Tuesday, 6th January 2009

News

25th October 2008
Review Of The Week

Almost 9,000 fans watched UniBond clubs in FA Cup action on Saturday and it was a case of so near yet so far for many of the League's representatives. NANTWICH TOWN led three times at Fleetwood but couldn't hang on going down 4-3, SHEFFIELD held an interval lead at Blyth but again couldn't last home and BOSTON UNITED twice levelled against Cambridge United only to lose 3-2. Bucking that trend though were First Division North clubs CURZON ASHTON and DURHAM CITY who both came from behind to force replays with the latter only denied by a double from Josh Simpson who has just been called up by the England "C" team. EASTWOOD TOWN and BELPER TOWN also battled away to earn impressive goalless draws.

The Premier Division's top two before play began met at ILKESTON TOWN where leaders HEDNESFORD TOWN came out on top with the only goal coming in the 88th minute leaving their opponents to be overtaken by MARINE who won at BUXTON who had just won their first three pointer in six games in midweek. CAMMELL LAIRD are now unbeaten in six league games after their poor start whilst WHITBY TOWN haven't lost in nine after losing their first five. WORSKOP TOWN's 6-2 defeat at ASHTON UNITED sees them without a win in nine and WITTON ALBION crashed to their seventh successive defeat losing at home to LEIGH GENESIS.

FC HALIFAX TOWN have got their act together in the First Division North and hit nine goals in their two games leaving them on the verge of the play-off positions as their 4-0 win on Saturday ended a run of seven straight league wins for CLITHEROE. At the opposite end HARROGATE RAILWAY won their first league game leaving SALFORD CITY, who crashed again 6-2 at home to TRAFFORD, as the only team in the Division without a win. In the First Division South SHEPSHED DYNAMO suffered their first league defeat in midweek and followed up with another at weekend, GRESLEY ROVERS ended a run of eight games without a win in some style with a 5-0 win against BRIGG TOWN who remain without a win and Phil Starbuck's revolution at GRANTHAM TOWN continued apace with his third win in as many games since he took over.

Clitheroe Win Team Of Round Award

First Division North club Clitheroe have captured the Football Association's "Team of the Round" award in respect of the First Qualifying Round with their stunning win at Premier Division Bradford Park Avenue. The prize is a far cry from Clitheroe's FA Trophy experiences in the last two campaigns. Two years ago they were given a 10-1 walloping by Kettering Town and last season were thrown out of the competition after fielding an ineligible player!

Brown And Williams Go At Matlock

Matlock Town became the seventh UniBond club of the campaign to part company with their management team when they relieved joint managers Phil Brown and Gareth Williams of their duties on Tuesday. The pair had joined the "Gladiators" as players in 2002 and under Ernie Moss had played major roles in the development of the team which led to them taking over the managerial reins when Moss left for Hucknall Town in 2005.

Initially results were good but last season saw Matlock fighting against relegation and this season's two first round exits in both the FA Cup and Trophy were a big disappointment to the club with the financial rewards now on offer for success in those competitions.

The club intend to appoint a caretaker manager with club physio' Mick Cunningham and club captain Simon Barrclough helping out with team affairs for today's visit of Kendal Town.

Berry In At Salford

League newcomers Salford City, who so far have found life at this level difficult, have turned to Ashley Berry as their choice to replace Gary Fellows with whom they recently parted company. Berry is in familiar territory as his last two previous managerial roles in the UniBond League were also relegation battles at both Bridlington Town and Woodley Sports with his efforts last season saving Woodley on the final day of the campaign.

Berry holds a UEFA "B" coaching licence and has brought with him two experienced campaigners in former Preston North End midfielder Greg Challender and Neil Redfearn who has over one thousand games under his belt having played at, amongst others, Bolton Wanderers, Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Crystal Palace, Watford, Oldham Athletic, Barnsley, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Wigan Athletic, Halifax Town, Boston United and Rochdale.

FA Youth Cup Success

The UniBond League will have at least one representative in the Second Round Proper of this year's FA Youth Cup - just one round away from when the big boys such as Manchester United and Liverpool enter the fray - thanks to Nantwich Town's excellent 1-0 win over former Football League club Wrexham on Thursday evening. Josh Hancock scored the only goal of the game in the 88th minute in front of a crowd approaching three hundred to take the "Dabbers" in to the First Round Proper for the first time in the club's history. They now face one of two fellow UniBond sides at that stage with Cammell Laird and Curzon Ashton (who reached the Second Round Proper last season having beaten Football League club Chesterfield in the First Round) meeting one another tomorrow (Sunday).

The League will have its record number of five representatives in the First Round Proper with Worksop Town, Hednesford Town and Wakefield all overcoming outside opposition with only Boston United going out after losing on penalties to Oadby. Worksop's reward for beating Yorkshire Amateurs is a tasty home tie against Football League neighbours Rotherham United whilst Hednesford also have near neighbours in Walsall to visit after beating Stourbridge 4-0. Wakefield FC's 2-1 success over Liversedge sees them travel to another Football League outfit in Accrington Stanley.

Woodley Dismissed From President's Cup

Woodley Sports have been dismissed from the UniBond League President's Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their penalty shoot out victory over Salford City. Adam Morning who scored two of Woodley's goals in the 3-3 draw had already appeared in the competition for his former club FC Halifax Town against Ossett Albion. Salford are reinstated in to the competition and will now play Curzon Ashton in the 2nd Round.

The draw for the 3rd Round of the competition has been made and is as follows with ties to be played in the midweek commencing 8th December -

BELPER TOWN v WILLENHALL TOWN
CHORLEY v MOSSLEY
CURZON ASHTON or SALFORD CITY v SKELMERSDALE UTD or WARRINGTON TOWN
DURHAM CITY or NEWCASTLE BS v WAKEFIELD FC
FC HALIFAX TOWN or SHEFFIELD FC v RETFORD UNITED
LINCOLN UTD v STAMFORD
ROSSENDALE UTD or BAMBER BRIDGE v TRAFFORD
SHEPSHED D v Quorn

Luck Of The Draw Deserts UniBond Clubs In Trophy

The luck of the draw deserted the UniBond clubs still involved in the FA Trophy when four of the five clubs drawn against outside opposition were given away ties. The only home side is Ossett Town who will entertain Bedworth United with Nantwich Town, North Ferriby United, Glapwell and Warrington Town on the road visiting Rugby Town, Chasetown, Sutton Coldfield Town and Romulus respectively.

There are three all Premier Divisions with Ashton United, Leigh Genesis and Worksop Town hosting Ilkeston Town, Cammell Laird and FC United of Manchester respectively. The five remaining ties see First Division clubs take on the top tier with Clitheroe pulling out the plum tie at home to Boston United, Stamford entertaining Premier Division front runners Hednesford Town and Stocksbridge at home to in form Whitby Town. The two Premier Division clubs drawn at home to First Division sides are Marine who take on Durham City and Buxton where Skelmersdale United will be the visitors. The draw as it affects UniBond clubs can be found on the fixtures page.

Colwyn Bay Sign Welsh International

Colwyn Bay have signed 23 year old Craig Garside who has captained Wales at Under 15, U16 and U19 levels. He was a team mate of Wayne Rooney as they came through the ranks together at Everton and has European experience having scored for Rhyl in their Inter Toto cup tie against Haka.

Leek Lose Ruddock With Broken Ankle

Leek Town have lost the services of defender Mark Ruddock for three months after X-rays revealed he had broken his ankle in last Saturday's clash against Shepshed Dynamo. He picked the injury up in the 50th minute but bravely re-entered the game after receiving treatment only to have to come off five minutes later. The 24 year old went to hospital the following morning when the extent of the damage was revealed.

Leek are also facing the possibility of losing former Plymouth Argyle midfielder Jake Moult to Blue Square neighbours Stafford Rangers who have served a seven days notice of approach for the nineteen year old. The UniBond club have responded with the offer of a contract in an attempt to keep Moult at Harrison Park.

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