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September 2007 Archives

FA Cup lesson for Seagulls

Posted by Tim Channon on September 29, 2007 9:42 PM

COLWYN BAY have a week to recuperate bruised bodies and bruised pride after a 5-0 defeat at Barrow in the FA Cup.
John Boardman, John Lawless, Jamie Olsen, Mark Quayle and Robbie Williams are all now nursing injuries and will welcome a week without a game, while manager Gary Finley must reflect on lessons learnt in a game in which Cowyn Bay's defence was exposed by the pace of the Barrow attack.
Colwyn Bay stood off and gave their opponents far too much room to run at them and paid the price.
Up front Anthonty Murt worked hard but he and Neil Black got little support and the Bay created very little from midfield.
A nightmare start for keeper Jamie Speare, returning to his former club, helped Barrow take a 2-0 lead in the first 16 minutes which wrecked the manager's pre-match game plan and left the Seagulls chasing the game.
"We talked before hand about giving nothing away in the first 20 minutes and yet we gifted them two goals and never recovered from that. We never threatened, never got a foothold in the game, gave the ball away too easily - it was was a bad day at the office," admitted Gary Finley afterwards.
Speare came for an early corner but got nowhere near it, and as Colwyn Bay struggled to clear the ball fell to defender Steve McNulty who picked his spot just inside the post after only two minutes.
Then after Wilson hit the bar, Speare tried to punch away a cross from the same player instead of gathering it into his midrift and the ball hit Barrow's Matt Henney and rebounded into the net.
Bay might have got a foothold in the game had a John Lawless shot found the net to make it 2-1 instead of hitting the underside of the bar, but after surviving three other near misses to keep the score to 2-0 at half-time, they badly needed to get a goal early in the second half to put some pressure on the home side - but instead they conceded one from another corner while John Boardman was off the field having treatment,.
Chris Thompson scored with a running header with no one picking up his run from the edge of the box, and there was no way back from there.
Rogan got a fourth after a penetrating run through the heart of the Bay defence and then Wilson got the fifth from a rebound after his first shot had been blocked by Speare.
Neil Black had a chance to get a late consolation goal when he broke clear but keeper Tim Deasy came off his line to block the shot with his body.
Barrow are two divisions higher and their performance highlighted the gulf between those divisions.

FA Cup lesson for Seagulls

Posted by Tim Channon on September 29, 2007 9:42 PM

COLWYN BAY have a week to recuperate bruised bodies and bruised pride after a 5-0 defeat at Barrow in the FA Cup.
John Boardman, John Lawson, Jamie Olsen, Mark Quayle and Robbie Williams are all now carrying injuries and will welcome a week without a game, while manager Gary Finley must reflect on lessons learnt in a game in which Cowyn Bay's defence was exposed by the pace of Barrow's attack.
Colwyn Bay stood off and gave their opponents far too much room to run at them and paid the price.
Up front Anthonty Murt worked hard but he and Neil Black got little support and the Bay created little from midfield.
A nightmare start for keeper Jamie Speare, returning to his former club, helped Barrow take a 2-0 lead in the first 16 minutes which wrecked the manager's pre-match game plan and left the Seagulls chasing the game.
"We talked before hand about giving nothing away in the first 20 minutes and yet we gifted them two goals and never recovered from that. We never threatened, never got a foothold in the game, gave the ball away too easily - it was was a bad day at the office," admitted Gary Finley aftewards.
Speare came for an early corner but got nowhere near it, and as Colwyn Bay struggled to clear the ball fell to defender Steve McNulty who picked his spot just inside the post after only two minutes.
Then after Wilson hit the bar, Speare tried to punch away a cross from the same player instead of gathering it into his midrift and the ball hit Barrow's Matt Henney and rebounded into the net.
Bay might have got a foothold in the game had a John Lawless shot found the net to make it 2-1 instead of hitting the underside of the bar, but after surviving three other near misses to keep the score to 2-0 at half-time, they badly needed to get a goal early in the second half to put some pressure on the home side - but instead they conceded one from another corner while John Boardman was off the field having treatment,.
Chris Thompson scored with a running header with no one picking up his run from the edge of the box, and there was no way back from there.
Rogan got a fourth after a penetrating run through the heart of the Bay defence and then Wilson got the fifth from a rebound after his first shot had been blocked by Speare.
Neil Black had a chance to get a late consolation goal when he broke clear but keeper Tim Deasy came off his line to block the shot with his body.
Barrow are two divisions higher and their performance highlighted the gulf between those divisions. Colwyn Bay, fortunately, are unlikely to face opposition of this quality in the Unibond Division One South very often, but it shows how far they have to improve on the field if their ambiton of eventullay bringing Conference level football to Llanelian Road is to be realised.

High-scoring successes

Posted by Tim Channon on September 27, 2007 11:23 AM

THERE were some high-scoring successes by Conwy borough's sports teams last weeknd with the Colwyn Bay and Llandudno hockey sides both scoring eight goals in the North West Men's Hockey League, while Colwyn Bay Ladies football team won 7-0 in the North Wales Women's Football League.
Thre were also important wins for Colwyn Bay and Nant Conwy rugby teams.
Reports on all these successes are in this week's Weekly News along with a comprehensive round-up of all the local football news, local golf club results and reports from around the darts scene.
All the Colwyn and Aberconwy Junior Football League results and scorers and local junior rugby games are on the Junior Sports page, along with news of two Conwy riders who have qualified for next week's Horse of the year Show and news of Llanrwst cricket Club's junior award winners.

Finley answers fans' criticism

Posted by Tim Channon on September 26, 2007 5:06 PM

COLWYN BAY manager Gary Finley has been upset by criticism that his squad is too small after he was forced to name himself on the subs bench for Tuesday's League Cup game at Clitheroe.
With Tim Brandreth and Lewis Callaghan both unavailable due to work and Robbie Williams nursing an injury, his 14-man squad was stretched, but he says that at the moment having a bigger squad is beyond his budget.
"I wanted to rest Neil Black ahead of the FA Cup game at Barrow, but we had to bring him on because Mark Quayle started feeling unwell after having the flu," says Gary.
"I've heard comments from supporters that the squad is too small and that I should bring in more players as cover.
"I would love to, but we are working on a modest budget and it only covers wages for 14 players.
"Other players are not going to sit on the bench and not get paid for it. They just won't hang around and do that.
"It's all very well people saying they want promotion and cup success, but we are competing against clubs with bigger budgets who can afford bigger squads than we can and that's something the supporters have to realise."
The Bay hope to have a full strength squad available for Saturday's game at Barrow, although Jamie Olsen finished Tuesday's game with a tight groin and Mark Quayle (ill) and Robbie Williams (injury) will both need pre-match checks.

Seagulls win on penalties

Posted by Tim Channon on September 25, 2007 11:41 PM

COLWYN BAY won 4-2 on penalties after losing a 3-0 lead in their Unibond Challenge Cup game at Clitheroe on Tuesday.
They were 2-0 up at half-time through Mark Quayle and a John Lawless penalty, and the side were cruising when Martin Crowder added a third.
But a disputed goal, with Colwyn Bay claiming a foul on keeper Jamie Speare, sparked a Clitheroe fightback and after getting a second they equalised in the third minute of added time.
Another Lawless penalty put Colwyn Bay 4-3 in front in extra time, only for Clitheroe to equalise again just before the end.
But Jamie Speare won the day with two key penalty saves in the shoot-out with Colwyn Bay going through 4-2 thanks to successful spot kicks from Lawless, Anthony Murt, Crowder and Neil Black.
Full report in Thursday's Weekly News.

Mixed fortunes in football

Posted by Tim Channon on September 22, 2007 9:59 PM

MIXED fortunes for our football teams today.
Colwyn Bay lost their unbeaten record with a 1-0 defeat at Kidsgrove, but Llandudno moved to within two points of leaders Bala in the Cymu Alliance with 3-1 home win over Glantraeth.
Bryn Jenkins and Lee Thomas put them 2-0 up after only 19 minutes, but an own goal from Ben Dews made it 2-1 and Glantraeth were in with a chance of saving the match right up until the 90th minute when Thomas got his second of the game after keeper Gareth Hughes had dived to keep out a shot from Dews.
Bala suffered their first defeat of the campaign at Guisfield, while Prestatyn are second in the table, a point behind Bala and one point ahead of Llandudno, after beating Holyhead Hotspur 3-1.
Colwyn Bay's 1-0 defeat at Kidsgrove was was only their second in the league under Gary Finley since he took over last January, with ex-Bay player Mickey Lennon getting the only goal of the game.
That drops them to fifth place in Unibond Division One South, four points behind leades Retford United.
In the FA Trophy Conwy United won 5-2 at previously unbeaten Mold Alex after extra time, but last year's finalists Glan Conwy lost on penalties at Corwen, Llandudno Junction crashed 5-0 at Brymbo, and Penmaenmawr Phoenix suffered their first defeat at Nefyn United.
Llanrwst United had their home tie against Llay Welfare postponed.
More details on all these games in Thursday's Weekly News.

Sports Awards deadline

Posted by Tim Channon on September 21, 2007 3:20 PM

THERE is only one week left for sporting achievers to get in applications for the Weekly News-backed 2007 Conwy Borough Sports Awards.
Award winners will be anounced at the gala presentation night at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on November 9, when Olympic swimming bronze medallist Steve Parry will be the guest celebrity in front of 400 invited guests.
It is a great night and one that any sporting achiever should be part of.
The selection panel needs details from the application forms to give nominations their full consideration, so get those forms in now - the closing date is September 29.
There are 12 categories and application forms can be downloaded from the Conwy borough council website (www.conwy.gov.uk/leisure) and click on the 2007 Sports Awards page.

Conwy golfers help win Welsh title

Posted by Tim Channon on September 20, 2007 11:07 AM

THREE Conwy golfers helped Caernarfonshire win the Welsh Inter-Counties Championship for the second time in four years last weekend.
Lee Jones, Mark Ellison and Gareth Williams were all members of the successful squad that beat seven other Welsh counties for the title.
More details are in this week's Weekly News, along with news of a new ladies course record at the annual Llanddoged road race near Llanrwst and championship celebrations in the North Wales Cricket League for Llanrwst, Llandudno 2nds and Conwy 2nds.
Penmaenmawr bolwing club are also celebrating after winning the Section B championship in the Noth Wales Bowling League and there's a round up of all the local bowls news and results and local football news.
The junior sports page features pictures of Colwyn Bay Mermaids Under-17s girls rugby team, who won a tournament at Bangor, Colwyn Bay Bullets Under-11s girls tournament winning football team, Llandudno Under-11s cricket team and Colwyn United Under-11s football squad along with a full round-up of all the opening results and scorers in the Colwyn and Aberconwy Junior Football League and opening games in local junior rugby.

FA and Welsh Cup Cup draws

Posted by Tim Channon on September 17, 2007 1:04 PM

COLWYN BAY have been drawn away to Conference North side Barrow in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup to be played on September 29.
Manager Gary Finley gives his comments in Thursday's Weekly News.
In the Welsh Cup, Llandudno have been given a home tie against Welsh Premier side Newi Cefn Druids, to be played on October 6, after their 2-1 victory at Prestatyn Town last weekend.
Conwy United are away to Tywyn Bryncrug.
Other Welsh Cup ties include: Bangor City v Llandyrnog Utd, Rhyl v Montgomery Town, Caernarfon Town v Llanfairpwll, Porthmadog v Welshpool, Connah's Quay v The New Saints, Holyhead v Bala Tn, Llanberis v Newtown, Llangenfi Tn v Hawarden Park.

Seagulls progress in FA Cup

Posted by Tim Channon on September 15, 2007 6:56 PM

JOHN BOARDMAN scored his second goal in five days to put Colwyn Bay in the next round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over North East Counties side Parkgate.
The Seagulls had enough of the game to have won by more, forcing 14 corners to Parkgate's two, but twice hit the woodwork and had two other efforts cleared off the line.
The Yorkshire side's constant fouling earned them five yellow cards and one red for defender Andrew Battersby 10 minutes from the end, but at 2-1 there was always the threat of them snatching a late equaliser and the Bay will be relieved that they held out to avoid a replay and give themselves a week off.
The Bay started the game very brightly and were in front after 13 minutes when man of the match Jamie Olsen ran onto a pass from John Lawless and played a neat one-two with Anthony Murt before striking a low shot past keeper Darren Bonnington from 20 yards.
They looked as though they were going to get a bagful at that stage with Neil Black and Martin Crowder both having shots blocked, Brandreth having a header cleared off the line and striking the outside of the post with a volley, before Parkgate equalised with a controversial goal on the break on 25 minutes.
Caine Cheetham barged a Bay defender off the ball and with Colwyn Bay expecting a free kick, he was allowed to run on unchallenged to beat Jamie Speare.
Colwyn Bay lost their grip on the game for a while, but Boardman headed them back in front from a John Lawless corner three minutes into the second half.
They dominated much of the play after that, but couldn't kill the tie off, although Lawless rattled the woodwork from a free kick, Olsen was a denied by flying save from Bonnington, and Black saw a close effort strike a defender on the line and deflect over the bar.
"We didn't play as well as we can but we've kept our unbeaten run going and are in the next round which is the main thing," said manager Gary Finley.
"The most pleasing thing for me is that we've played a few teams now who have used the long ball up to a big, strong target man and we have coped with it very well."
Paul Roberts was substituted after 54 minutes after suffering from an upset stomache prior to the game.
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Roberts (Callaghan 54mins), Boardman, Armstrong, Brandreth, Williams, Crowder, Olsen, Black, MurtLawless (Swan 86mins), Sub not used: Walker|.

IN the first round of the Welsh Cup there was an excellent 2-1 win for Llandudno at Prestatyn Town, while Conwy Unted thumped Glyn Ceiriog from the Wrexham area league 4-0.
Llanrwst United and Glan Conwy, however, were both eliminated with defeat to Llanberis and Llanrug respectively.

Sporting achievers in the spotlight

Posted by Tim Channon on September 13, 2007 11:04 AM

THERE is news of some outstanding individual sporting achievements in this week's North Wales Weekly News.
Blind swimmer Rowena Breese from Old Colwyn won a bronze medal at the World Transplant Games in Bangkok, Colwyn Bay schoolteacher Dave Robson regained his one kilometre sprint Welsh Track Cycling title, and road runner Tammy Lewis-Jones was first Welsh female at the Cardiff 10K as she gained her first international vest for Wales.
The junior sports page also features a UK gold medal for young Deganwy shot putter Becca Chin and a title success for Llandudno golfer Amy Boulden in the Welsh Junior Open, plus news of a new championship record and results and pictures from Colwyn Bay Athletics Club's 30th anniversary September Games which attracted over 200 athletes to Eirias Park last weekend.
There's the usual comprehensive round-up of cricket, football, bowls and darts news and results and tables and news on how you can apply for the 2007 Conwy borough sports Awards.

Seagulls win again

Posted by Tim Channon on September 11, 2007 10:18 PM

COLWYN BAY extended their unbeaten record to eight games with a 2-0 victory over Kidsgrove Athletic on Tuesday night.
It keeps them within one point of Unibond Division One South leaders Retford United, who beat Goole 2-1, and they have still to concede a league goal at home this season.
They dominated the opening 20 minutes, playing some great football, and Anthony Murt, Martin Crowder and John Lawless all forced saves out of Kidsgrove keeper James Coates before Neil Black beat him with a superbly executed chip from 25 yards after 25 minutes.
Black was inches wide with another effort and Robbie Williams hit the cross bar from 25 yards before half-time.
Kidsgrove's main tactic was to play long balls up to their big target man Matt Rhead, but Colwyn Bay handled him for well for the most part with Kyle Armstrong getting the man of the match award for his display at the back. Rhead's frustration finally got him sent off with a second yellow card on 65 minutes.
Three minutes later the Seagulls killed the game off when Martin Crowder fired a ball across goal from a corner for John Boardman to stab home his first goal since last December.
Earlier Coates had made a tremendous diving save to keep out a Neil Black header and the Bay missed three good openings to increase their lead in the closing minutes as they finished the game in a canter.
Anthony Murt came off with a sore hip, but manager Gary Finley expects everybody to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Yorkshire side Parkgate.

Three teams clinch promotion

Posted by Tim Channon on September 9, 2007 3:45 PM

IT was a big weekend for local cricket with Llanrwst, Llandudno 2nds and Conwy 2nds all securing promotion from their divisions in the North Wales Cricket League.
All will now be bidding to become champions in their final games next Saturday.
Full details in Thursday's Weekly News
In football, Colwyn Bay extended their unbeaten record to eight matches and moved into second place in the Unibond Division One South with a 3-2 win at Alsager Town. John Lawless scored twice, including one from the penalty spot, and Anthony Murt hit a late winner.
Colwyn Bay are at home to Kidsgrove Athletic on Tuesday (Sept 11) and then entertain Yorkshire side Parkgate in the FA Cup on Saturday (Sept 15).

Boardman fit for Seagulls

Posted by Tim Channon on September 7, 2007 10:02 AM

JOHN BOARDMAN is fit to play in an unchanged squad when Colwyn Bay take their unbeaten record to joint leaders Alsager Town in the Unibond Divison One South tomorow (Saturday).
The defender came off after tweaking a groin in Tuesday night's 5-1 FA Cup win at Congleton Town, but came through training OK on Thursday.
Alsager are one of four teams level on nine points at the top of table, one point ahead of Colwyn Bay, and they beat FC City of Manchester 1-0 after extra time in the League Challenge Cup on Wednesday night.
Gary Finley went to watch the game and commened: "They are a workmanlike side with two big forwards up front, but I am optimistic we can get a result if we play like we did on Tuesday."
Neil Black, who scored a hat-trick in Tuesday's win to take his goals tally to five in six games, is again expected to line-up with Anthony Murt in attack.

Six pages of sport

Posted by Tim Channon on September 6, 2007 7:54 PM

THERE are again SIX pages of local sport in this week's Weekly News with reports of three world championship challengers and the usual comprehensive round-up of football, cricket and bowls results and league tables with championship, promotion and relegation issues being decided over these closing weeks of the season.
In the junior sports section we feature the Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction girls football teams who were successful at a junior tournament at Kinmel Bay last week.

Llandudno are champions

Posted by Tim Channon on September 1, 2007 8:31 PM

LLANUDNDO are North Wales Cricket League Premier Division champions for the third time in four years after a 10-wicket win over Brymbo.
After bowling the visiting side out for 120 in 52 overs, their opening batsmen Aled and Elgan Williams knocked off the required runs in just 25 overs to give them a 25-0 points haul to secure the title with two games still to play.
Skipper Aled Williams scored 63 not out, including a 50 off just 54 balls, while brother Elgan was 46 not out.
Full report, comments and picture in this week's Weekly News.

Late goal saves Seagulls

Posted by Tim Channon on September 1, 2007 7:59 PM

TIM BRANDRETH volleyed a 90th minute equaliser to keep Colwyn Bay in the FA Cup on Saturday with 2-2 draw against Congleton.
But the Seagulls know they face another tough test in Tuesday night's replay if they are to progress in the competition.
Two give-away goals in the first half handed the North West Counties side a 2-0 start and Colwyn Bay struggled to reproduce the attacking flair of the previous two home games against a determined and uncompromising defence.
"I really thought it was not going to be our day," admitted manager Gary Finley. "We conceded two calamitous goals which you just can't legislate for and after that we peppered their goal but the ball wouldn't run for us. It would have been devastating if we'd lost after having so much of the play, but we stuck at it and we've given ourselves another chance to put things right - although Tuesday will be another tough game."
Colwyn Bay were behind after only 56 seconds when Tim Brandreth slipped to allow Congleton's Jordon Johnson a clear run along the byeline before pulling the ball back for Matt Haddrell to score.
Mark Quayle put James Olsen clear but he was denied by Congleton keeper Paul Forrester in a one-on-one, and Robbie Williams headed wide from an Olsen cross before Bay keeper Jamie Speare gifted Congleton a second goal on 37 minutes.
Coming off his line to try and incept a cross, he only succeeded in palming the ball one-handed straight to Scott Williams who hit it first time into an unguarded net.
Colwyn Bay pulled a goal back four minutes later when a John Lawless corner beyond the far post was headed back into the goalmouth by Brandreth for Mark Quayle to get the final touch. Colwyn Bay dominated possession in the second half but failed to test the Congleton keeper as the outstanding Robbie Williams (twice), John Lawless (twice), Martin Crowder, Anthony Murt and Mark Quayle, from a great chance set up by Olsen's excellent pass, all missed the target, and it needed a match-saving tackle by Kyle Armstrong to prevent Andy Hurst putting the tie out of reach from a Congleton break.
The clock was ticking into the 90th minute when Colwyn Bay's eighth corner of the game produced a goalmouth scramble, with Neil Black's close range effort cleared off the line, before the ball broke out for Brandreth to send a sweetly-struck volley into the top corner.
John Lawless suffered a partially dead leg and could be a fitness doubt for Tuesday's replay (7.45pm).
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Brandreth, Boardman, Armstrong, Swan (Callaghan 71mins), Williams, Crowder (Black 60mins), Olsen, Quayle, Murt, Lawless. Subs not used: Paul Roberts and Colin Roberts.
Attendance 398.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Sporting Scene in the September 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

August 2007 is the previous archive.October 2007 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.