Football: Colwyn Bay set for two new signings

Jul 14 2011

COLWYN BAY manager Dave Challinor is set to complete the signings of two new players ahead of tomorrow night’s (Friday) pre-season friendly against League One Tranmere Rovers (7.30pm) at Llanelian Road, writes Tim Channon.

Centre-back Rod McDonald, who was with Oldham Athletic last season before going out on loan to Nantwich Town, and wide man Sean Doherty, a product of the Everton Academy and former England Youth international and a Marine player last term, have both agreed deals to join the Seagulls this week.

And both should be in the squad against what will be a strong Tranmere side looking to bounce back after losing 1-0 at Chester on Tuesday.
With the Tranmere game in mind, Challinor rested the majority of his senior players for the friendly at Gap Connah’s Quay on Tuesday where the Seagulls, fielding a number of trialists, came back from 0-2 and 2-3 down to rescue a 3-3 draw.

Mark McGregor’s Cymru Alliance champions were 2-0 up at half-time against a poor Bay display and a disappointed Challinor said it has been “a wasted 45 minutes” for some hoping to impress.

 “There are only one or two places up for grabs in the squad and the lads on trial will not have many opportunities to show what they can do. From that point of view it was a wasted 45 minutes,” he said.

After some close Bay calls, the home side took the lead on 30 minutes with a penalty by James McIntosh after Joe McMahon had handled in the area.

Player-boss McGregor headed against the underside of the bar, but his team got a second on 40 minutes when Jamie Petrie broke clear to fire past Andy Metcalf.

 The introduction of Rob Hopley and Lee Davey made a big difference to the Bay in the second half when the side played with much more urgency.

Hopley pulled a goal back with a stunning left-foot volley on 55 minutes and then Davey equalised with a 66th minute penalty after a handball.

With the Bay then pressing for a winner, they were caught on the break as Rhys Healey put Quay back in front on 85 minutes, but a minute later second half Bay substitute Gaz Evans ran through to chip the home keeper and salvage a draw.

McDonald and Doherty both played in the second half along with Chris King, a member of Bay’s promotion-winning side of 2009/10 before moving the south of England. He has been training with the Bay squad again after moving back to the North West.

Challinor used 19 players, including eight trialists in last Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Flint Town United at Llanelian Road.

Ex-Everton junior Steve Connor, trialist centre forward Steve Lewis, and Lee Davey, a spectacular 25-yarder, provided the goals.

Off the field, Colwyn Bay hope to be able to start moving forward from tomorrow when the Cartwright family are scheduled to officially hand over control of the club following their shock resignations from the board.

Former Bay chairman Bob Paton has been asked to return as acting chairman for a three or four -month period to help stabilise the running of the club.

 One unfortunate consequence of the upheaval to the club’s administration following the sudden and unexpected departure of Geoff, Darren and Martin Cartwright, has been the club’s failure to join Wrexham, Newport County and Merthyr Town in next season’s Welsh Cup now that the ban on clubs playing in the English pyramid has been lifted.

That failure has disappointed Challinor.

He commented: “We have lodged an appeal to try and get ourselves included in the Welsh Cup, but I am not sure what our chances are after missing the registration deadline due to the club’s administration upheaval and, from what I understand, not receiving any official notification from the FA of Wales.”