Tuesday, 6th January 2009

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4th October 2008
Review Of The Week

There might have been no midweek league action but Saturday certainly made up for it with both the Premier Division's top two losing at home.

In the game of the day ILKESTON TOWN lost their unbeaten home record when they went down to GUISELEY who are still unbeaten this season with the Yorkshire side moving into third spot four points behind their victims who still head the table but with two games in hand.

The shock of the day came at second place HEDNESFORD TOWN who held a 100% record in their five home games but had their colours surprisingly lowered by NORTH FERRIBY UNITED.

Level with GUISELEY but having played three more games are ASHTON UNITED who got their show back on the road after two games without a win when they came from behind to beat OSSETT TOWN whilst KENDAL TOWN joined them on twenty points when winning at WORKSOP TOWN who are now four games without a league goal and drop in to the bottom four.

A crowd of over 1,000 saw BRADFORD PARK AVENUE send the home fans at BOSTON UNITED home unhappy and there was well over 2,000 at FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER to see the highest scoring game of the day as United beat WITTON ALBION 5-3.

Three second half goals after they had been behind at the interval kept EASTWOOD TOWN's unbeaten home record intact at the expense of NANTWICH TOWN.

At the bottom PRESCOT CABLES remain without an away point after losing at WHITBY TOWN and in a real relegation dog fight FRICKLEY ATHLETIC seemed to have nicked the points when they took the lead in the 89th minute only for CAMMELL LAIRD to level in stoppage time.

Elsewhere BUXTON and LEIGH GENESIS couldn't find a goal between them and MARINE edged past MATLOCK TOWN after going behind early on.

There was just one First Division game which was in the North section where RADCLIFFE BOROUGH remain without a point at home this season as visitors NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR kept up their average of scoring at three goals a game moving up to third from eighth as a result of their 3-0 victory.

TRAFFORD were the hot shots of the day in the FA Trophy going seven up in 51 minutes before running out 8-1 winners at home to ROSSENDALE UNITED with Scott Barlow helping himself to half of them.

A special mention for HARROGATE RAILWAY ATHLETIC for whom thirteen was not an unlucky number as they recorded their first win of the campaign against FC HALIFAX TOWN at their thirteenth time of asking.

There was also a win for SALFORD CITY who, like Harrogate are without a league victory and changed their manager in midweek. They beat GRESLEY ROVERS as the North v South clashes finished all square at five all.

Probably the shock of the day saw KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC beat high flyers RETFORD UNITED.

FA Cup Draw Throws Up Some Crackers

The draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup threw up some cracking pairings for the fifteen surviving UniBond clubs including three all UniBond pairings. Leading the way is an all First Division North Tameside "derby" with CURZON ASHTON drawn at home to neighbours MOSSLEY whilst BELPER TOWN entertain Premier Division PRESCOT CABLES with the third all UniBond game at GUISELEY where SHEFFIELD FC will be the visitors.

Elsewhere the draw was a mixed bag with four of the surviving UniBond clubs drawn at home and five away. Seven of the nine face Conference opposition with the Derbyshire "derby" between Alfreton Town and ILKESTON TOWN looking a tasty affair in particular. The full draw as it effects UniBond clubs is on the Fixtures page.

The League's fifteen representatives in the 3rd Qualifying Round is a 25% increase on the twelve who survived to this stage last season. To date UniBond clubs have won £199,500 in prize money from the competition compared £118,750 at the same stage last year thanks to a better performance by clubs this time round plus the FA's initiative that has seen this year's prize money increased.

Salford Part Company With Fellows

Salford City became the fourth club of the UniBond campaign to have a change of management team when they parted company this week with manager Gary Fellows and his Assistant Dave Rowan. Whilst the pairing had brought a great deal of success over the past three seasons their baptism in the club's first ever season at this level of the game had been difficult. Although cup games had brought some respite with wins Salford's league return following their promotion from the North West Counties was just one point from seven games with only four goals scored and twenty-two conceded.

Taking over in a temporary capacity is Wayne Goodison who has plenty of UniBond experience having played in the League for Hyde United, Accrington Stanley and Buxton and he also has some management experience at the same level. During his full time career in the game he made more than two hundred appearances for Barnsley, Crewe Alexandra and Rochdale.

And Morgan Makes Five

The other First Division North club without a league win, Harrogate Railway Athletic, also announced this week that their manager Dave Morgan has stepped down after a run of results that reads two draws and ten defeats in a dozen games for last season's FA Cup heroes. Morgan's Assistant Stuart Waddington took charge of team affairs for today's FA Trophy tie at home to FC Halifax Town but the club are looking to make a quick appointment and any interested party is asked to contact the club's Football Secretary David Shepherd on 07816 986799.

Challinor Follows Young And Branch

Dave Challinor has become the third person with Cammell Laird connections to link up with Colwyn Bay. Following new manager Neil Young's switch last week former Tranmere Rovers and Burnley player Graham Branch had quickly joined him and the pair are now joined by former England Schools and Youth international Challinor who has around four hundred appearances in the full time game under his belt for Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County and Bury.

Leading Scorer Goes On Contract

The First Division North's leading goalscorer Michael Fish has been placed on contract by Mossley after several clubs began showing interest following his start to the season that has taken the lower tier by storm. Indeed, it has been a week for handing out contracts with three others putting pen to paper.

FC Halifax Town have taken just two weeks to be sufficiently impressed by former England Youth international Scott Phelan to get him to commit to the club. The twenty year old captained Everton's Youth team and whilst with them made numerous appearances for his country. Whitby Town, meanwhile, have converted the loan of James Beadle from York City in to a permanent move whilst Willenhall Town have placed 21 year old Justin Nisbett on contract.

But it wasn't only players getting in on the act as Ashton United have this week agreed a deal with one of the youngest managers in the League. 33 year old Danny Johnson has committed his immediate future to the club after taking Ashton to their highest finish in five seasons last year and pitching the "Robins" in amongst the early pace-setters this term.

Woodley Rocked By Death Of Neil Rourke

Woodley Sports were devastated on Monday with the sudden death of Director Neil Rourke at the age of just forty. Neil had founded the club's youth team and managed the side in its first two seasons before taking his protégés in to the Lancashire League. He saw his side win numerous trophies and also managed the Stockport & District FA Youth side that won the Cheshire County Youth competition in 2007/2008.

Of the current Woodley Sports side that plays in the UniBond League five current players started out under Neil in the youth set up and with the Woodley Board of Directors comprising only four people including Neil it is clear that his involvement at the club will be sorely missed. The extent of that involvement was measured when Woodley issued a statement on Friday announcing that their ground would be renamed "The Neil Rourke Stadium". The funeral takes place on Wednesday, 8th October at 10am at St Christopher's Church, Romiley.

Another club in mourning this week was Buxton whose former long serving Secretary Ron Malpass died on Sunday in his 90th year. He served on the club's committee from the early fifties and became Secretary in 1962 working in that role for two spells until 1985.

As well as being a member of the Northern Premier League Management Committee he had also been a leading figure in the administration of the now defunct Cheshire League. His son in law Alan Brailsford was Chairman of the "Bucks" in the eighties and his wife Jose and daughter Hazel have also served Buxton FC with distinction for many years. Ron's funeral will take place on Tuesday 7th October at 2.15pm in St Peters Church, Fairfield Road, Buxton.

A UniBond Legend Celebrates His 75th Birthday

This week sees a UniBond legend celebrate his 75th birthday with Eastwood Town Secretary Paddy Farrell huffing and puffing in his own inimitable style to blow out the candles on the cake. He has devoted 43 years of his life to the "Badgers" and all the managers and Chairmen who have worked alongside him would readily admit the club wouldn't be where it is today without the Kilmarnock born, Glasgow University educated Secretary. Happy Birthday Paddy.

Trafford To Play Man Utd Reserves

First Division North side Trafford have announced they have managed to secure a prestigious friendly against Manchester United Reserves at their Shawe View home on Tuesday, 28th October with a 7.00pm kick off.

UniBond "Club Of The Month" Awards

The UniBond "Club of the Month" awards for September have gone to ILKESTON TOWN, DURHAM CITY and RETFORD UNITED. Ilkeston started the month badly with a defeat at Witton Albion but then registered five wins on the bounce including two FA Cup ties.

First Division North newcomers Durham City enjoyed a fabulous month with seven straight victories whilst maintaining their excellent defensive start to life in the UniBond with no goals conceded in their three league fixtures giving them six successive clean sheets in the league since conceding in a 1-1 draw at Skelmersdale United on the opening day. In the First Division South reigning champions Retford made a slow start to the campaign but certainly warmed to the task in September registering six wins and two draws.

UniBond "Fair Play" Awards

The UniBond "Fair Play" awards for September have been captured by WITTON ALBION, MOSSLEY and QUORN respectively. The top tier prize saw an amazing turn round in Albion's fortunes as they won the monthly award after finishing bottom of the table in August with eleven cautions and two dismissals which in itself was a surprise as they had won the 2007/8 overall £1,000 Premier Division prize. Mossley won the First Division accolade for the fourth time in the last eleven awards whilst Quorn, who finished runners-up in the overall table last season, got their discipline back on track after having suffered two dismissals in August.

Wilkinson To Step Down At Gingerbreads

After a dreadful run in September Grantham Town boss John Wilkinson became the sixth manager of the season to depart as the UniBond managerial merry go round gathered momentum this week. After starting the month with a 3-0 win at bottom club Brigg Town the "Gingerbreads" then proceeded to ship 23 goals in their next six games with the only respite being a second goalless draw of the season against, ironically, Club of the Month winners Retford United. Chairman Roger Booth, however, is hoping that Wilkinson will accept a position on the Board saying "Last season John brought the 'feel good' factor back to the club and we feel he still has a lot to contribute to the club but in different ways". Reserve team boss Tony Taylor takes charge whilst the club searches for a new manager.

Thailand Calling

Thailand international honours could be beckoning for Grantham Town midfielder George Zeurner. The club had a call from new Thailand boss Peter Reid asking about George as it seems the Thai FA has picked up on the fact that Zeurner has a Thai mother and is therefore eligible to play for them. It is understood that the Thai FA will be sending representatives to watch Zeurner in action.

Brumpton In Surprise Step Down At Hednesford

In a surprise move this week Hednesford Town Managing Director Terry Brumpton has stepped down six years after taking on the role. He has supported the club since 1960 and been involved with it from 1980. Although he will be still go to games as a spectator he is leaving his position with the club in order to concentrate on running his own business for which he has had to turn work away recently due to his involvement with the club.

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