December 2011 Archives

COLWYN BAY have suffered a huge blow with key forward Danny Lloyd agreeing terms to join full-timers Lincoln City.
Lloyd, who is Colwyn Bay's joint top scorer, impressed Lincoln scouts when he scored a hat-trick against Droylsden at the start of December and did well again when Colwyn Bay played Lincoln in the FA Trophy a week later.
The initial deal runs until the end of the current season.
Seagulls player-boss Jon Newby said: "It is a huge blow to lose Danny, but it is a chance of full-time football for him with a good financial package and we couldn't stand in his way."
Danny said he will miss everybody at the Bay but added it was a chance of full-time football that he couldn't turn down.
"I am so grateful to Newbs and everybody at the club for giving me the chance and the stage to show what I can do," he said.
Meanwhile, Newby has been making a big effort in the last couple of days to bring in two very experienced Conference forwards on loan, a centre forward and a winger, but that looks unlikely to happen in time for Sunday's home game against Vauxhall Motors.
"I am hopeful we can tie things up early next week, and we will just have to go with what we have got on Sunday.
"But we had a very good training session on Thursday and everybody is eager to bring our run of four defeats to an end," he said.
Newby is set to possibly bring himself back into the starting line-up as he tries to end that four-match losing run.
Lack of goals has been the big concern, with a Fraser McLachlan penalty against Lincoln the only time the Seagulls have found the net in their last six hours of football since hitting six against Droylsden.
"Apart from the first half against Worcester we haven't looked like scoring and the most worrying thing about the Boxing Day defeat at Vauxhall was that we didn't even create very many chances," admitted Newby.
"I will possibly play myself on Sunday and we are looking at changing our formation a little bit to try and get more people forward to support Rob (Hopley) up front."
Colwyn Bay are still without suspended Lee McEvilly, but have no new fitness issues following Boxing Day.
Vauxhalls, however, are hit by suspensions with top scorer Leighton McGivern serving the second of a two match ban, and recent signing Kevin Holsgrove, who got Vauxhall's injury-time winner on Boxing Day, and right back Dan Fearnehough, both ruled out with one match suspensions after accumulating five bookings (Holsgrove getting three at Boston before joining Vauxhalls).
Sunday will be the Bay's last home game in the league for five weeks as they have away games for the next four weekends, and the club are hoping to use the time to make a start on ground improvements which have to be completed by March 31.
In a bid to attract a good size New Year's Day crowd Colwyn Bay are offering early bird discounts for anybody at the ground before 2.30pm on Sunday, with adult admission reduced from £9 to £7 and a family ticket (two adults and up to six children under-16) for just £14.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Cudworth, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby, Parkinson, Noon, Davey, King, Benson, Williams.

In another development Colwyn Bay have signed Andy Metcalfe as goalkeeping cover for the rest of the season as Simon Williams is joining a club in Australia in January.
Metcalfe, who was Bay's reserve keeper last season, has been away at college in America, but is doing the rest of his first year studies back in this country and so is available to the Bay until May.
Jack Cudworth's loan spell from Macclesfield runs out in mid-January, although hopefully Chris Sanna will have recovered from his shoulder injury by then.

A GOAL in added time at the end of the game condemned Colwyn Bay to their fourth defeat in the row with a 1-0 Boxing Day defeat at Vauxhall Motors.
That is only the Motormen's third win in 11 home games and the first clean sheet they have kept all season as Jon Newby's attacking woes continues.
In those four straight defeats and six hours off football, the Seagulls' only goal has been a Fraser McLachlan penalty against Lincoln.
Once again they missed two or three good chances to take the lead and probably should have been awarded a penalty when Danny Meadowcroft looked to be hauled to the ground at a free kick, but Newby admitted that since scoring six goals against Droylsden last month his side have mounted very little goal threat.
"We looked great going forward against Droylsden, but since then, apart from the first half against Worcester, we just haven't looked like scoring and that is very frustrating."
He said conceding the late goal was a "kick in the teeth", but added: "All in all the performance wasn't good enough in a poor quality game in which we seemed to lack energy all over the pitch.
"We needed a spark from someone to make something happen, and for me there were a few too many waiting for other people to provide it. That is not good enough and the player's know it is not good enough. They owe everyone a big performance in the return game next Sunday."
Once again Newby left himself on the bench and surely the time has come when he has to give it a go himself.
Apart from Danny Lloyd on the left, Colwyn Bay posed little or no attacking threat with Dan Parkinson having another disappointing game for a player of his supposed ability before being substituted early in the second half.
He was knocked off the ball or lost possession too easily, and when he was played into space with room to put in a really telling cross from the right, he sliced it woefully behind the goal.
I thought the Seagulls should have got a penalty for what looked a clear foul on Meadowcroft and that might have changed the game, but from the chances they did create they failed to force a single save out of home keeper Scott Tynan before half-time.
Vauxhall, even without suspended 17-goal striker Leighton McGivern, came closest to scoring with Craig Mahon's shot rebounding off a post and John Lawless clipping the top of the bar from a free kick.
Cole Stockton also had a great chance set up by Mahon, but shot straight at Jack Cudworth when he should really have scored.
Jack McKenna missed Colwyn Bay's best chance early in the second half when he headed straight into the keeper's arms from just six yards out, and Karl Noon sliced another chance wide as he stretched for Danny Lloyd's low cross.
Lloyd had another penalty shout turned down when he looked to get a push in the back and Gaz Evans had a shot blocked by a defender in the goalmouth.
Vauxhall, however, always looked more of a threat in front of goal and they were denied by a fine double save from Cudworth, parrying another free kick from Lawless before throwing his body in the way of Kevin Holsgrove's follow up shot before the ex-Bay player was flagged offside.
The home side got the match-winner, however, in the first minute of added time when they broke quickly after clearing a Colwyn Bay free kick.
Holsgrove muscled his way past Matty Hughes and although Cudworth did well to block his first shot, he forced his second from the rebound into the net past three Bay defenders who had raced back to try and cover the goalmouth.
"If you can't see out a game in the last three minutes of added time away from home then you don't deserve anything," groaned Newby, who must find an answer quickly to his side's current damaging run of defeats.
Colwyn Bay: Cudworth, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Parkinson, Noon 52mins), Lloyd. Subs: Davey, King and Benson.

COLWYN BAY look likely to lose utility defender David Thompson before he has even kicked a ball for the Seagulls.
Droylsden have put in seven days for him and he looks likely to join them.
Player-manager Jon Newby expressed his disappointment.
"Tomo was struggling to get a club after his injury problems and I said we would take him on as a non-contract player and fully involve him in the squad once he was match fit, but he hasn't attended a training session or come to one match since he signed.
"He says he can't get transport to travel to Colwyn Bay and now Droyslden have come in for him he is likely to go there."
Meanwhile Newby says Danny Lloyd will definitely come back into the side for the Boxing Day game at Vauxhall Motors after serving a one match suspension.
That means loan signing Dan Parkinson may switch to the right, although Newby added: "We have two or three players who can play on the right so I have a big decision to make about who to put in there."
Lee McEvilly is ruled out with a three match suspension, but all the other outfield players are available.
Although Vauxhall Motors are fifth from bottom in the Blue Square Bet North, and have the second worse home record in the division with just two wins in 10 home league games, they do pose a threat up front.
They boast one of the division's top five goalscorers in Leighton McGivern, who has scored 17 cup and league goals so far this season, while Tranmere Rovers loanee Cole Stockton has also been doing well for them and manager Carl Macauley has just brought in attacking midfielder Scott Phelan on loan from Kidderminster Harriers.
Phelan, who made over 100 appearances for Halifax and helped them to two promotions in three years before signing for Kidderminster in the summer, will make his debut for the Motormen against the Bay.
Vauxhalls also have former Colwyn Bay fans favourite John Lawless as an additional attacking threat.
Newby says he may change his side's formation slightly to combat Vauxhall's attacking strengths.
"Scott Phelan is a very good player for them to have brought in and we will need to look at that," he said.
"I was tempted to try and get Cole Stockton on loan myself before he went to Vauxhall and I also like Leighton McGivern a lot. I played against him when he was at Rochdale and he is a tremendous player to have at this level.
"But the big thing for me is that Vauxhall haven't kept a single clean sheet this season which is something we must try and exploit."
Newby was planning to put the squad through a tough training session on Friday evening as he tries to end a three match losing run on Monday.
"I am confident we can turn this little losing streak around," he said. "Apart from the Harrogate game, where we let ourselves down a bit, I have been happy with our recent performances and there is not a lot wrong.
"Obviously we need to start converting more of the chances we are creating, but that will come. As a striker I have been through spells where the goals have dried up, but you just have to keep working hard and make sure you keep getting in the right position to score."
Colwyn Bay: (from) Cudworth, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Noon, Lloyd, Parkinson, Newby, Davey, King, Benson, Williams.

Have a great Christmas everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS to Seagulls skipper Danny Meadowcroft, whose partner Becky gave birth to twin baby girls, Evie and Bella, today.

IT WAS very much a case of déjà vu for Colwyn Bay player-boss Jon Newby as his side lost 2-0 at home to a Worcester City side who extended their unbeaten league run to five games.
Yet again the Seagulls conceded a soft goal from a set piece in the opening 10 minutes and were always chasing the game after that - with little going their way.
"I sound like a broken record when I keep saying to the players we have to start games well and not concede early - yet in all but two of the games since I've been in charge we have conceded in the opening 10 minutes," groaned Newby.
"You just can't keep giving teams a goal start and expect to win games."
Worcester's opener after nine minutes, however, was a bit of freak goal direct from Neil Cartwright's free kick from the left touchline.
He was obviously aiming at colleagues inside the penalty area, but the wind got hold of the ball and with Bay keeper Jack Cudworth starting to come for it and then being caught in no-man's land, the ball curled over him and into the far top corner of the net.
Although Cudworth had to make a good save from Simon Brown's header, the Seagulls were the better side for much of the rest of the first half and were very unlucky not to equalise when Fraser McLachlan's shot hit the inside of the post and rebounded across the face of the goal before being scrambled clear.
Karl Noon then missed a golden chance when he headed high over the bar from no more than four yards out from a corner and had another effort baten away by the keeper.
Overall the Bay had enough of the play and enough opportunities to have had the game won by half-time,
McKenna also missed the target with a close range header, Gareth Evans shot weakly after a great run had taken him into the area and Rob Hopley failed to get his head to a couple of great crosses in front of goal.
In the second half Noon headed another chance over the bar from Mike Lea's cross and Hopley and Evans shot too close to the keeper from promising positions.
But the longer the game went the further away a Colwyn Bay goal seemed to be.
McLachlan was probably my Bay player of the game, but they certainly missed the pace and energy of suspended Danny Lloyd today, particularly in these conditions with the ball skidding off the surface and making it difficult for defenders to turn and chase.
New loan signing Dan Parkinson struggled to make an impression in the difficult conditions and was eventually substituted as Newby went for broke by bringing himself, Lee McEvilly and Lee Davey on to try and force a breakthrough.
Davey made a couple of good runs and a McEvilly put a header onto the roof the net from a free kick late on, but Dormand was never seriously tested.
Worcester, meanwhile, looked increasingly threatening on the break and after Cudworth had acrobatically tipped a shot from Danny Carey-Bertram over the bar, the visitors sewed the game up with a second goal in the 89th minute.
Substitute Michael Taylor broke clear and although Cudworth half-blocked his shot, fellow substitute Mike Symons was following up to make sure it crossed the line.
Their third defeat in a row leaves Colwyn Bay 12th in the table, edged out of the top 10 on goal difference by Boston and Droylsden.
Newby commented: "I was very, very pleased with the first half and it is no exaggeration to say we should have been at least 3-1 up at half-time. Apart from Fraser's shot that hit the post we had some unbelievable chances. But again we have not been clinical enough.
"After 15 minutes of the second half when we still hadn't scored I think we started to lose a bit of belief and began to think it wasn't our day - and you can't afford to do that in this league; you have to keep going and going.
"Overall I am not disappointed in the performance, but there is only so long you can keep on saying that because football is all about getting results.
"Now we've got to pick ourselves up and go again on Boxing Day."
Colwyn Bay: Cudworth, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna (Newby 71mins), Evans, McLachlan, Hopley (McEvilly 71 mins), Noon, Parkinson (Davey 69mins). Subs not used: King and Williams.
Attendance: 293.

COLWYN BAY player-boss Jon Newby has brought in 19-year-old winger Dan Parkinson on a month's loan from NPower League Two side Morecambe ahead of Saturday's home game against Worcester.
He will come straight into the squad in place of Danny Lloyd, who is ruled out by a one match suspension following his two yellow cards against Halifax.
Preston-based Parkinson came through Morecambe's youth academy and Newby commented: "Dan has made a number of first team appearances as a substitute for Morecambe this season and I have been impressed with his pace and his workrate when I have seen him play.
"He is very quick and can play on the left or the right.
"Having played for Morecambe myself, I have a very good relationship with their manager Jim Bentley and he has been very helpful.
Jim Bentley commented about the loan: "Dan has done really well in the reserves this season and this will be a good thing for him and I am sure will help him develop his game."
The Seagulls will have skipper Danny Meadowcroft back in defence after missing last weekend's FA Trophy defeat to Lincoln City through suspension, and on loan keeper Jack Cudworth is set to continue in goal in place of injured Chris Sanna.
Gaz Evans has been struggling with a slight groin strain but was able to train on Thursday night and will be in the squad.
Victory for the Bay on Saturday would take them to within one point of eighth-placed Worcester with a game in hand, but Newby is expecting a difficult game.
"They are very experienced at this level of football and have been scoring a few goals, so we can expect a very tough game," he says.
After suffering three defeats in a row in September, Worcester have lost only two of their last nine games (four wins and three draws).
Colwyn Bay: (from) Cudworth, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby, Parkinson, Davey, McEvilly, Noon, King, Benson.

The match was declared ON after a pitch inspection early Saturday morning.

JON NEWBY described it as "a moment of madness which changed everything" after Colwyn Bay were left to play for over 70 minutes with 10 men following Lee McEvilly's straight red card in their 3-1 FA Carlsberg Trophy defeat to full-timers Lincoln City today.
The experiment to play the striker at centre back in place of suspended skipper Danny Meadowcroft, backfired with that 20th minute red card when his hefty touchline shoulder charge sent Lincoln's Francis Laurent crashing into the advertising hordings at the side of the pitch.
Laurent was able to continue after lengthy treatment for a gashed arm, but McEvilly's red card for dangerous play ended any hopes of Colwyn Bay causing an upset.
Lincoln had taken an early 10th minute when Lauren sent Jamie Taylor clear to fire past on loan keeper Jack Cudworth, but Danny Lloyd in partcular had looked threatening at the other end and had gone vey close with one angled shot that flashed across the goal and just wide of the far post.
But the sending off put the Seagulls on the back foot and Lincoln got a second goal on 31 minutes with Conal Platt's excellent strike from 20 yards.
Cudworth, who did well on his debut, made two excellent saves from Taylor and somehow managed to turn Frenchman Jean Christophe's header round the post to keep the score to 2-0 a half-time.
He then made another fine save from John Nutter early in the second half, but Colwyn Bay kept battling away and hit a little purple patch in which Lloyd had a shot well saved by Joe Anyon and Rob Hopley headed a reasonable chance wide, before the Seagulls pulled a goal back with a 60th minute penalty.
Anyon brought down Hopley in a one-on-one and Fraser McLachlan scored from the spot to make it 2-1.
That provided a glimmer of hope, but Lincoln quickly extinguished it with a third goal on 71 mintes when Taylor was allowed to turn on the dge of the box and rifle a shot past the diving Cudworth.
Taylor should have completed his hat-trick, but lifted a great chance over the bar from eight yards.
The Bay were under huge pressure late on against Lincoln's slick passing and full-time fitness and Cudworth made further good saves from Richard Hinds and substitute Nick Nicolau, while Luke Denson threw his body in the way of a close range shot from Hinds to prevent a certain fourth goal.
Personally I thought the defence looked better when Jon McKenna dropped back to partner Jamie Hughes following McEvilly's red card, but Jon Newby said afterwards he didn't regret his initial team selection.
"Yes, John McKenna did very well when he went into the back four and that gives us food for thought for future occasions, but I was loathed to pull him out of midfield where he has done so well in recent games - he, Fraser (McLachlan) and Evo (Gareth Evans) have been exceptional over the past month.
"Lee has played centre defence before and has got good experience, but unfortunately a moment of madness on his part has probably cost us any chance in the game."
Although some of the Lincoln players said aftewards they felt the straight red might have been a bit harsh (and if the challenge had happened anywhere else on the field I am sure it would not have been a red), Newby had no complaints about the decision.
"Mac has come into the dressing room afterwards and apologised to everyone which suggests he knows he was in the wrong and it is disappointing because he should know better.
"Although we had conceded a goal shortly before that, I thought we had looked lively at the other end with Lloydy having a couple of efforts across the goal, and I felt we were very much in the game. But the sending off changed everything and we were always going to be on a hiding to nothing playing with 10 men against a full-time club with the quality players they've got.
"Having said that I thought we did very well in the second half, both in our workrate and performance, and I was proud of everyone of the lads for the way kept battling. The only criticism I had was, after the penalty had got us back in with a chance at 2-1, we let the lad turn on the edge of the box to get in the shot for their third goal."
Lincoln boss David Holdsworth said he didn't think the sending off had made any difference to the end result.
"I feel for the defender a little bit because it was one of those where it is all down to how the referee sees it - and he obviously felt it was a red," he said. "The lad came into our dressing room afterwards to apologise and I admire him for that, but overall I thought we were pretty dominant throughout and would probably have won anyway.
"We got a bit sloppy when we conceded the penalty, but we responded in the right way to come back and get the third goal which killed the tie off."
Lincoln go into Monday's draw for the last 32 while Colwyn Bay must now put all their concentration on picking up important league points over the Christmas and New Year period
Colwyn Bay: Cudworth, Denson, Lea, McEvilly, Hughes, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby (Noon 72mins), Lloyd (Davey 90mins). Subs not used: King, Benson and Williams.
Lincoln City: Anyon, Sinclair, Nutter, Gowling, Hinds, Power (Sheridan 59mins), Platt (Nicolau 78mins), Christophe, Thompson, Taylor, Laurent (Russell 62mins). Subs not used: Perry and Draper.
Attendance: 383.

COLWYN BAY player-boss Jon Newby has brought in former Rhyl goalkeeper Jack Cudworth on a month's loan from Macclesfield Town ahead of Saturday's big FA Carlsberg Trophy tie against Lincoln City.
The 21-year-old, who started his career with Preston North End's youth team, played for Rhyl in their last season in the Welsh Premier before joining Macclesfield in 2010 as back-up to their first choice keeper Jose Veiga.
He comes straight in for Saturday's Trophy tie to replace Will Jones following Tuesday's 4-0 league defeat at Harrogate.
Seagulls regular keeper Chris Sanna has been ruled out for at least three weeks with a shoulder injury, while reserve keeper Simon Williams has not played or trained for eight weeks due to heavy work commitments.
"Simon would have played at Harrogate if he had been available, but to throw him in against Lincoln would be too big an ask," admitted Newby.
"Obviously I had to do something after Tuesday and I know Jack Cudworth is a very accomplished keeper.
"Will (Jones) helped us out at short notice but he hasn't had much football either. He looked rusty and short of confidence and needs to go away and try and get some games under his belt somewhere."
The Seagulls are also without skipper and central defender Danny Meadowcroft who serves a one match suspension for accumulating five bookings.
Newby had hoped to bring in another loan signing from Oldham Athletic as cover, but that has fallen through.
"Oldham agreed to let us have a player who has made 10 first team appearances for them, but they've since been hit by injuries themselves this week and need him to be on the bench for them this weekend.
"We will have to go with what we've got and we have one or two options as John McKenna and Lee McEvilly have both played in central defence before."
Midfielder Gareth Evans remains the main injury concern with a niggling groin problem.
Meanwhile Newby is calling on his players to "stand up and be counted" in what he knows will be a very tough game.
But he added: "As the underdogs we have nothing to lose and can go out and give it a go.
"I watched a video of Lincoln's game against Luton this week and obviously they have good quality players and played very well in the second half.
"We need to make a good start, frustrate them and try to stay in the game as long as we can to give ourselves a chance."
Lincoln have not been in the best form in the Conference Premier with just three wins and seven defeats in their last 13 games, but manager David Holdsworth believes his side are capable of going on to win the FA Trophy at Wembley.
"Of course we can win it," he said in an interview this week.
"I did very well at Ilkeston in it and the Mansfield squad I put together last season reached the final, before being beaten by Darlington.
"The fans will get a buzz out of it because four games in and you are in the semi-final, one game away from Wembley."
A lack of goals has been a concern for The Imps, however, with just 22 scored in 24 league games this season.
Leading scorer with six goals is 21-year-old former Rushden and Diamonds striker Sam Smith.
They do have a number of players with solid Football League experience, however, including defender Richard Hinds (ex-Tranmere, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City), while goalkeeper Joe Anyon, a former England youth international, had six seasons with Port Vale before being released after being sidelined for six months by a broken leg.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Cudworth, Denson, Lea, Hughes, McKenna, McEvilly, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Noon, Lloyd, Newby, Davey, King, Benson, Williams.

THE repercussions of Chris Sanna's shoulder injury last weekend came home to roost as Colwyn Bay crumbled from the six goal high of Saturday to the low of a 4-0 defeat at Harrogate Town.
And sadly new emergency goalkeeping signing Will Jones has to take his share of the blame in a debut that turned into a bit of nightmare.
The 20-year-old's first touch of the ball was to pick it out of the net inside two minutes of the start, after Harrogate broke quickly from a Colwyn Bay free kick to force a corner, and things didn't get any better for him.
Obviously it is hard coming straight in to a new team without any chance to train with or get to know the other players, but to be blunt he didn't look up to the job on the night and player-boss Jon Newby admits he has a big decision to make for Saturday's FA Trophy tie against Lincoln City.
Simon Williams is available on Saturday after working in South Wales all week, and could well to come in, although he has not played since the pre-season friendlies.
Newby has also been in regular contact with Andy Metcalfe who has been doing very well in America and has just returned home for the Christmas holiday.
Sanna was too sore to have his injury assessed on Monday and is now due to see the specialist on Wednesday - but it looks like being some weeks before he is able to return.
"As manager I live and die by the decisions I make, and I have a big one to make on this one," agreed Newby.
Jones never looked at ease, and flapped unconvincingly at two crosses from set pieces without getting a touch to either, allowing big Harrogate defender Richie Pell to score at the far post on both occasions to put the home 2-0 up after 31 minutes.
The keeper was then beaten by Johnny Allen's routine 25 yard shot on the stroke of half-time that you would normally expect to see saved at this level, and eight minutes into the second half Jones could only parry Laurie Wilson's 25 yard shot for Matt Bloomer to mop up and score Harrogate's fourth. Game over.
Colwyn Bay had had their chances in the first half with Danny Meadowcroft heading against a post and Karl Noon denied by a good reflex save from home keeper Mark Cook from a Luke Denson cross, while Rob Hopley should have done better than head a good chance wide from six yards.
The Seagulls, who made three forward substitutions, then had most of the possession in the last half hour as Harrogate took their foot of the gas and slipped into cruise mode, but they couldn't even convert a late penalty to give them a consolation goal.
Jon Newby took the spot kick himself after being brought down by defender Peter Bore, but Cook made a good save diving low to his right to cap Colwyn Bay's night.
Cook earlier also saved well from Lee McEvilly, while Lee Davey did get the ball in the net from Danny Lloyd's cross, but the flag was already up for offside.
A continuing problem for the Bay is the lack of threat from set pieces, while remaining vulnerable against them at the other end. The Bay had eight corners and numerous free kicks within 30 yards of goal and didn't force the keeper into a save from any of them.
It was the biggest setback in Newby's short reign as player-manager, but he wasn't laying all the blame at the young keeper's door.
"It wasn't the best of debuts, but it was a bad night for a lot of players," he said.
"I've praised them over the last five weeks whilst they've been doing well, so we've got to accept the criticism that goes with getting beat 4-0.
"The thing that disappointed me most was that not enough of the players really had a go tonight.
"We said before the game that if you stop working hard everything else stops.
"The way I've been brought up in football is that the first thing you do in a game is work as hard as you possibly can, even if you're not playing well, and not enough players did that tonight.
"There were stages where we had good chances to get back in the game, but against a team who had conceded five goals at the weekend, the last thing you want to do is give them a start and allow them to get their confidence back - and we've done that by conceding two poor goals from set pieces.
"It was a bad night all round and the penalty miss by myself probably summed it up.
"But it is important not to get too down when you lose, or too high when you win. We've got to put this down to a bad day at the office, as disappointing as it is, and go again in what is a big game on Saturday.
"I believe in the players. They have been good enough over the last five weeks and there is no reason why they can't be good enough over the next five."
Colwyn Bay: Jones, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna, Evans (Davey 76mins), McLachlan, Hopley (Newby 64mins), Noon (McEvilly 52mins), Lloyd. Subs not used: King and Benson.
Attendance: 180

COLWYN BAY have signed up 6ft 3ins keeper Will Jones from Hyde United as cover for injured Chris Sanna.
The 20-year-old, who has also been with FC United of Manchester, Stalybridge Celtic and Corby, is set to make his debut at Harrogate Town on Tuesday night (international clearance permitting).
He is also clear to play in Saturday's FA Trophy game against Lincoln City - which is huge for him as he is Lincolnshire born and actually started his playing career with Lincoln as a youngster before joining neighbouring Stamford.
Chris Sanna, who injured his shoulder when falling badly in last Saturday's win over Droylsden, was due to have the injury assessed by a specialist today.
"I spoke to Chris this morning and he doesn't think it is quite as bad as first feared, but it looks as though he will still be out for a few weeks," reported player-boss Jon Newby.
Everybody else is fit for the trip to Harrogate and eager to play after last Saturday's excellent performance.
"We have to think about the number of games we are having to play in a short space of time (four in 12 days) and may possible make one other change, but we'll see how everybody is feeling before making a late decision," added Newby.
Harrogate, who are 15th in the league and six points behind Colwyn Bay, go into the game on the back of 5-1 defeat at Solihull Moors last Saturday.
That was their seventh defeat in their last 11 games and they have kept only three clean sheets in 20 games this season, so the Seagulls will want to bring home at least a point.
The Yorkshire side's main goal scorer is Paul Brayson, who some Bay fans will remember played and scored for Newcastle Blue Star against Colwyn Bay in the 2008-9 play-off semi-final at Kingston Park when Blue Star won on penalties and went on to win the final before going out of business.
Harrogate, who have plans to go full-time next season, have Adam Nowakowski, Danny Stimpson, Liam Hardy and Chris Elliott all ruled out of the game by injury.
Colwyn Bay (from) Jones, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Hughes, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Noon, Lloyd, McEvilly, Newby, Davey, Benson, King, Rouse.