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December 2007 Archives

Llandudno lose ground with home draw

Posted by Tim Channon on December 29, 2007 6:03 PM

LLANDUDNO lost ground on rivals Prestatyn at the top of the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance as Gap Queens Park came from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 at Maesdu Park (Saturday, December 29).
And with Prestatyn winning at Guilsfield, the gap over second-placed Llandudno has increased to 12 points.
Llandudno battled well against a fierce wind in the first half to lead 1-0 at half-time, with Queens Park defender Phil Jones slicing an attempted clearance into his own net after Jody Hamilton's header had been kept out by keeper Michael Price.
That lead was doubled inside the first minute of the second half when Hamilton's wind-assisted shot from just inside the Queens Park half dipped over the keeper into the net.
But a double substitution by Queens Park changed the game with Paul Brunt scoring from the edge of the area with virtually his first touch of the ball.
Llandudno substitute Bryn Jenkins missed a great chance to put Llandudno 3-1 up and finish the game when he shot wide after being played in by Ben Dews, and Queens Park always looked the better side after that.
The experienced Ricky Evans started to dominate in midfield and after he set up Kevin Breeze for the equaliser, Queens Park looked the side most likely to score a winner in the closing stages.
Llandudno joint manager Jamie Cornish admitted: "That result is a bitter pill to swallow after being 2-0 up. After our second goal we just sat back and let them take over and if we continue to throw away points like that at home we are going to hand Prestatyn the title on a plate."

COLWYN BAY had their game at Sheffield FC postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. That adds to the fixture backlog of both clubs and leaves Colwyn Bay in 13th place and desperate for a home win against Warrington Town on New Years Day.

ONLY two games survived in the Welsh Alliance (Llanrug 1 Llanberis 1, Rhydymwyn 0 Nefyn Utd 4) with the top of the table clash between Glan Conwy and Bethesda among the games washed out by waterlogged pitches and Llanrwst United suffered a fifth successive postponment.

Conwy game off

Posted by Tim Channon on December 28, 2007 12:06 PM

CONWY UNITED'S top four clash at Rhyl Reserves tomorrow (December 29) has been called off by the Belle Vue club following two bereavements within the club.
Conwy see this as a key fixture as they look to target Rhyl in a bid for a top three finish in the Welsh Alliance.
Conwy are now hoping to arrange a friendly against Mochdre Sports for tomorrow, weather permitting.
COLWYN BAY must check on the fitness of Lewis Callaghan, who missed the Boxing Day draw at Cammell Laird through injury, and defender Chris Taylor, who had to come off late on in that game, for tomorrow's Unibond Division 1 South fixture at Sheffield FC.
Steve Pope has a back injury, Kyle Armstrong is away, Lee Spike is sidelined by work commitments and manager Gary Finley feels Michael Gerrity's fitness levels are not high enough to be considered at the moment.
LLANDUDNO's home game against Gap Queens Park in the Cymru Alliance kicks off at 2pm due to ongoing work on one of the floodlights.

Soccer school places available

Posted by Tim Channon on December 28, 2007 12:00 PM

FOR a limited period places for the first Colwyn Bay Football Club's Soccer Schools on January 2, 3 and 4 of January are up for grabs. The School which is being directed by CBFC Manager Gary Finley (UEFA “A” License Coach) is being held at Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre is open to boys & girls ages 6-12 years.
The course runs from 10am-4pm each day at a cost of just £10 per day and can be booked by calling in at the Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre, Eirias Park or for further info please call 01492 533223

Conwy aim for promotion

Posted by Tim Channon on December 27, 2007 3:10 PM

CONWY UNITED have made ambitious application to be considered for promotion to the Cymru Alliance after getting backing from their players.
Senior player Paul Cassidy has also reportedly rejected a move to Welsh Alliance leaders Bethesda Athletic to stay at Conwy and help their young team progress.
Full report is in this week's Weeekly News plus a round-up of all the local footall news, rugby, darts and snooker.

Colwyn Bay let lead slip again

Posted by Tim Channon on December 26, 2007 6:07 PM

FOR the second time in five days Colwyn Bay failed to defend what should have been a winning lead as they conceded two late goals at Cammell Laird on Boxing Day after being 2-0 up with 12 minutes to go.
At least they hung on for a point in a 2-2 draw on a ground where they have always previously been beaten, but after losing a 3-0 lead against Carlton last Saturday, one point from two games in which the Seagulls have been in a great positon to take all six, will not please the fans or manager Gary Finley.
The squad was again badly hit by injury and unavailability, but they should have had enough about them to have seen out those last 12 minutes.
After a goalless first half, John Lawless picked up a pass from Steve Wynne and beat two defenders to score with a low shot inside the near post 10 minutes into the second half, and then a mix-up on the edge of the Laird area 10 minutes later saw home defender John Collins knock an attempted back pass past his own keeper for Neil Black to run on and tap into an unguarded net.
The Bay held that 2-0 lead until the 78th minute before former Colwyn Bay midfielder Chris Adamson pulled a goal back for Cammell Laird, and Colwyn Bay were hanging on desperately after that with nothing in midfield to give the defence some protection.
Jamie Speare, who made four good saves in the first half, kept his side in front with two more fine saves from Adamson and Alex Hey, but with four minutes left substitute Joe Gibiliru was brought down inside the area and Alex Hey fired home the penalty to put the sides level.
Only some frantic defending and another brave save by Speare at the feet of Hey prevented the home side snatching a winner.
In the first half Anthony Murt had a good shout for a penalty waved away as he went down after a strong run into the box, but Bay's best chance was volleyed wide by Tim Brandreth following a corner, while the Bay were lucky to escape when Thomas Rooney shot against a post after a defensive mix-up had left him all on his own 12 yards from goal.
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Wynne, Boardman, Brandreth, Taylor (Crowder 84mins), Wade, Williams, Olsen, Black, Murt, Lawless. Subs not used: Roberts, Finley.

Colwyn Bay lose after going 3-0 up

Posted by Tim Channon on December 22, 2007 8:18 PM

COLWYN BAY were left shell-shocked as they saw a 3-0 lead disintegrate into a 4-3 defeat at home to Carlton Town.
A nightmare second half defensive performance threw away three points that had looked to be in the bag and dropped the side into the bottom six of the Unibond Divison One South.
Manager Gary Finley but the blame squarely on his defence.
"We just seemed to get caught all the time by the long straight ball. They were four bad goals and it was just bad defending all round," he said.
Colwyn Bay were 2-0 up at half-time with John Lawless nutmegging his fullback and crossing perfectly for Anthony Murt to score with a header after just eight minutes, and James Olsen put another great ball in to the box for Lewis Callaghan to head a second five minutes before the break.
When Neil Black ran onto a chipped pass to score Colwyn Bay's third two minutes into the second half it looked all over - and unfortuantely the players thought so as well.
They just switched off completely and Carlton suddenly found new belief as Marquin Smith scored with a close range header and Darryl Thomas ran clear of stationary defence to score a second 10 minutes later.
Colwyn Bay were unlucky when Martin Crowder was breaking clear on goal only for the referee to bring play for a free kick to Colwyn Bay in their own half for an inoccuous challenge on Olsen as he played the ball through, but Carlton were growing in strength all the time.
They twice went close to equalising before being awarded a disputed penalty for a tackle on Martin Ball by Paul Williams after the Colwyn Bay substitute fluffed a chance to clear, and in the second minute of added time the turn-around was complete as Aiden Brady broke down the left and outpaced a labouring Bay defence to fire home the winner.
I can't remember a Bay defence looking so vulnerable since the 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Barrow, and every time Carlton pumped the ball forward in that second half there seemed to be acres of space for their front men to run into and bare down on Jamie Speare's goal.
That must be a worry for the manager with two tough away games coming up at Cammell Laird on Boxing Day and Sheffield next Saturday, and with Kyle Amstrong away on holiday until the New Year and Steve Pope out of action after injuring his back in work.
Lee Spike, however, should be available again after shift work commitments last Saturday.
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Wynne, Boardman, Brandreth, Taylor, Callaghan (Walker 90mins), Crowder (Williams 65mins), Olsen, Black, Murt, Lawless (Wade 75mins).

MUCH better news for LLANDUDNO who came from 0-2 down to win 3-2 at Denbigh Town to go four points clear in second place in the Cymru Alliance and close the gap on leaders Prestatyn to 10 points with a game in hand.
Darren Cassidy and Ian Evans put Denbigh two goals up, but Joe Morgan and Jody Hamilton scored to put Llandudno level at half-time and Darren Jones got their winner midway through the second half.
In the Welsh Alliance Glan Conwy beat Amwlch Town 5-0 and Conwy United drew 2-2 with Llanrug, while Llanrwst United and Llandudno Junction had their games postponed.

Colwyn Bay give Clough a scare

Posted by Tim Channon on December 15, 2007 8:25 PM

NIGEL CLOUGH admitted he was relieved to go home from Llanelian Road with a 2-1 victory after his Burton Albion side scored a controversial late winner in the FA Trophy.
"For 20 minutes to half an hour in the second half we were under pressure," he admitted afterwards. "Colwyn Bay's goal just on half-time came at great time for them and they made it tough for us after that. We are very pleased to have got through it."
On a pitch that was still frostbound in parts, he added: "Condtions were difficult and it was a credit to both sides that there were no injuries. If anybody had gone gone around making bad challenges on that surface we could have had a real problem but they were two very honest sides and it was a good game under the conditions."
After coming from behind to equalise through new signing Lee Spike just before half-time, Colwyn Bay had a great chance to go in front, but Spike shot over the bar from 12 yards after being played in by Anthony Murt.
Burton keeper Saul Deeney saved bravely at Lewis Callaghan's feet and John Boardman put a free kick chance over the bar, with Burton on the ropes at that stage.
But the Blue Square Premier side broke away to score against the run of play with Shaun's Harrad's ball across the face of the goal presenting a tap in for Jake Edwards who looked to be an offisde position.
All the Bay defenders appealed as one, but linesman kept his flag down.
"I thought it was offiside. He was in front of the ball when it was struck; it wasn't as though he'd run onto it, but that's the way it goes sometimes," said Bay manager Gary Finley.
"We got caught a bit empty in midfield when they broke for the goal which we shouldn't have done, but overall I couldn't have asked for any more from the players. They gave it a real go in the second half and can take a lot of credit for how they played against a side that, don't forget, are fourth in Conference."
Edwards had put Burton ahead after 19 minutes after a header from John Brayford rebounded straight to him off a post, and John McGrath twice volleyed chances over the bar, while Andy Corbett shot wide after Jamie Spear had beaten out a shot from Shaun Harrad.
But Colwyn Bay equalised just before half-time when Lee Spike and Anthony Murt exchanged headed passes for Spike to break clear and fire left footed into the bottom corner of the net.
For a good spell in the second half Colwyn Bay looked as though they could pull off an upset, but were undone by that killer second goal 17 minutes from time.
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Wynne, Boardman, Brandreth, Armstrong, Callaghan, Wade, Garrity (Paul Williams 77mins), Murt (Black 82mins), Spike, Crowder. Subs not used: Taylor, Walker and Roberts.

LLANDUDNO had a crucial 1-0 win over Bala Town in the Cymru Alliance with Bryn Jenkins getting the only goal of the game after 77 minutes, but they remain 13 points behind leaders Prestatyn, whon won 5-1 at Gresford, with two games in hand.

In the Welsh Alliance CONWY UNIITED won 2-1 at GLAN CONWY to move into fourth place in the table on their own, but Llandudno Junction lost 3-2 at home to Llanberis and Llanrwst United had their game against Nefyn postponed.

Conwy United in top five

Posted by Tim Channon on December 14, 2007 11:19 AM

CONWY UNITED beat Rhyl Reserves 4-3 at The Morfa on Thursday night to move in to the top five of the Pentraeth Honda Welsh Alliance.
Paul Cassidy scored twice with Oliver Walters and Callum Vernon getting their other goals.
Conwy are away to Glan Conwy this Saturday.

Third signing in a week for Seagulls

Posted by Tim Channon on December 14, 2007 8:58 AM

COLWYN BAY have completed their third new signing inside a week in time for Saturday's FA Trophy tie against Burton Albion.
He is midfielder Mike Garrity from Conference North side Vauxhall Motors.
HIs previous clubs include Altrincham and Witton Albion and he joins striker Lee Spike and defender Chris Taylor who signed earlier in the week.
All three will be in the squad for the Burton game, with at least five players ruled out by suspension, injuries or cup-tied, and the club also see the new additions as important to their promotion ambitions this season.
That remains the priority. The cup run is nice and is a boost financially, but manager director Darren Cartwright admits: "It is important for the club commercially and financially that we get out of the Unibond Division One South as soon as possible and into the Premier Division - and everything is geared at trying to achieve that."
The club's plans for the future now include a new youth academy and they have announced a fundraising scheme in partnership with The Utility Warehouse to help fund it.
Representatives of The Utility Warehouse' will be at the Burton Albion game and for supporters who sign up to the scheme there will be a donation of up to 5% of their utility bills made into the CBFC Youth Academy fund.
Darren Cartwright states: “Every football academy system requires funding and this is an ideal way for our supporters to contribute. Our supporters can also take advantage of the savings and special deals on offer. This is a very easy way to provide ongoing support.
The academy itself will benefit local talent in various age groups by improving their skills with quality coaching and by being tested against other academy sides. The ultimate goal is to produce players capable of playing in the Colwyn Bay FC first team and with the ability to move onto professional clubs.

Cup win for Nant Conwy

Posted by Tim Channon on December 12, 2007 5:12 PM

A TRY by scrum-half Osian Roberts gave Nant Conwy a narrow 5-3 victory in the ScottishPower North Wales Cup on Tuesday.
His try came early in the game after Nant Conwy won possession from a Llangefni lineout, and although Llangefni pressed hard in the second half, they couldn't snatch victory after Arwel Roberts had reduced the defcit to two points with a first half penalty.
That capped an excellent four days for Nant Conwy who beat cup holders and defending league champions Mold in the league last Saturday.
Full report in this week's Weekly News.

Seagulls win with late goals

Posted by Tim Channon on December 8, 2007 7:08 PM

COLWYN BAY battled their way to three crucial points as two goals in the last 12 minutes gave them a 3-1 win over Brigg Town today (December 8).
It lifts them two places up the table and within seven ponts of the play-off places with games in hand over all the top five.
The match went ahead after three pitch inspections and although the pitch stood up well after all the rain, it was never going to be a day for flowing football.
"It was just a lottery wasn't it." said manager Gary Finley aftewards.
"I said to the lads before the game it was a day for rolling sleeves up and doing the battling and the team that make the fewer mistakes will win it, and that's how it turned out."
In fact it was anybody's game until the closing stages with bottom of the table Brigg showing they were prepared to battle every inch of the way as well, and they took the lead after 10 minutes when Rick Day's shot from 20 yards squirmed out of Jamie Speare's grasp and over the line.
The greasy ball was always going to be a problem for the keepers and when Damien Steer was unable to hold onto Mark Quayle's shot three minutes later, Martin Crowder slid in for the equaliser.
Steer turned a fierce Lawless shot for a corner and Quayle blasted a great chance over the bar and headed another effort wide from Olsen's cross before half-time.
The second half saw chances at both ends with Crowder clearing off the line to keep Bay on terms, while Steer did well to tip a Quayle header over the bar and then dived at the striker's feet to make another good save.
The breakthrough came after 78 minutes when Anthony Murt received the ball 30 yards out with his back to goal, but turned his marker superbly and powered forward before firing a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner of the net to put the Seagulls in front.
Eight minutes later Lawless was bursting clear into the box when he was tripped from behind and he converted the resulting penalty himself to wrap up the points.
Lawless, in fact, had a good game in the conditions. He was always a threat down the right, got in a couple of great shots and was named man of the match, while new signing Steve Pope came on for his debut after 26 minutes when Tim Brandreth was injured, and did well in the centre of defence.
Brandreth and Jamie Olsen had to come off after both getting kicks on the ankle, but are expected to be OK after treatment.
The manager has also signed up former Lancaster City and Aberystwyth striker Lee Spike and former Conwy and TNS defender Chris Taylor with next week's FA Trophy tie against Burton Albion in mind.

LLANDUDNO had their game at Mynydd Isa in the Cymru Alliance postponed, while rivals Prestatyn beat Glantraeth 4-1 to open a 13 points lead at the top.

Bad day for Seagulls

Posted by Tim Channon on December 1, 2007 8:05 PM

A BAD day for Colwyn Bay, who not ony lost 3-0 at Nantwich Town but had Mark Quayle sent off eight minutes fom the end.
With Neil Black already sidelined for a month with a broken hand, suspension for Quayle leaves the Seagulls with only one recognised striker for next Saturday.
The Bay also had four players booked, including James Olsen, which leaves him also facing suspension for an accumulation of bookings.
Colwyn Bay, after their midweek exertions at Sheffield, never got to grips with a pitch that could only just have passed the referee's inspection following heavy overnight rain, and was still waterlogged in places at one end.
I thought they looked lightweight at times in these conditions against a physically stronger side, and John Lawless allowed his frustration to get the better of him at times and was lucky to stay on the pitch after being booked in the first half.
Nantwich, however, got all the breaks that were going - particularly with the first goal after 13 minutes.
A long ball forward, which in normal conditions would have run harmlessly through to Jamie Speare, plugged in one of the waterlogged patches just outside the area and Ashley Carter was able to run on to it and steer a shot past the stranded the keeper.
Colwyn Bay had chances to get back in it, but Quayle volleyed over the bar from Murt's nod down, Adam Wade miscued a shot wide from a good position and and Murt put a chance over the bar when Nantwich keeper Lee Jones spilled a shot from Lawless.
Nantwich then got a second goal on 42 minutes when a ball driven across the face of the goal again stuck in the mud for Carter to stab in his second from two yards out.
Colwyn Bay had a lot off the ball in the second half but their crossing was poor and they could not force one save from he keeper.
Their only efforts at goal was a long range shot from Olsen which went wide and a Martin Crowder free kick which he ballooned high over the bar.
Nantwich were always a threat on the break and they sewed up the points on 74 minutes when Carter broke clear on the right and set up a tap in goal for Slovakian Pavol Suhaj.
Bay's bad day was capped when Quayle got a straight red card for going into a challenge showing his studs.
Colwyn Bay: Speare, Wynne (Crowder 64 mins), Boardman, Brandreth, Armstrong (Walker 83), Callaghan (Colin Roberts 87), Wade, Quayle, Murt, Lawless.

Colwyn Bay, however, had made a new signing in 31-year-old ex-Telford United skiper and defender Steve Pope who will join the squad for training next week.

A MUCH better day for Llandudno who scored six second half goals to beat Lex 6-0 and move into second place in the Cymru Alliance as Bala lost at Flint.
Deiniol Graham made a rare appearance to score the final goal after Ben Dews, Bryn Jenkins (2), Grant Montgomery and Darren Jones had got the others.

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

November 2007 is the previous archive.January 2008 is the next archive.

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