Hockey: Colwyn Bay miss chance to go third

Dec 18 2008 By Tim Channon

COLWYN BAY missed a chance to move into the top three in Division One of the North West Hockey League in what was an eventful weekend with back to back home games.

They beat West Derby 6-4 in bizarre circumstances on Saturday, but were then frustratingly held to a 3-3 draw on Sunday against Bebington after taking the lead three times.

Saturday’s game saw Colwyn storm into a 4-0 lead in the first 20 minutes with a hat-trick from John Beattie and a further strike by Matt Mahon, only for West Derby to claw back to level the scores at half-time with three of their goals coming from short corners.

Colwyn Bay, however, dominated the second half and further goals from Ben Williams and Josh Williams put them back in control.

Then with 10 minutes still to play, the West Derby umpire amazingly ended the game early after disagreeing with a decision by Colwyn Bay’s international and Premier League umpire Andy Williams.

Colwyn Bay are claiming the win, but a league inquiry is now likely to follow.

Colwyn Bay got another flying start in Sunday’s game with a goal after 30 seconds when Iwan Davies hoodwinked the Bebington defence with an outrageous dummy before playing in Ben Williams to set up a tap in for Matt Mahon.

The Bay scored twice more through Simon Roscoe and Mahon again, but each time Bebington hit back to equalise and salvage a point.

Colwyn Bay go into the Christmas break one point behind third-placed Bowden and five behind second-placed Knutsford, who lost at home.

Colwyn Bay 2nds consolidated third place in Division Five South with a 6-3 win at Alderley Edge 3rds.

A dominant second half performance secured the points after the Bay had come from a goal down to be level at 2-2 at half-time with two goals from man of the match Paul Broadhurst.

Mark Roberts, despite a hand injury, pounced on a loose ball in the D to put the Bay back in front and further goals followed from Darren Jones, Rob Williams and James Daltry before Alderley Edge got their third with the last touch the match.

LLANDUDNO are now four points adrift in fourth place after losing 4-3 to a goal scored with the last hit of the match at home to Crewe Vagrants.

Steve Tustin gave Llandudno the lead after a good run into the D by Kev Roberts, but Crewe moved into a 3-1 lead before Tustin pulled one back before half-time with a penalty strike after Tom Simpson’s goalbound shot was blocked illegally.

Llandudno struggled for a breakthrough in a tightly contested second half, but looked to have rescued a point with just four minutes remaining when Simpson outpaced the Crewe defence in a run from the halfway line to round the keeper and score.

But Crewe snatched victory in the dying seconds after being awarded a free hit on the edge of the D.

Colwyn Bay 3rds are now five points clear at the top of Division 9 South with a game in hand after making it 11 wins out of 11 with a 3-2 victory at second-placed Lymm 2nds.