February 2012 Archives

COLWYN Bay FC supporters can help the club's Raise the Roof fundraising campaign by hiking up Snowdon with former Manchester United legend Mickey Thomas, player-boss Jon Newby and some of the players.
The sponsored walk up the 3,500ft mountain has been confirmed, weather permitting, for Sunday April 1st , starting from the Victoria Hotel in Llanberis at 8.30am.
Sponsorship forms are expected to be available at next Saturday's home game against Blyth Spartans (March 3rd).
The Seagulls need to raise £70,000 to upgrade their Llanelian Road ground with a new stand before March 31 or face relegation from the Conference North, and Mickey, 57, agreed to tackle the mountain as part of the Weekly News campaign to assist the club's fundraising challenge.
Speaking to Richard Evans at the North Wales Weekly News, Mickey said: "I'm excited and it will be a challenge.
"Colwyn Bay FC are very good for the community and business. The team bring people into Colwyn Bay and the more successful they are the better for the town, so we want people to come out and support us.
"The weather will dictate whether we can go, but we have to be focused and positive. Snowdon does get bad weather but if we get some good weather it will be great."
Ian Bright is a volunteer with the Llanberis Mountain Rescue and said it was vital that walkers who go are properly prepared.
Anyone going on the mountain should be be adequately equipped. They will need to have good quality boots, water-proof trousers and jacket and adequate thermal clothing including hat and gloves.
They should carry food and drink, a map and a compass and a mobile phone as well as a torch, as it still gets dark early at this time of the year.
It is advisable that some members of the party should also carry emergency shelters and sleeping bags in case somebody is injured."

COLWYN BAY kept a clean sheet and took a good away point at in-form Histon to restore some confidence after last week's horror show.
Indeed, with better finishing the Seagulls could have taken all three points.
John McKenna fired two good chances over the bar from 12 yards and Karl Noon burst through on his own and was one-on-one with the keeper, who blocked the shot with his legs.
Rob Hopley, who had an excellent game up front, then got the ball in the net from Jon Newby's deflected cross, but the goal celebrations were cut short by a linesman's flag for a debatable offside decision.
I got the impression that Hopley had run past a defender to get to the ball ahead of keeper Jorg Stadelmann and turn it into the net.
Newby agreed: "I thought the goal was good as well, but it was one of those that sometimes you get and sometimes you don't."
But the disappointment of that disallowed goal took nothing away from his delight at his side's performance on a bumpy pitch on which both sides found it difficult to control or pass the ball accurately.
"We asked for a response after last week and we got it," said Newby. "It wasn't the best of surfaces to play good football on, but we said beforehand that even if we didn't win it was important to keep a clean sheet and we did that.
"Everybody played their part and I thought Danny (Meadowcroft) and Frank (Sinclair) were superb in the middle."
Sinclair could have been punished in the first half when he made a mess of an attempted back header to keeper Andy Metcalf and put Histon's top scorer Dan Holman clear on goal, but his angled shot across the keeper went wide of the far post.
That apart, Sinclair was outstanding. He and Meadowcroft got in some very important clearances to keep Histon out, and Metcalf was never seriously tested.
In attack Newby left Shelton Payne on the bench and surprisingly didn't use him or Lee Davey as fresh legs to try and snatch victory in the last 20 minutes when the game looked there for the taking.
"We were looking such a solid unit that I didn't want to risk disrupting that by making a change and possibly conceding a late goal," explained the player-boss.
"After last week it would have been all doom and gloom making that long journey home on the back of another defeat. It was important that didn't happen.
"It is another point in the bag and I think 45 points at this stage is a very good haul in our first season at this level and with the small squad we have."
Frank Sinclair agreed that it was important to keep a clean sheet to bolster confidence, and it was interesting talking to him afterwards that he felt last week's heavy defeat might, in some ways, have been a good thing.
"Sometimes you do need a result like that to get you going again after an unbeaten run. When results are going well you can become a bit complacent and last week was a kick up the backside and a reminder that you can't afford to let that happen," he said.
Karl Noon, who only started the game after passing a late fitness test on a groin injury, seemed to struggle with it in the first half, but he got stronger as the game progressed and posed a threat down the left in the second half.
"I was feeling it a bit in the first half, but then it went okay and I was fine," Karl reported afterwards.
The Seagulls are now unbeaten in their last five away games (four wins and a draw and four clean sheets) and they stay eighth in the table after this result with their next game at home to bottom of-the-table Blyth Spartans.
Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Sinclair, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby, Noon. Subs not used: Payne, King, Davey, McKernan, Benson.
Attendance: 379.

COLWYN BAY are down to the bare 16 players for tomorrow's long trip to Histon, with striker Lee McEvilly leaving the club this week.
The 29-year-old, who made over 150 Football League appearances with Rochdale, Wrexham and Accrington Stanley, has not started a league game for the Seagulls since he was sent off against Lincoln City in the FA Trophy in early December.
With goalkeeper Chris Sanna (shoulder) and central defender Matty Hughes (broken toe) both ruled out by injury, McEvilly's departure has left player-boss Jon Newby with just the bare bones of a squad.
"It is all hands to the pump. The budget does not allow us room to bring anyone else in as we still have to pay Chris and Matty's wages, so we will have to get by with what we have," said Newby.
Danny Meadowcroft looks likely to return in defence alongside Frank Sinclair in place of Hughes for what will be his first league start since Boxing Day, due to his baby daughter being seriously ill in hospital.
Jamie McKernan and Chris King will help make up the bench.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Sinclair, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby, Payne, Noon, Davey, McKernan, Benson, King.
Newby is looking for a response from his players after last weekend's 6-1 humiliation at home to Nuneaton, but is expecting a very difficult game in Cambridgeshire.
Histon, who have been in decline since finishing third in the Conference Premier three seasons ago, have rallied in recent weeks under manager David Livermore. They have lost only twice in their last 11 games to pull clear of the relegation zone and had an excellent 2-0 away win at Corby Town last weekend with top scorer Dan Holman taking his season's goals tally to 19.
"They have changed their style a bit since we beat them at our place (in September) and, for me, they are in a bit of a false position in the table (14th), because they are better than that," warned Newby.
Livermore says he wants a win against Colwyn Bay to repay Histon's supporters who have so far raised almost £5,000 in an appeal to enable the cash-strapped club pay his and the players' wages.
"It shows there's a lot of support for the football club out there," he said. "It is fantastic and that is the kind of support we need. The lads will want to repay them for that by putting in a good performance at home and making it an entertaining game."
The Stutes' chief executive Gordon Boateng also praised the fans for their generosity and said he is looking forward to sitting down with Livermore, who was asked to renegotiate his contract earlier this month.
"We're backing David and everyone wants him to stay at the football club," said Boateng.
"We're due to meet him to discuss where we are. We'll see how much money we've raised by then and then we can move forward.
Histon are hoping to boost their attendance on Saturday with a scheme that allows every paying adult to take in a friend for free.

THE North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup quarter-final tie Bangor City v Colwyn Bay has been arranged for Tuesday 27th March (7.30pm kick off) at Bangor City's new Nantporth Stadium in Holyhead Road.

COLWYN BAY supporters can help raise money for the new stand by purchasing a seat for £30.
A certificate will be issued to everyone who participates and for an application form email commercial manager Carol Beard on carol@cbfchome.f9.co.uk . There is also a copy of the form on the Colwyn Bay FC facebook page.
Preparation work for the stand is already under way, but the club are still a long way short of raising the £70,000 needed.

COLWYN BAY are holding a Sportsman's dinner at Colwyn Bay FC on March 15th as part of the Raise the Roof fundraising campaign for the new stand.
Guest speakers will be assistant-manager Stuart Barlow (ex-Everton, Oldham and Wigan), chairman Bob Paton and world class master comedian John Martin.
A table for 10 costs £250 - for bookings or more details email egmcindoe@yahoo.co.uk.

HAVING followed Colwyn Bay for some years I have almost come to expect the odd embarrassing blip at home.
There is usually at least one a season (6-0 to Northwich Victoria last season, a 6-2 cup defeat against Skelmersdale and a shock 4-1 New Year's Day reverse at home to Radcliffe Borough in the last three years spring to mind), but today's 6-1 humiliation against Nuneaton was just not on my radar.
I hoped the 6-1 spanking by Altrincham in September had got this season's 'bad day at the office' out of the way, but a dreadful first half defensive performance today was every bit as bad as that, leaving Llanelian Road fans sitting in stunned silence for much of a game I think we all just wanted to end.
Was this the Manager of the Month curse striking again?
Jon Newby was presented with his January award before the kick off, but if that was a proud moment for him, then the rest of the day was his worst nightmare.
'It was an absolute shambles," was his honest appraisal afterwards.
"It was a shocking performance from start to finish and the only two players to come out of it with any credit for me were Hoppo (Rob Hopley) who I thought worked tirelessly up front, and Nooney (Karl Noon) to a certain extent, because he at least tried to make things happen.
"The last thing I say to the players before we go out is that I want energy all over the pitch and for some reason I didn't get that.
"Whether it was poor preparation by some of them or a poor attitude I don't know, but it certainly wasn't acceptable.
"We have got where we are by our workrate more than anything else, and that was missing today.
"I can accept people having an off day, because we all have them, but what I won't accept is people not working hard enough - and there were far, far too many of them today."
Adding to the manager's woes was centre back Matty Hughes having to go off with a broken toe after 25 minutes, and he could now face up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Newby said his decision to bring himself on for Shelton Payne at half-time was tactical and not due to injury, and he added: "If I could have made nine substitutions I would have done."
It could be argued the change made a difference as the second half was a 1-1 draw, but in truth Nuneaton eased off the throttle once they went 6-0 up and made three substitutions of their own, including four-goal man of the match Danny Glover, as they went into cruise mode.
Newby and Noon both got the ball in the net but were ruled offside and Gaz Evans missed the best chance of the game when he headed Newby's cross over the bar from six yards out.
In the end it was a very soft 89th minute penalty, for accidental hand ball by substitute James Armson, that gave Fraser McLachlan the chance to score a late consolation goal from the spot.
Ironically referee Chris Kavanagh had earlier ignored two far more laudable penalties in the first half when Hopley's driven cross was blocked by a defenders arm and Shelton Payne was up-ended heavily in the area.
Hopley also had a goalbound shot superbly saved by Nuneaton keeper Danny Allcock and, in fact, play in the first half was pretty much 50-50. It was just that every time Nuneaton attacked they looked like scoring - and more often than not they did.
They were 2-0 up inside the first seven minutes as Glover got his first as Bay's defence failed to cut out Wesley York's cross from the right on six minutes, and less than 60 seconds later Andy Brown, on loan from Telford, broke free on the right to place an angled shot past Andy Metcalf.
Brown headed the ball down for skipper Mark Noon to tap in number three, although he looked to be offside, and Glover, who also hit the bar, had two more before the break, outpacing Sinclair to get Nuneaton's fourth and then completing his own hat-trick when Nuneaton's quick passing sliced open Bay's struggling defence again.
Bay's defenders never got to grips with Glover, who got his fourth and his side's sixth goal on 65 minutes from Brown's low cross. His substitution with 20 minutes left spared the Seagulls further punishment.
Frank Sinclair struggled on his return from injury, but he certainly wasn't on his own.
"You can't put it down to individuals," said Newby. "None of the back four helped each other and the goals we conceded were schoolboy at best."
So where does he go from here?
"I have to hope it was a bad day at the office and just one of those perfomances you get once in while, but I am certainly looking for a massive response at Histon next week," he said.
"That will be a difficult game and we will need players to be brave enough to get on the ball and make things happen."
Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Hughes (Meadowcroft), Sinclair, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Noon, Payne (Newby 45mins). Subs not used: Davey, Benson, McEvilly.
Attendance: 453
Colwyn Bay drop one place to eighth, but are still only four points behind the top six where Halifax, Gainsborough and Stalybridge all dropped points.

JON NEWBY is hopeful that Frank Sinclair will be back in the central defence for Saturday's home game against fellow play off hopefuls Nuneaton Town (3pm).
The former Chelsea defender missed last weekend's defeat to Halifax with a hamstring strain, but has responded well to treatment and Newby reported: "We will make a late decision on Frank, but we are hopeful he will be okay."
Goalkeeper Chris Sanna, however, is still ruled out with a shoulder injury and Andy Metcalf will continue in goal.
Otherwise it is a fully fit squad to take on a Nuneaton side who will be tough opponents.
They boast the best defensive record in the Blue Square North, including nine clean sheets, and although they did concede five in a shock home defeat to Hinckley on New Year's Day, that is their only defeat in the last 15 games.
The Warwickshire side, who are one place and three points above Colwyn Bay in the table, have been beaten only three times in 19 league and cup games on the road this season and have conceded only three goals in the last seven of them.
Manager Kevin Wilkin's side also had a 1-0 victory over Blue Square Premier side Tamworth on Tuesday night to reach the semi-finals in of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
"They are a well established side at this level," said Newby. "They don't concede many goals and have two very good forwards in Danny Glover and Adam Brown (on loan from Telford) who work hard and have good movement," he said.
"But hopefully we will have Frank back to organise us at the back to cope with that.
"Although we lost last weekend I don't think it was a bad performance, particularly in the first half when we played some really decent stuff.
"We are looking to go on another unbeaten run now and hopefully that can start against Nuneaton."
The general manager of the Football Conference, Dennis Strudwick, will be attending the game to make the January Manager of the Month presentation to Jon Newby prior to the kick off.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Hughes, Sinclair, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby, Payne, Noon, Davey, Meadowcroft, McEvilly, McKernan, Benson, King.
Nuneaton manager Kevin Wilkin says he expects to have a full-strength squad available for the start of what he rates as a massive few weeks for his side's play-off ambitions.
"We realise that the next month to six weeks are massive for us. It will have a major bearing on where we end up in the league," he said.
"Colwyn Bay are on a really good run and would consider themselves play-off contenders like us."
Central defender Guy Hadland picked up an ankle injury in Tuesday's win against Tamworth in the Birmingham Senior Cup, but should be available.
Nuneaton: (from) Alcock, Collett, Ward, Dean, Hadland, Albrighton, Forsdick, Gudger, Noon, Walker, Mills, Armson, Moore, York, Glover, Brown, Mitchley

COLWYN BAY'S seven match unbeaten run was ended by Danny Holland's headed goal two minutes before half-time in a 1-0 home defeat to Halifax today.
In the end the Seagulls paid for missed chances, including two one-on-ones with the keeper, that could have led to a different result.
The effort the players put in on Tuesday when they twice came from behind to beat Boston 3-2 also looked to have taken its toll with a jaded look about the side the last half hour.
But although disappointed, player-boss Jon Newby said he was not going to be critical of the players.
"We've been unbeaten since Boxing Day (prior to this game) which at this level is some achievement. If we'd have been offered the haul of points we've got from the last seven games (16 out of 21) at the start of them, we'd have gladly taken that.
"Possibly there was a bit of hangover from Tuesday and you probably saw a few tired legs out there at the end, but we've only got a small squad and players are having to play week in week out."
He agreed, however, it could have been different outcome with better finishing.
"The game is all about taking chances and we have had three very good ones today, at key periods in the game, which we should have scored.
"We've also given away a sloppy goal just before half-time when we should be looking to see out the half and go from there.
"Its a disappointing, but it is certainly not doom and gloom.
"We will look to get points on the board against Nuneaton next week and Stu (Stuart Barlow) and myself will keep everybody bright and on their toes during the week with that in mind."
Newby did have a special word for keeper Andy Metcalf, who was standing in for injured Chris Sanna, and made three excellent saves in the second half to prevent a heavier defeat.
"I was really pleased with him," said the boss. "His handling was fantastic and he didn't look overawed at all. We know we can rely on him and Andy is the one real positive to come out of the game."
Colwyn Bay felt they should have had an early penalty in the first five minutes when Shelton Payne looked to be pulled back in the area by Luke Ashworth.
But prior to that Payne had hastily blazed a first time shot over the bar from Rob Hopley's pass when he had time to take a touch and pick his spot.
Karl Noon then sent Newby clear one-on-one with the keeper, but Simon Eastwood spread his body well to deflect the shot for a corner.
Lee Gregory headed Halifax's best chance wide from Danny Holland's cross and although Holland later headed the ball into the net from Gregory's cross, the flag was already up for offside.
The breakthrough, however, came two minutes before half-time when Colwyn Bay lost possession in b theri own half and James Dean crossed from the right for Holland to send a looping header over home keeper Andy Metcalf for the match-winning goal.
Karl Noon had a great chance to equalise early in the second half when he broke clear one-on-one with Eastwood, but the keeper stuck out a foot to deflect the ball for a corner as Noon tried to slide it past him.
That was Colwyn Bay's last chance as Halifax took control. With Shelton Payne unable to make his usual impact down the left, the Shaymen were able to snuff out the home side's attack and create a number of chances themselves on the break.
Metcalf made three fine saves to deny substitute Jamie Rainford (twice) and Liam Needham, and Rainford and Ryan Toulson fired other chances over the bar.
The win lifted Halifax, in front of their big following, into second place in the table, nine points behind Hyde with two games still in hand.
But manager Neil Aspin is ruling out any chance of catching the leaders.
"Hyde will win the league. They have played some excellent football this season and deserve it," he said.
"Our target is to get in the play-offs and this is a fantastic result to help us achieve that.
"We haven't had a game for 18 days due to the weather so to come here and win against a Colwyn side who have been on a good run themselves, is tremendous for us.
"We were a bit too open early on for my liking, but we tightened up and I thought we were the better side in the second half."
Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Hughes, McKenna, McLachlan (McEvilly 80mins), Evans, Noon, Hopley, Newby (Davey 75mins), Payne. Subs not used: Meadowcroft, Benson, McKernan.
Attendance: 634.

AFTER the game chairman Bob Paton addressed a meeting of fans and shareholders following Conwy council's decision earlier this week to grant planning permission for the new stand.
It is hoped work will start towards the end of next week and be completed within a month, but the chairman again made it clear there can be no let up in the fund-raising efforts.
"We are still a long, long way short of the money we need," he said. "I don't want the club to go into debt by having to take out loans and it is up to everybody who has the club's future at heart to keep doing everything they can to try and raise this money. We need to keep our foot on the accelerator . I have put myself up as guarantor that the bills for the work will be paid so it is my neck on the line if the money isn't raised."

TODAY'S home game against FC Halifax Town is definitely ON (3pm kick off).