Missed opportunity in 0-0 draw

COLWYN BAY missed an opportunity to make it three wins in a row and move up to ninth in the table - but in the end were probably grateful to escape with a point in a 0-0 home draw against Vauxhall Motors.
In a good first half they wasted at least four excellent openings with a poor final ball or players trying to go past a defender in the area and losing possession, instead of getting in an early shot or a cross.
Shelton Payne was a real threat down the left and brought two good saves out of Vauxhall keeper Scott Tynan, and also set up a shooting chance for Mike Lea which he fired wide.
But the Bay's attacking play fell apart alarmingly in the second half, continually giving the ball away with misplaced passes and poor control.
Vauxhall were able to dominate and will certainly feel they should have ended up with all three points.
Top scorer Leighton McGivern was guilty of an awful miss when he took the ball round Chris Sanna and then pulled his shot wide of a gaping net, while Josh Wilson had another gilt-edged chance but shot straight at the Bay keeper.
The Seagulls had to defend virtually non-stop in the second half, apart from a brief rally right at the end, and the fact that veteran defender Frank Sinclair, who was outstanding at the back, got the man of the match award, says everything.
Tynan in the Vauxhall goal was only really tested once in that second half when he got down well to save after a surging run into the area from Gaz Evans.
"The two halves were like chalk and cheese," agreed player-boss Jon Newby.
"We did everything but score in the first half and some of the football we played was very good, with Shelton (Payne) running riot down the left. He showed why we have brought him to the club and his pace is frightening at times.
"But the second half has gone the other way and we have left the back four too exposed. Fortunately they have done well and I thought Frank (Sinclair) was immense. You can see why he has played so many games at the top level.
"People ask if I have got him for his experience, but I've signed him because he is a good player. He still has his pace, and his awareness and his reading of the game is second to none."
Trying to explain the second half decline, Newby commented: "I think we were a bit frustrated that we hadn't scored in the first half, but in situations like that you have to keep going.
"I am a big believer that if you start well you can carry on the momentum. We did that in the first half, but after half-time we never got started again and it is very hard to pick the game up. If you let the opposition start well and get the upper hand then they have the momentum.
"I also thought we looked tired tonight. We only have a small squad and we've had players unavailable for various reasons over the last few weeks which has put an added workload on the others.
"Also Shelton has not played for four or five weeks before he joined us and he was feeling tightness in his groins and hamstrings in the second half.
"But on the positive side we are unbeaten in three games, have kept two clean sheets, and if somebody had offered us seven points out of nine before these three games we would probably have taken them.
"Coming off the back of a losing run, we are moving in the right direction."
Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Hughes, Sinclair, McLachlan, Noon (McKenna 81mins) , Evans, Hopley (Davey 72mins), Newby (McEvilly 61mins), Payne. Subs not used: Benson and Metcalf.
Attendance: 235

OFF the field fundraising continues for the new stand and other ground improvements that are needed for the club to remain in the Conference North.
I understand the Raise the Roof committee have so far raised £6,500, but there is still a long way to go to reach their target of £30,000 to help towards the total cost of the new stand of £72,500.
There is a Meet the Managers Curry Night at the club this Friday (January 20th) with a chance to put questions to Jon Newby and assistant Stuart Barlow (ex-Everton) with tickets £6) including a choice of four curries with a free pint, glass of wine or soft drink. Tickets are available from Carol Beard 07595894622.
The following Friday (January 27th) is the Michael King Elvis show with one of the world's top Elvis impersonators (see www.elvismichaelking.com). Tickets (£15) will be available in the clubhouse at next Tuesday's North Wales Coast FA Cup game against Blaeunau Ffestiniog, or email rtr2012@btinternet.com.