Victory in Trophy replay

COLWYN BAY put in a tremendous rearguard display to win tonight's FA Carlsberg Trophy replay 2-1 at Halifax to secure a home tie against former Football League club Lincoln City in the next round on December 10th.
In the end it was a story of two penalties, with Halifax missing one for the second time in four days and Colwyn Bay scoring one, while an own goal by Halifax defender Greg Anderson proved the match decider.
Rob Hopley had a header tipped round the post early on by Halifax keeper Simon Eastwood, but the home side had most of the play after that.
They were, however, mainly forced into shots from distance that were well off target - and that continued when they were awarded a penalty just after the half hour.
Chris Sanna brought down Danny Holland in a one-on-one, but James Walshaw blazed the spot kick high over the bar.
Colwyn Bay made the home side pay for that when they took the lead with a penalty of their own two minutes before half-time.
Karl Noon was brought down when Hopley's clever back heel from Jon Newby's pass put him clear inside the area and Fraser McLachlan coolly beat the keeper from the spot.
"I don't miss those," beamed Fraser, who maintained a 100 per cent record from the spot for the Bay.
Halifax poured forward after the break and equalised on 62 minutes with a 25-yard screamer by skipper Tom Baker from 25 yards into the top corner of Chris Sanna's net.
But Colwyn Bay were back in front inside a minute when pressure from Hopley forced a defensive mix-up and Anderson slid an attempted backpass past his own keeper, who had come off his line, for a bizarre own goal.
The Bay then missed a great chance to add a third goal on the break as Karl Noon put in a poor final ball when Danny Lloyd was totally unmarked in the middle with only the keeper to beat.
Sanna made a fine save with his body from Harry Winter and Lee Gregory and Walshaw both wasted openings for Halifax with more wayward shooting.
The Bay had second half substitute Danny Lloyd sent off in added time for a second yellow card, the first for kicking the ball away when it ran out for a throw in, but it wasn't costly as the referee blew the final whistle seconds later.
Halifax's poor shooting certainly cost them dear, but Seagulls player-boss was delighted with his side's battling defensive performance.
"We came to frustrate them and maybe their crowd and their team aren't happy with that, but we're not here to give people easy games.
"We came to keep our shape and hit them on the break and that is what we did. Overall we kept everything in front of us and didn't let them get behind us apart from the odd occasion and I was very, very pleased with the whole team as a defensive unit."
And he had special praise for John McKenna who insisted on playing despite it being his mum's first birthday since she passed away just before the start of the season.
It was obviously a very emotional day for him and Newby said: "For him to play tonight and put in a performance like he did just shows the character of the lad and the spirit that we have in the team; it is just exceptional."
Newby admitted his side had a bit of luck in winning the tie, but added: "Since I've been in charge we've had a few decisions go against us, so we were probably due a little bit of fortune - and I think we earned our luck tonight because the workrate from all the lads was different class. Everybody put a shift in and the lads who came in have made it very tough when it comes to picking the team for Saturday - but that is kind of problem you want to have.
"We made three or four changes tonight, but I said to the players before the game that as far as I was concerned it wasn't a weakened team. We've got a very good squad and it showed tonight that any one of them can come in and put in a performance."
Luke Denson didn't play because of nasty chest infection, while Gareth Evans has a tight groin, but Rod McDonald came in and was outstanding in a solid back four with Matty Hughes filling in for Denson at right back.
"I don't really enjoy playing there, but it was needed tonight and I thought defensively we very strong again," said Matty.
The good news for Bay fans is that the 20-year-old defender is now likely to be staying until January 7th as Fleetwood have again agreed to extend his loan period.
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Hughes, Lea, Meadowcroft, McDonald, McKenna, Noon, McLachlan, Hopley (McEvilly 75mins), Newby (Lloyd 60mins), Davey. Subs not used: Evans, Denson, Benson.
Attendance: 717