CAMMELL LAIRDS VS COLWYN BAY
COLWYN BAY suffered a second cup defeat in 11 days as they went out of the Unibond Presidents Cup by losing 2-1 at Cammell Laird (September 8) after being caught cold by a goal just 31 seconds into the second half. On a ground where they have now failed to win in their last five vists (four defeats and a draw) the Seagulls had early chances to take the lead as they had the better of the first half.

Rob Hopley had a header tipped over the bar by home keeper Richie Whiteside from a Stuart Graves free kick and then scooped a great chance over the bar from six yards after the keeper could only parry a shot from Tim Brandreth. Matty Hurdman then had a good shot palmed out by the keeper and Eddie Jebb was flagged offside as he shot wide from the rebound.

Cammell Laird conceded a succession of free kicks with Jebb, who played up front with Holsgrove early on against his old club, the vicitim of several crude late tackles. But the Seagulls couldn't make anything of them, with Holsgrove and Brandreth both missing the target from further chances.
In the end it needed a flying save by Chris Sanna to turn a Ged King shot away for a corner to prevent the Bay going behind at half-time.

King, however, made no mistake with that early goal in the opening minute of the second half, firing an angled shot into the far corner of the net after a Rob Courtenay shot had been blocked by Brandreth.
The Bay, skippered by the returning Steve Aspinall in the absence of Dave Challinor (work commitments), seemed to lose their way after that as Cammell Laird, encouraged by the goal, lifted their game and Sanna made another superb save to turn a shot from Courtney over the bar, before Antony Lynch added a second goal from a quickly-taken free kick.

The Bay were upset that the referee allowed the goal to stand even though the kick was taken before he had blown the whistle and while Sanna was still organising the defensive wall.

Substitute Tom McGill pulled one back for the Bay two minutes later with a shot from the edge of the area (his eighth goal for the Bay in all games this season) to spark a late rally which saw Whiteside save twice from McGill and once from Lee Davey, but the Bay couldn't force an equaliser.

Once again Hopley was pushed back up front in the second half, but again the Bay struggled to get their passing game going and resorted to long balls which created little in the way of chances.
That is a worry with a huge league game away to top six rivals Skelmersdale United to come on Saturday,

Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Aspinall, Hurdman (Davey 65 mins), Brandreth, Sheridan, Jarrett, Jebb (Hay 75mins), Sheehan, Hopley, Holsgrove (McGill 53mins). Subs not used: Denson, Jackson

Report courtesy of Tim Channon

Pictures courtesy of Martin Lyons Photography