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20th September 2008
Review Of The Week

ILKESTON TOWN moved clear at the top of the Premier Division when they inflicted a first home defeat of the season on BRADFORD APRK AVENUE whilst previous leaders ASHTON UNITED were held to a draw at bottom club PRESCOT CABLES.

GUISELEY remain unbeaten after beating EASTWOOD TOWN who are without an away win and the Yorkshire side climbed in to second above Ashton on goal difference. MARINE move back in to the play-off spots after winning at WITTON ALBION and they are now level on points with HEDNESFORD TOWN who slipped up at next to bottom CAMMELL LAIRD to drop two points.

The day's biggest crowd of the day of more than two thousand were not treated to any goals at FC UNITED of MANCHESTER where WORKSOP TOWN were the visitors whilst BOSTON UNITED maintained their unbeaten away record with a win at MATLOCK TOWN.

Elsewhere there was a first home win for OSSETT TOWN thanks to two goals from Aiden Savory against NANTWICH TOWN and the first away points of the campaign for WHITBY TOWN who won 4-2 at LEIGH GENESIS.

There were goals galore in the First Division North on Saturday and BAMBER BRIDGE hit five of them at HARROGATE RAILWAY to go top after winning at ROSSENDALE UNITED in midweek.

Last week's leaders OSSETT ALBION remain second on goal difference despite two defeats in the week whilst third place MOSSLEY lost at home 4-3 to a GARFORTH TOWN side who hadn't won on their travels.

NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR who had scored eleven goals in their previous two home games couldn't find one against CHORLEY and dropped two points but keep the final play-off spot.

TRAFFORD had a great week winning at OSSETT ALBION in midweek and following up with six goals against COLWYN BAY whilst FC HALIFAX TOWN got their season kick started with two home wins including a 7-1 defeat of bottom club SALFORD CITY.

Surprise package of the season SHEPSHED DYNAMO retained top spot in the First Division South with a 3-0 victory over previously undefeated BELPER TOWN to leave themselves and LEEK TOWN as the only undefeated sides although the latter have drawn four of their six games to languish in mid-table despite their unbeaten tag.

After moving to top spot in midweek following a 7-1 win against GRANTHAM TOWN Saturday saw STOCKSBRIDGE PS drop to fourth when they lost to RETFORD UNITED who are now second to Shepshed on goal difference with CARLTON TOWN third after two wins in five days.

Grantham's terrible week continued with a 4-0 defeat at LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO for whom Kris Nurse bagged five goals in two games having scored both in a 2-2 draw at RUSHALL OLYMPIC in midweek.

UniBond Clubs Make Fa Cup Gains

UniBond clubs have shown an improved success rate in this season's FA Cup compared to last year when the League had 23 clubs (40% of its 57 club membership) through to the 2nd Qualifying Round.

This time round the League has 29 clubs definitely in the draw (details of which can be found on the Fixtures Page) with the possibility of North Ferriby United joining them should they win their replay against Consett after a 4-4 draw in midweek. That represents a success rate of 46% (possibly 47.5%) from the current 63 membership.

With the increase in prize money given by the Football Association this season UniBond clubs have already won £129,000 at this stage compared to £73,750 last season and to within easy reach of last year's total figure of £164,750 which was boosted by Harrogate Railway's run to the 2nd Round Proper.

With nine all UniBond ties (ten should North Ferriby be successful) and £4,500 on offer to the 2nd Qualifying Round winners last season's figure will be surpassed with two Rounds to go before the competition Proper commences.

Unusually of those nine (ten) all UniBond ties there are no all Premier Division meetings and in the seven ties where the top tier face First Division opposition the higher echelons have been drawn at home in six of them with just Eastwood Town having to travel for their match with Lincoln United.

Elsewhere Boston United, Frickley Athletic, Guiseley, Kendal Town, Nantwich Town and Prescot Cables are all at home to First Division opposition as will be North Ferriby if they overcome Consett. There are two all First Division games at Durham City and Stocksbridge PS where Rossendale United and Curzon Ashton will be the respective visitors.

No fewer than eight clubs face Blue Square opposition with an intriguing tie for Bradford Park Avenue at Droylsden given the interchange of players between the two clubs in recent times.

In five of the other ties against the higher opposition UniBond clubs have been drawn at home.

With Retford United at home to Romulus of the Southern League UniBond clubs are involved in only two ties against lower standing opposition but both could prove tricky hurdles for Ilkeston Town who have to travel to United Counties red hot pace setters Stewarts & Lloyd whilst the world's oldest club Sheffield FC entertain North West Counties side Bacup Borough who unceremoniously dumped Premier Division Cammell Laird out of the competition 3-0 in the last Round.

The UniBond League will be hoping to improve on last season's dozen clubs being in the draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round.

Warrington Unveil New Club Mascot

Warrington Town unveiled their new club mascot The Legend at today's game against Lancaster City.

The Legend was designed by fifteen year old schoolgirl Micheala Whitaker who won a competition for the design run by a local print company. The Legend is named after World Cup winner Roger Hunt who is still the club's best known player almost fifty years after being discovered by Liverpool whilst playing for Warrington.

Halifax Sign Youth International

FC Halifax Town boss Jim Vince has signed England Youth international Scott Phelan as he tries to get the pre-season favourites higher up the First Division North table. Twenty year old Phelan captained Everton's youth team and whilst with them made numerous appearances for his country. He made some fifteen first team appearances last season for Bradford City.

UniBond League "Boots For Africa" Campaign

The UniBond League and its sponsors Henkel, parent company of the UniBond brands are supporting the "Boots for Africa" campaign.

The plan, first mooted at the League Sponsor's Presentation Day held at the Reebok Stadium on 25th July, has swung in to action with the target set at 2008 pairs of boots.

The idea was originally the brainchild of the world's oldest club Sheffield FC and they will still be very actively involved particularly as the central storage area from where all the boots collected will be shipped to Africa.

UniBond clubs are being encouraged to participate in the scheme with the lure of £2,500 of incentives from the League Sponsors who are offering three cash prizes of £250 each to the club making the highest contribution to the scheme in each of the three periods ending 31st October, 31st January and 30th April. In addition the sponsors are providing £1,750's worth of UniBond DIY and Repair products to the clubs that provide that most boots over the whole period.

Members of the public who have any unwanted boots should contact their nearest UniBond club to make arrangements for dropping off either on a match day or when the ground is open for visitors.

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