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13th September 2008
Review of the Week

Probably against all their wildest dreams perennial strugglers ASHTON UNITED sit proudly top of the Premier Division at the end of the first month's league action.

They continued their excellent start to the season on Monday beating MARINE 2-0 and for the latter it was the fifth time they had failed to find the net in their last six games - a strange statistic when one considers they had scored thirteen goals in their other three games.

Joint top with Ashton are ILKESTON TOWN with BRADFORD PARK AVENUE, GUISELEY and HEDNESFORD TOWN all two points further back.

Avenue came from two down in three minutes to win 4-3 at FRICKLEY ATHLETIC who were conceding four for the second successive midweek whilst Guiseley are now the only unbeaten top tier team after their game against WHITBY TOWN was rained off and Hednesford lost at EASTWOOD TOWN despite taking the lead.

At the opposite end there was a first win of the season for PRESCOT CABLES who edged out FC UNITED of MANCHESTER 4-3 to leave OSSETT TOWN as the only club without a home win after they lost to NORTH FERRIBY UNITED.

Two wins in the week left OSSETT ALBION top of the First Division North a point clear of CLITHEROE who, after losing their opening game, made it five wins on the bounce when they beat RADCLIFFE BOROUGH who are still searching for a first home point after three attempts as well as suffering a home defeat in the FA Cup.

Clitheroe's conquerors on the opening day were MOSSLEY and these two sides now share second as NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR lost ground when surprisingly held at WAKEFIELD.

A further point back in the final play off spot are newcomers DURHAM CITY who were keeping their fifth successive league clean sheet in a 3-0 win at GARFORTH TOWN.

Holding everybody up are SALFORD CITY who conceded four goals for the third game in succession when going down at BAMBER BRIDGE as they still search for a first league win as do HARROGATE RAILWAY were denied that elusive first victory by a stoppage time equaliser at CHORLEY.

STOCKSBRIDGE PS lost top billing in the First Division South when losing at home to GOOLE AFC for whom it was a first success of the season.

That left last season's Champions RETFORD UNITED to return to the summit whilst at the other end of the scale BRIGG TOWN are now the only team without a win after losing at GRANTHAM TOWN.

A mention though is due to last season's wooden spoonists SPALDING UNITED who are riding high in joint third after beating RUSHALL OLYMPIC who share that place with them.

The League enjoyed a great day in the FA Cup winning fifteen of their twenty ties against outside opposition with other highlights being WORKSOP taking revenge for a 6-2 opening day defeat at MARINE with a 5-1 win, SHEPSHED DYNAMO's seven goal romp and LINCOLN UNITED coming from two down with ten minutes left to win against Mildenhall

Pope Quits At Bay

Former AFC Telford United player Steve Pope has quit as manager of Colwyn Bay less than a month in to the season. Also leaving is his Assistant Manager Paul Ogden with both only having been appointed during the close season.

Taking charge of team affairs on a temporary basis is former Leek Town manager Mark Cartwright who in his playing days made approaching a century of appearances in a full time career between the sticks for Wrexham, Brighton and Shrewsbury Town.

Pope is the second managerial change of the fledgling season with Newcastle Blue Star also having changed their managerial team already.

Retford Boss Shines In Masters

Retford United manager Peter Duffield starred in the recent Grand Finals of this season's Masters Tournament playing for one of his many former clubs Middlesbrough who reached the semi-finals before bowing out to eventual winners Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Duffield could be the original player that the saying "He's had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus" came from with about sixteen to his name including five in Scotland during a long career that saw him clock up around four hundred appearances scoring well over a century of goals. He kept up his reputation as a goalscorer with one of his side's goals in the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Wolves.

Mixed Bag For UniBond Clubs in FA Youth Cup)

There was a mixed bag of fortune for the half dozen UniBond clubs in action against outside opposition in the Preliminary Round of the FA Youth Cup during the week.

Lincoln United, Cammell Laird and Hednesford Town all won but Willenhall Town, Stocksbridge PS and FC Halifax Town countered that with defeats.

Laird's probably produced the best performance beating Blue Square National side Altrincham 5-1 but the biggest score line belonged to Loughborough who hit double figures against Grantham Town whilst Sheffield FC managed six against fellow UniBond side Bradford Park Avenue.

In the other all UniBond Preliminary Round tie the game between Leigh Genesis and Nantwich Town fell victim to the unseasonal weather whilst Worksop Town beat Guiseley in a First Qualifying Round match.

Second Chance For O'Donnell

Marine have signed striker Karl O'Donnell for a second time following his departure from the club towards the end of last season.

The 24 year old was axed at the beginning of April after a tackle on a Gateshead player that was deemed by the club's management to be unacceptable but has now apologised and asked to be given a second chance after short stints with Leigh Genesis and Prescot Cables.

Manager Alvin McDonald said "At some point everyone needs a second chance and I look forward to Karl doing what he is best at and that is scoring goals.

He is better doing that with Marine than for another club" whilst Chairman Paul Leary added "It is up to Karl now. I hope, as promised, he can do the right thing for both the club and himself. On his day he has a great ability to score goals and with us not having scored in five of our eight games there is an opportunity for him".

Leek Players Give Cash back

In these days of spiralling costs it makes a refreshing change to announce that Leek Town players have given the club £500. The cash was raised by the players in a sponsored swim as part of their pre-season training.

Not to be outdone the management team through coach Damian Grocott also got in on the act. The former Rocester boss who moved to Harrison Park in the summer persuaded his employer UK Ops to sponsor the team's entire training kit.

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