Colwyn Bay vs. Tranmere Rovers
By Tim Channon on Jul 17, 10 07:40 PM
The Seagulls were the better side in the first half and led 1-0 at half-time after a good passing move set up Lee Davey for a neat finish past keeper Joe Collister and inside the far post to give his side a 25th minute lead.

Danny Grannon had a header tipped over the bar by the keeper and both Davey and Dave Challinor missed good chances, while Chris Sanna did not have a single shot to save in the first half.

Collister made a fine double save to block efforts from Tom McGill and then Davey in the second half, but Tranmere, who included a couple of first team regulars, gradually upped their game as the half progressed and their extra fitness from full-time training began to tell in the closing stages.

Even so Colwyn Bay looked like holding onto their lead, with Sanna not really extended and making only a couple of fairly comfortable saves from free kicks. But right at the death Tranmere were awarded a penalty in the second minute of added time when Terry Gornell was tripped in the box.

Gornell scored from the spot, although Sanna was unlucky not to save it as the ball ricocheted into the roof of the net off his body as he dived to his right to try and block it.

Player-boss Dave Challinor admitted he was disappointed to concede such a late equaliser, but overall was happy with the workout.

"It was the first full 90 minutes for many of our players and fitness told a bit in the second half when we tired and lost our shape a little bit. But I'm pleased with the way things are progressing, especially as we've still got the likes of Titch and Ian Sheridan to come back in to bolster our options up front and Ben Jones wasn't risked today because of a slight thigh strain."

Colin Woodthorpe commented: "We got a bit lazy and conceded too many free kicks in the closing stages, and eventually you pay if you do that. But we've plenty of time to put things like that right."

The Bay will now be losing some of the players due to holidays over the next two or three weeks, and plan to use Tuesday's home game against Prestatyn Town (July 20) to have a look at a number of trialists.