Football: Two crucial games for Colwyn Bay FC

Apr 21 2011

COLWYN BAY enter a massive Easter weekend knowing they may need all six points from their two games against bottom six opposition to secure a home tie in next Thursday’s play-off semi-finals, writes Tim Channon. And player-boss Dave Challinor is demanding his side learn the lessons from last Saturday’s shock home defeat to Stocksbridge Park Steels.

They make the long trip to Hucknall Town on Saturday before Nantwich Town come to Llanelian Road for the final league fixture of the campaign on Easter Monday (3pm).

Challinor was furious that his side conceded three soft goals in a torrid 18- minute spell in the second half as Stocksbridge came from two down to win 4-3.

It leaves the Bay still needing one point to be sure of making the play-offs and has put their hopes of securing a top three finish under threat.

Bradford Park Avenue turned up the heat by winning their game in hand on Monday to move to within two points of the Bay with two games left.

And Bradford, FC United (due to play last night) and Buxton (despite losing their game in hand at Northwich on Monday) can all still finish above Colwyn Bay if Challinor’s men do not do the business this weekend.

Challinor has warned his players that they are playing for their play-off places.

"There are only 14 or 15 places available for the play-offs because we will be using Andy Metcalf on the bench as goalkeeper cover," said the manager.

"That means some players are going to miss out. I would have expected them to be doing their damnedest to put themselves in contention for one of those places.

"But after starting well against Stocksbridge and going two goals up in the opening 10 minutes we just switched off and got outworked by a side that had nothing to play for.

"Players have earned the plaudits for getting us where we are, but if you give goals away like the ones we conceded in the second half then you won’t win anything.

"We had a long chat in the dressing room afterwards and hopefully the players have taken on board what was said and will produce the two performances that we need this weekend."

The Bay have struggled in some games against lowly teams this season and Hucknall will not be easy.

The Yellows are still in danger of being dragged into the relegation zone and should be fired up for their last home game.

Nantwich stunned Bay with a 2-1 win at the Weaver Stadium last month and the Seagulls’ inconsistent home form, which includes seven defeats to just four in their 20 away games, must concern their fans ahead of a nail- biting weekend.

They should have everybody available with Danny Meadowcroft recovered from a stomach bug that ruled him out of last Saturday’s game.

Colwyn were 2-0 up after 10 minutes with a Damien Allen header from Jimmy McCarthy’s fine cross and Luke Denson then rifling a 25-yarder past keeper Ben Scott.

But the Bay failed to maintain their high tempo start and were punished for individual errors.

Mark Ward caught Chris Sanna too far off his line with a 30-yard lob to pull a goal back before half-time and after Scott had made a fine save from McCarthy to prevent what could have been a killer third Bay goal early in the second half, Stocksbridge turned the game their way with an equaliser from substitute Richard Stirrup and two in seven minutes from Jack Muldoon.

Allen pulled one back direct from a free-kick four minutes from time, but late Bay pressure failed to force an equaliser that would have guaranteed that top five finish.

LLANRUG UNITED 0 COLWYN BAY 4

TWO goals in each half eased Colwyn Bay into the semi-finals of the North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup with a win at Llanrug United on Monday night, reports Tim Channon at Eithin Duon.

Without seven first team regulars, Bay had 20 attempts at goal to just four by the home side and could have won by more with better finishing.

They were in front after 10 minutes with a Karl Noon penalty after Alex Titchiner was tripped in the area by Chris Joyce.

The Seagulls added a second when the keeper failed to intercept Dave Challinor’s cross under a challenge by Lee Davey, and a defender on the far post could only help the ball into the net.

Danny Grannon had two shots blocked on the line in one goalmouth scramble following a corner, while home keeper Gavin Williams made a good diving save from Davey, who had another strike deflected behind off a defender.

Centre-half Joe McMahon put a header straight at the keeper and Titchiner (twice), Noon, Gareth Evans and Steve Aspinall all missed the target with other goalscoring efforts before half-time.

Welsh Alliance League Division One underdogs Llanrug rarely threatened, but Gruff John Williams did shoot narrowly wide from their best attack.

Colwyn made it 3-0 seven minutes into the second half with a Davey shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner which left Williams grasping thin air.

Five minutes later Steve Aspinall scored with a far post header from Anthony Sheehan’s cross.

Llanrug had a chance to pull a goal back with a 78th minute penalty after a foul by Sheehan, but Andy Metcalf made a fine stop to deny Gruff John Williams – virtually his only save of the game.

Colwyn Bay now play another Welsh Alliance Division One team, Barmouth and Dyffryn United, for the right to meet Flint or Denbigh Town in the final.

Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Sheehan, McMahon, Grannon, Aspinall (Meadowcroft 58 mins), Evans, Challinor, Noon, Davey, Titchiner. Subs not used: Hopley and Sanna.