Colwyn Bay v Vauxhall Motors Preview

 

 

                      New Year’s Day

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Hearing manager Jon Newby discuss the possibility of bringing himself back into the team in order to address a mini goal drought amongst discussion of the need for a big performance is a measure of just how far Colwyn Bay have come as a club over the last two years.  Having beaten FC United of Manchester last May to secure back to back promotions under Dave Challinor, who left the club at the start of November to take over the reigns at Fylde, Colwyn Bay are now enjoying live at the elevated level of the Conference North.  Given this dramatic rise and the recent change of management, it is perhaps unsurprising that Bay are currently experiencing a few challenges as they adjust.

After a very promising start in which Bay picked up 16 points from their first 9 games in a run that appeared to be placing them on the cusp of yet another promotion battle, form has dipped.  Defeat to a 91st minute Holsgrove goal at Vauxhall Motors on Boxing Day followed a home defeat against Worcester and an away day thrashing at Harrogate, leaving Colwyn Bay with some concerns as they approach the New Year.

Although a third consecutive defeat without scoring since the 6-3 drubbing of Droylesden undoubtedly needs to be addressed, Bay should be well satisfied with their performance over the first half of the season.  Having been promoted in two successive seasons, their current position of 12th should be considered a success, as demonstrated by the steady increase in attendances over the course of the season.

As Colwyn Bay prepare for the return fixture against Vauxhall Motors on New Year’s Day, Newby knows the importance of clinching the three points that could see his team move back into the top half of the table.  Perhaps lively young left winger Danny Lloyd and Newby himself, joint top scorers with five goals each, are Bay’s best hope of getting back on track.  Lloyd was the one player who looked threatening at Rivacre Park and it is important that he is given the opportunity to run at defenders on Sunday.

One other record that Colwyn Bay will want to erase on Sunday is the run of nine consecutive games without a clean sheet.  They came within a couple of minutes of achieving that on Boxing Day but with the side having conceded twelve goals in the four games prior to the game at Vauxhall Motors, confidence is fragile.  However, given that Colwyn Bay were the first team to fail to score against Vauxhall Motors this season, the return fixture can be expected to yield a few more goals.  Newby will be hoping that it is his team that come out on top to help retain their comfortable mid table position.