenie (Anthony Sheehan) and Damo (Damien Allen) in midfield, but if not then Sheenie will play left back and I may play myself just in front of the back four," he said.
David Thompson is unlikely to be involved after injuring a leg in work this week and having to miss training on Thursday, but the experienced Jon Newby has recovered from a shoulder injury.
Challinor must also decide whether Danny Meadowcroft comes back into the back four after recovering from a stomach bug.
Challinor knows it is a huge weekend with the home game against Nantwich Town to come on Monday and says: "I think we need all six points from these two games to have a chance of finishing in the top two and that has to be our target."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Sheehan, McMahon, Grannon, Meadowcroft, Challinor, Noon, Allen, Hopley, Newby, McCarthy, Evans, Titchiner, Davey, Metcalf.
The pressure has mounted on Hucknall after Burscough won 2-0 at Retford today (Good Friday) and moved above Hucknall on goal difference.
That drops the Nottinghamshire side back into the bottom four relegation places.
But, after his side got a battling 2-2 draw against Matlock last week, defiant manager Tommy Brooksbank believes his side can ease their way towards safety with victory over Colwyn Bay ahead of a tough trip to Worksop on Monday.
Brooksbank says: "We need three points and I think we can get them against Colwyn Bay. We'll be giving it a right good go."
The 48-year-old milkman says his side's relegation scrap is totally unexpected after Hucknall were challenging for a top five place earlier in the season.
"If somebody had said at Christmas we would be in this position now I wouldn't have believed them - but we can get out of it."
Thirteen games without a win saw them plummet down the table and the manager added that financial restraints had made things very tough.
"We've not been able to afford players on contract and the pay-as-you-play policy has meant juggling the squad around to keep players happy.
"It has been a season from hell and if we go down it will be the worst moment of my career," he says.

COLWYN BAY were knocked out of second place in the table on goal difference as FC United of Manchester came from behind to beat Marine 2-1 on Wednesday (April 20).
They are away to Matlock on Saturday while the Seagulls travel to Hucknall .

TWO goals in each half eased Colwyn Bay into the semi-finals of the North Wales Coast FA Cup with a 4-0 win at Llanrug United tonight (April 18).
The home side battled well, particularly in defence with a series of goalmouth blocks and clearances, but the Seagulls, without seven first team regulars, had 20 attempts at goal to just four by the home side and could have won by more with better finishing.
They were in front after 10 minutes with a Karl Noon penalty after Alex Titchiner was tripped in the area by fullback Chris Joyce and added a second when the keeper failed to intercept Dave Challinor's cross under a challenged by Lee Davey, and a defender on the far post could only help the ball into the net.
Danny Grannon had two shots blocked on the line in one goalmouth scramble following a corner, while home keeper Gavin Williams made a good diving save from Lee Davey, who had another shot deflected for a corner off a defender.
Joe McMahon put a header straight at the keeper and Titchiner (twice), Noon, Gareth Evans and Steve Aspinall all missed the target with other goalscoring efforts before half-time.
Llanrug rarely threatened, but Gruff John Williams did shoot narrowly wide from their best attack.
Colwyn Bay made it 3-0 seven minutes into the scond half with a Lee Davey shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the net, and five minutes later Steve Aspinall scored at the far post from Anthony Sheehan's cross.
Llanrug had a chance to pull a goal back with a 78th minute penalty after a foul by Sheehan, but Andy Metcalf made a fine save to deny Gruff John Williams - virtually the only save he had to make in the game.
Colwyn Bay now play Barmouth & Dyffryn United for a place in the final.
Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Sheehan, McMahon, Grannon, Aspinall (Meadowcroft 58 mins), Evans, Challinor, Noon, Davey, Titchiner. Subs not used: Hopley and Sanna.

In the Evostik tonight Buxton were beaten 4-2 at Northwich to stay four points behind Colwyn Bay with two games to play, but Bradford Park Avenue won again to move into third place, two points behind the Bay with two games to play.
Currently the Seagulls may need all six points from their last two games to be sure of a top three finish.

ANDY METCALF is likely to be in goal and there will probably be starts for both Lee Davey and Alex Titchiner when Colwyn Bay travel to Llanrug Utd in the quarter-finals of the North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup (Monday, April 18, 6.30pm kick off).
But manager Dave Challinor says all squad members will be attending the game and the final team selection will be left as late as possible.
The winners will play Barmouth & Dyffryn United in the semi-final for the right to meet Denbigh Town or Flint Town United in the final.

THREE goals conceded in 18 second half minutes against Stocksbridge Park Steels today shattered Colwyn Bay's hopes of the win that would have guaranteed their place in the play-offs.
The Seagulls were 2-0 up after only 10 minutes, but threw it all away with an error-strewn second-half performance to lose 4-3 and leave everything still in the balance.
Fortunately FC United and Buxton also lost, but player-boss Dave Challinor was furious that an opportunity to take a huge step towards securing a second place finish wasn't taken.
"The players were well prepared and knew what was required from them, but apart from the first 15 minutes they didn't deliver," said a clearly disappointed Challinor afterwards.
"We stressed we had to play at a high tempo throughout the game to get the result.
" We did that at the start and had the game in our pockets at 2-0 up - then we've just switched off. We've ended up being outworked by a side that had nothing to play for - and that is just unacceptable.
"The players have deserved the plaudits they've received for getting us where we are, but today some seemed to think they are better than they are.
"If you don't work or do the basics at this level, and you give away the sort of goals we've conceded in the second half, then you won't win anything.
"The goals we conceded were a joke. They've just pumped long balls down the field which we haven't dealt with and made crucial individual errors.
"What disappointed me most was that there are only 14 or 15 places up for grabs for the play-off games because we will almost certainly put Andy Metcalf on the bench as goalkeeping cover. That means there are some players who are not going to be involved at all and you would think everybody would be doing their damnedest to try and book themselves one of those places - but it didn't seem like that today!
"We had a good chat in the dressing room afterwards and cleared a few things up. Hopefully the players will have taken on board what has been said and will go out and put in a performance at Hucknall next Saturday."
Everything had started so well with Colwyn Bay 2-0 up after only 10 minutes and flying.
Damien Allen scored with a header from a Jimmy McCarthy cross after five minutes and then full-back Luke Denson ran onto a loose ball 25 yards out from goal and rifled a right foot shot into the far bottom corner of the net for the second.
But it all went horribly wrong after that and the Seagulls, without stomach bug victim Danny Meadowcroft in defence, were clinically punished for individual errors and giving the ball away to easily in their own half of the field.
Stocksbridge had been unlucky early on when Brett Lovell's header hit a post from a free kick with Chris Sanna beaten, and they got a goal back on 25 minutes when Mark Ward spotted Sanna too far off his line and chipped the keeper from 30 yards for a soft goal to make it 2-1.
The Yorkshire side then finished the first half the stronger and Colwyn Bay were fortunate to survive a goalmouth scramble from a corner just before half-time.
Stocksbridge keeper Ben Scott made a tremendous flying save to turn a McCarthy shot round the post for a corner early in the second half - and that was undoubtedly a key moment in the game.
A third goal for Colwyn Bay then and it was probably game over.
Instead Stocksbridge took the game by the scruff of the neck and turned it decisively their way with those three quick goals - all helped by Bay's own poor play in their own half.
They failed to clear the ball on the left edge of their own area and Kevin Davies crossed for substitute Richard Stirrup to equalise from close range on 64 minutes.
Eleven minutes later Jack Muldoon muscled his way past Danny Grannon to reach a long ball down the middle and volley past Sanna, and on 82 minutes Muldoon ran through a huge gap in the Bay back line to score his second and his side's fourth after the Bay had again given the ball away in midfield.
Damien Allen pulled a goal back direct from a free kick on 85 minutes after Rob Hopley had been brought down on the edge of the area, but late pressure failed to force an equaliser and Stocksbridge held on for their seventh win in the last eight games.
That means the Bay still need a point from their last two games to secure a play-off place, but they may well need to win both to have any chance of a top three finish.
FC United, despite losing today and having two more players red carded (that's four in the last three games), will go ahead of Colwyn Bay on goal difference if they beat Marine at home next Wednesday, while Buxton will be only a point behind and Bradford Park Avenue (who won again today) only two points behind if they both win their games in hand on Monday.
That would leave four teams separated by just two points going into the final two games over the Easter weekend, with sixth-placed North Ferriby (whose last two games are against bottom four sides Ossett and Frickley) still hoping to sneak into the top five ahead of one of those four.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea (Evans 87mins), McMahon, Grannon, McLachlan, Sheehan (Newby 76mins), Allen, Hopley, Noon (Titchiner 63mins), McCarthy. Subs not used: Challinor and Davey.
Attendance: 496.