Colwyn Bay 0, Bradford Park Avenue 0

BRADFORD Park Avenue came within the width of a post of winning their first away game of the season but Colwyn Bay survived and the scorers remained untroubled.

The point from a goalless draw served Frank Sinclair's side better than it did the visitors, lifting them one place in the Vanarama Conference North table to 11th while Avenue remain a lowly 18th – just two places and four points above the drop zone.

Former Chelsea defender Sinclair's opposite number John Deacey admitted to having his first selection headache of the season ahead of the game. With the injury situation finally improving, Deacey had more places than players for once.

The Avenue boss made choices to good effect as his revamped side looked solid and created chances on the break.

Deacey made four changes, with skipper Nathan Hotte, Nathan Turner and player-coach Jamie Price all coming back in following injury lay-offs and new signing Dan Clayton making his debut on the left flank.

That meant Chris Howarth, Richard Marshall, Billy Priestley and Joe Colbeck dropping to the bench.

The changes worked as Avenue took whatever the Welsh side threw at them in the first half on the chin and then stepped up the pace in the second, coming agonisingly close to finding the winning goal.

It was the fifth time the Seagulls had failed to score at home in eight league starts and both teams struggled on a heavy pitch.

Avenue keeper John Danby was the busier of the two custodians, especially in the first half, and he made diving saves to deny Anthony Stephens from a free-kick and then Tom Buckley with a superb volley.

The home side appealed for a penalty in the first half but Buckley was shown a yellow card for simulation.

Avenue created three presentable chances later in the second half and then, from a set-piece in stoppage time, Ryan Qualter sent in a header that came back off the post with Colwyn keeper Josh Olerenshaw well beaten.

Avenue assistant manager Martin Drury said: "We were a little bit disappointed as the game opened up. I think we could have gone on to win it – but they had chances as well.

"We've been a bit Jekyll and Hyde recently. We either all want to defend or we all want to attack and it's about finding that balance. We will work on it this week and hopefully we can build on this clean sheet next week."

Sinclair added: "A draw was probably a fair result but it's disappointing because you want to win your home games and we are finding that very difficult to do.

"You have to give Bradford Park Avenue some credit for the way they played. They could have won it near the end, so although I'm disappointed we haven't won I'm also pleased that we haven't got beaten."