Football: Colwyn Bay FC are on a high

Nov 18 2010

COLWYN Bay will travel to Matlock Town on Saturday buoyed by two tremendous home performances in four days.

Victories over FC United of Manchester, in front of a crowd of 1,003 on Tuesday night, and Buxton last Saturday have lifted the Seagulls up to second place in the Unibond Premier Division – and player-boss Dave Challinor says the players should now be growing in confidence and believing in their ability as they chase a top five play-off finish.

"We always knew how important the three games this week were going to be and to have got six points out of six so far is fantastic – and hopefully we can make it nine on Saturday," says Challinor.

"We face another difficult game at Matlock, but we are well aware of our unbeaten

away record and we want to continue that – it will be over our dead bodies that we surrender it on Saturday!

"We will go there with confidence high. I like to think I’ve got a good group of players who enjoy themselves, enjoy coming here and playing, and hopefully now after these two big results this week are starting to believe in the ability they’ve got and what they can achieve."

Unfortunately skipper Damien Allen, who has been outstanding in recent games, misses the Matlock game through suspension and Gareth Evans suffered a suspected broken nose in Tuesday’s game against FC United, but otherwise everyone should be available.

FC United got a great start on Tuesday and were ahead inside the first 10 minutes when Mike Norton headed firmly past Andy Metcalf from Jerome Wright’s strong run and cross from the left.

But Bay were better after that, with Metcalf rarely tested and only poor finishing preventing them being on level terms by half-time.

Dave Challinor was inches too high with a header from a corner, while Karl Noon and Gareth Evans both shot wide on the turn from good positions, and Noon then put in a strong run through the middle to open up the best chance of the half only to shoot wide.

Damien Allen did get the ball in the net when Challinor headed on a free kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Three goals in the opening 28 minutes of the second half, however, turned the game around.

FC United were twice undone by long balls over the top as first Jon Newby raced clear to shoot past the advancing Sam Ashton on 61 minutes, and later Karl Noon ran on to round the keeper and score the third, after Damien Allen’s crisp finish from 18 yards had also found the net after the visitors failed to clear a cross from the right.

Noon should then have added a fourth but headed a great chance against a post from Allen’s cross as Bay ran out comfortable winners.

"Apart from the first 10 minutes I thought we were fantastic again tonight," said Challinor. "We knew if Luke (Denson) and Mike (Lea) could control their wingers then that is a massive part of their game gone, and that worked well. We then played at a terrific tempo and when you do that in this league not many teams can play against it."

Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Challinor, Grannon, McMahon, McLachlan (McGraa 87mins), Allen, Noon, Newby (Davey 82mins), Evans (Sheridan 49mins). Subs not used: Sheehan and Bailey. Att: 1,003.

That result followed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Buxton, with Jon Newby’s 80th minute penalty securing the points and taking his goals tally into double figures for the season.

Andy Metcalf made a good stop with his outstretched leg to deny Buxton’s top scorer Kieran Lugsden early on, but with Damien Allen pulling the strings from midfield, Colwyn Bay had the better chances after that.

Mick McGraa, Michael Lea and Luke Denson all had shots saved by Buxton keeper Scott Hartley, and Joe McMahon headed inches wide from an Allen cross.

But the Seagulls went in front 12 minutes into the second half when Buxton failed to clear the ball from a corner and from Karl Noon’s cross Danny Grannon got in a header which the keeper could only help into the net.

Buxton equalised with a diving header by Mark Reed four minutes later, but Bay’s continued pressure brought reward on 80 minutes when Gareth Evans was chopped down by Buxton skipper Gregg Anderson’s sliding challenge in the area and Newby smashed home the penalty to win the points.

COLWYN BAY: Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Challinor, Grannon, McMahon, McLachlan, Allen, Noon, Newby (Sheridan 84), McGraa (Evans 69). Subs: Davey, Sheehan and Bailey.

Attendance: 376.

COLWYN BAY 2 BUXTON 1

JON NEWBY fired home an 80th minute penalty to take his season’s goals tally into double figures and lift Colwyn Bay back into the top four of the Premier Division.

Joe McMahon was recalled to the side on Saturday and had an excellent game as the Seagulls reverted to a successful 3-5-2 formation.

On the day it was not to be Buxton’s cup of tea, and apart from four free kicks which were all well off target, they managed only three other attempts at goal in the game – against 11 by Colwyn Bay.

"It was a massive win for us and I was delighted with the performance and particularly our workrate," said Seagulls boss Dave Challinor.

"Obviously our home form, in comparison to our away form, has been disappointing and we just thought that, with the way Buxton play, it was the way to go today.

"If we can put pressure on teams and force them to play long then myself, Danny (Grannon) and Joe can clean things up at the back all day.

"Having Joe in the side also gives us extra height and an added threat at set pieces."

In a goal-less first half, Buxton could have scored in the first two minutes, but Andy Metcalf did well to save with an outstretched leg from top scorer Kieran Lugsden.

Bay had the better chances after that with visiting keeper Scott Hartley saving from Mick McGraa and Luke Denson, while McGraa’s shot dipped just over and McMahon was inches wide with a header from Damien Allen’s cross.

Colwyn took the lead 12 minutes into the second half after Buxton failed to clear a corner.

Karl Noon got past a defender and when his cross was headed goalwards by Grannon, Hartley got his hands to the ball but could not prevent it trickling over the line.

The lead lasted only four minutes, however, as Buxton equalised with a diving header by Mark Reed.

The Seagulls had two big shouts for penalties for fouls on Fraser McLachlan and Grannon waved away before McLachlan fired a great chance into the side-netting, but they couldn’t be refused the stonewall 80th minute spot-kick which won the game.

Substitute Gareth Evans was chopped down by Buxton skipper Gregg Anderson after a strong run took him into the area, and Newby smashed home the penalty.

"I thought Gaz Evans was different class when he came on," added Challinor.

"He gives us something different and when the game gets stretched late on he has the ability to get forward and cause problems like he did to get the penalty."