NPL FIRST DIVISION PLAYOFF WINNERS 2009/10

NPL PREMIER DIVISION PLAYOFF WINNERS 2010/11

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Colwyn Bay

vs.

Gloucester

4-2

28th April 2012

Kick Off 3:00pm

Colwyn Bay

vs.

TBC

Date:TBC

Kick Off: TBC

STALYBRIDGE (0) VS. COLWYN BAY (4) By Tim Channon

ROB HOPLEY headed home with the match ball in his bag after notching his first hat-trick in nearly a year in Colwyn Bay's extraordinary 4-0 away victory at Stalybridge Celtic.  His three goals came in the space of just nine minutes either side of half-time, after Stalybridge had full-back Andy McWilliams sent off, and was his first treble since he got three at Bradford Park Avenue on February 2nd last year.  It took his recent goals tally to six in his last five games and he said himself afterwards this was probably his best performance since he came back from his bad knee injury. "I hope there is plenty more goals to come," he smiled.

I understand that Stu Barlow and Jon Newby have been working hard with Rob and the team's attacking play in training and that really seems to be paying off now. Newby agreed: "Everything he touches seems to be going in at the moment and that is great for him. He deserves it for the hard work he has put in and he was outstanding today. He won everything in the air and his finishes were top drawer."

But the player-boss was quick to point out that it was very much a team effort.  "The workrate all the lads put in, even when we were 4-0 up, was exceptional and that is what we want to build on," he said. "We are so pleased with the work the lads are putting in, in training as well as in matches and we are reaping the benefit of that.

"We've got a lot of people in the team that probably don't get the credit they deserve - people who do what I call ' the dirty jobs' like Fraser (McLachlan), Evo (Gaz Evans) and John Mac (McKenna), as well as the two full-backs, and they help give us a really good squad."

McKenna gave another stand out performance in midfield, while Frank Sinclair again marshalled the back four superbly to keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet. "There is a real desire not only to win but to keep the clean sheets and that breeds confidence," said Newby.

"It helps massively to have Frank (Sinclair) in there organising and talking to the younger players, but you need everybody else to show the desire and commitment to make it all work."

The straight red card of Celtic left-back Andy McWilliams on 36 minutes for diving in to a tackle on McKenna with his studs showing, was clearly a big turning point in the game. Celtic had started the brighter and had twice gone close through Greg Wilkinson, but within nine minutes of the sending off the Bay were 2-0 up with both goals coming from attacks down that side where McWilliams had been playing.  Hopley got his first on 41 minutes with a near post header from Newby's excellent cross and then Shelton Payne switched wings to drive into the area and from his low cross, Newby's deft lay-off allowed Hopley to fire a right footed shot into the bottom corner of the net on the stroke of half-time.

In between Sinclair and Mike Lea had thrown themselves in the way of a Chris Lynch shot to deny Stalybridge an equaliser and that typified the commitment that the side showed throughout. Hopley completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second half when he outjumped his marker at the far post to send a looping header from Shelton Payne's perfect cross from the left over keeper Craig MacGillivray into the net. Skipper Luke Denson then capped it off with a fantastic free kick curled over the wall and into the top corner of the net from 25 yards on 69 minutes after a storming run by Gaz Evans had been ended by a crude trip from behind which earned Wilkinson a booking.  "I have a feeling he (Denson) will be reminding us of that goal for a quite few weeks to come," laughed the boss.

Shelton Payne tried to top it with a spectacular first time volley from substitute Liam Benson's deep cross which would have been the goal of the season - only it flew over the bar. Newby wasn't entirely convinced the sending off had too much of effect on the game. "Possibly, but I thought we were playing well before that anyway," he said. "We knew they weren't in a great run of form and have conceded a lot of goals of late, and I think with the way we have been going, confidence wise we are flying."  The win lifts Colwyn Bay up to eighth place, and with four away wins and a home draw during January, Jon Newby must be favourite to be named Manager of the Month in the next week.

Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Lea, Hughes, Sinclair, McKenna, Evans (Benson 75mins), McLachlan, Hopley (Davey 82mins), Newby, Payne (Noon 78mins). Subs not used: McEvilly and Meadowcroft.

ate: 529.