COLWYN BAY VS GARFORTH
IAN SHERIDAN became the first Colwyn Bay player to notch a hat-trick this season after being selected as an out and out striker for the first time in a 4-2 victory at Garforth Town.

In a first half team performance that recalled memories of the 7-0 win at Radcliffe in August, the 20-year-old was always a willing runner and showed great finishing ability in a partnership with Adriano Rigoglioso.

With manager Neil Young ruling the pitch too heavy to risk Neil Black's hamstring from the start and with Tom McGill not travelling after being taken ill with a stomach bug overnight, Sheridan got the No 9 shirt and his hat-trick deservedly won him the man of the match award.

But there were also other significant performances, particularly by Eddie Jebb, who scored one superb goal and played a role in another two, while Carl Clampitt impressed in a new role alongside Dave Challinor at the back.

The Bay made a whirlwind start and were 3-0 up after only 15 minutes.  Jebb opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a sweetly struck free kick into the far corner of the net from 20 yards after Sheridan had been fouled.

Two minutes later Sheridan scored with a header from an Eddie Jebb corner, and on 15 minutes Jebb put in a strong run before putting Sheridan in the clear for a clinical finish.

Garforth tried to make a fight back, but Clampitt was outstanding with well-timed tackles and interceptions which restricted the home side to just one shot at goal from Chris Ovington which Sanna saved.

The Bay, meanwhile were always a threat on the break with some neatly constructed football from the back, and when Rigoglioso sent Sheridan clear he again finished coolly past the advancing keeper to put the Bay 4-0 up at half-time.

Garforth, to their credit, came out for the second half and really gave it a go, although the Bay had early chances to increase their lead with Jebb putting in one tremendous run through middle before seeing his saw tipped round the post by home keeper Tom Morgan.

Lee Davey had a shot blocked, Dave Challinor had another effort saved by the keeper and substitute Neil Black and Sheridan missed out on other chances.

Garforth increased their momentum as the half progressed and the Bay finished with a bad last 10 minutes in which they conceded two goals and had a couple more lucky escapes.

Tom Greaves hit the post with a header and had strong appeals for a penalty for handball on the line turned down before beating Sanna to a long ball to make it 4-1 on 82 minutes.

Greaves then beat two defenders in the box to score his second seven minutes later and in added time a wayward back pass by Jimmy Kelly put Ovington clear on goal only for Sanna to stand tall and block his shot in a one on one.

"We switched off and got sloppy at the end and I wasn't happy with that, but overall we would have certainly settled for a 4-2 score line at the start of the game and the first half I thought was the best we've played since Radcliffe," said manager Neil Young.

"The players have been knocked back badly by those two successive defeats, but this result should bring some confidence back and hopefully we can kick on from here.  I was very pleased with Carl and Chally at the back and I thought for an hour they did really well.”

"Losing Stuart Graves at left back with a back injury after half an hour was a blow because Louis Corrigan who replaced Graves, missed training in the week because of work commitments and so didn't take part in the defensive planning we did. Hence we lost our a shape a little bit in the second half when Garforth had a real go at us and Lee Davey and Ian Sheridan both tired on the heavy pitch because they have not played a full game for a while."

A tendency to leak late goals remains a bit of a concern, but this was a very important three points, especially with Curzon Ashton losing and Leigh Genesis drawing with Halifax, and the first half performance was very encouraging for Bay fans.
The Bay are now back level on points with Curzon Ashton at the top of the table with a game in hand.

Colwyn Bay: Sanna, Denson, Graves (Corrigan 29mins), Clampitt, Challinor, Sheehan, Jebb, Kelly, Sheridan, Rigoglioso (Black 55mins), Davey (Williams 67mins). Sub not used: Brandreth.

Report courtesy of Tim Channon

Pictures courtesy of Martin Lyons Photography