Football: Colwyn Bay FC win in cup competition

Nov 25 2010

KEY men Joe McMahon and Gareth Evans should be fit for Colwyn Bay’s Saturday assignment at home to Ossett Albion despite both picking up hefty knocks in Tuesday’s 2-0 League Challenge Cup victory at Kidsgrove Athletic.

And player-manager Dave Challinor also hopes to have a new striker in on loan as second-placed Bay look to return to winning ways in the Evo-Stik Premier.

"The deal is virtually sealed, we are just trying to get agreement from his club to extend the loan period from four to six weeks so it will take in the three massive games against Ashton, Halifax and Kendal over the New Year period," said Challinor.

Challinor is also urgently chasing goalkeeper cover as Andy Metcalf is unavailable for the home game against Frickley Athletic on December 4 due to exams.

Bay rode their luck to reach the fourth round of the cup with Tuesday’s victory at Division One South promotion candidates Kidsgrove.

Athletic hit the post and missed at least four or five golden opportunities, mainly through 21-goal striker Dave Walker, while Colwyn, who rested several first choice players, capitalised on two defensive errors to win the tie.

Challinor added: "We were under the cosh a bit early doors and certainly could have been at least one goal down, but once we got to grips with how they were playing I thought the lads were brilliant."

The hosts dominated the opening 30 minutes, Matt Haddrell heading straight at Metcalf from four yards out and he and Walker both missed great chances, while Karl Charlton saw a goalbound shot deflected over the bar off Danny Grannon.

But the Seagulls took the lead on 31 minutes when a home defender’s awful fresh air kick at an attempted clearance allowed Alex Titchiner, back from a loan spell at Chester, to run in behind him and fire past keeper Steve Intihar.

Bay had another amazing escape early in the second half when Walker’s shot hit the inside of the post and stayed out.

Despite more close calls for Kidsgrove the visitors got a second on 61 minutes when a hurried clearance went straight to Joey O’Sullivan who scored from 20 yards – his well-struck shot squirming out of the keeper’s hands and into the net.

Bay lose unbeaten record on the road

COLWYN BAY lost their proud unbeaten away league record with a 3-0 loss at Matlock on Saturday.

The scoreline was a little harsh, but the Bay were not at their best.

They badly missed the suspended and in- form Damien Allen in midfield and created very little in the way of genuine chances.

"It was never a 3-0 game, but it can be such a fine margin and we didn’t get a break or a big decision in our favour all afternoon," said player-manager Dave Challinor.

Colwyn started quite well with Gareth Evans very unlucky when his header over the keeper hit the post, then home keeper Adam Sollitt made a fine save from a Karl Noon.

But Bay seemed to switch off from a Matlock free-kick on 18 minutes when Lee Featherstone’s low cross was swept past Andy Metcalf by the unmarked Ross Hannah.

The hosts were on top after that and Hannah broke clear again and was tripped from behind by Challinor inside the area before picking himself up and scoring from the penalty spot on 71 minutes.

Colwyn switched to a 4-3-3 formation and then pushed Danny Grannon up front in one final throw of the dice in the closing minutes, but that left them short at the back and Matlock substitute Dene Cropper capitalised, adding a third goal in added time.