Tuesday, 6th January 2009

News

8th November 2008
Review Of The Week

Saturday was a fantastic day for UniBond League sides EASTWOOD TOWN and CURZON ASHTON who both won through to the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their respective histories.

Indeed First Division Curzon Ashton had never been beyond the 3rd Qualifying Round but went an incredible 3-0 up against Football League side Exeter City.

The "Grecians" goalkeeper Paul Jones might have been named the "Player of the Round" after keeping a clean sheet against mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2005 but he couldn't keep out Chris Worsley, Jimmy Ogoo (a diminutive midfielder who had a game to dream of) and Michael Norton before his side made the home fans twitchy with two goals in the last ten minutes.

Eastwood did it the other way round trailing at the interval before coming back in the second period to win 2-1 with goals from Russell Cooke and Linden Meikle as they maintained their excellent home form.

Back on the domestic front Premier Division leaders HEDNESFORD TOWN increased their lead to eight points when winning 5-0 at home to next to bottom WORKSOP TOWN and KENDAL TOWN, who also won 5-0 at home where BRADFORD PARK AVENUE were the victims, moved in to second as MARINE were held at home by WHITBY TOWN who, after losing their first five games, are now unbeaten in ten.

GUISELEY, despite a midweek defeat by BUXTON, also moved above the "Mariners" at the weekend beating BOSTON UNITED after trailing at the interval. ILKESTON TOWN retain fifth after being held at the top tier's draw specialists FRCKLEY ATHLETIC whilst NORTH FERRIBY UNITED, who picked up just one point from their opening five games, are now up to sixth after winning at cash strapped LEIGH GENESIS.

Despite installing a new manager WITTON ALBION slumped to a tenth game without a point and to the bottom of the table after losing a "six pointer" at OSSETT TOWN who lifted themselves off the bottom rung as a result.

BUXTON completed a good week with a second away win this time at CAMMELL LAIRD with the one other Premier Division game seeing NANTWICH TOWN win at MATLOCK TOWN.

Two wins in the week for FC HALIFAX TOWN saw them hit the top of the First Division North for the first time but they only head BAMBER BRIDGE by goal difference after "Brig" inflicted a first home defeat of the season on the normally free scoring NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR.

Last week's top two in the First Division South met at RETFORD UNITED where CARLTON TOWN increased their lead with a 2-1 victory. RUSHALL OLYMPIC moved in to second after their success over STOCKSBRIDGE PS as SHEPSHED DYNAMO lost at GLAPWELL who take fifth.

Boston Land International Match

Boston United will stage an England Under 18 Schoolboys International match at their York Street ground on Thursday, 5th March when England will take on their Welsh counterparts.

Finley In For Deeley At Witton

After nine straight league defeats and an FA Trophy exit at the first hurdle Witton Albion this week parted company with manager Nigel Deeley and his Assistant Andy Nelson who had stepped in to the breach during the summer when previous boss Jim Vince left for new club FC Halifax Town.

The club's officials were also very concerned with an alarming fall in attendances and have turned to a former incumbent of the job Gary Finley who will be assisted by Lee Coathup just as he was in his earlier spell between 2004-2005. Albion stalwart Brian Pritchard has accepted the role of player/coach in the new set up.

The last time around Finley and Coathup took Witton to within touching distance of the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup and to the verge of the play-offs.

Chairman Mark Harris said "During his last spell in charge Gary built the nucleus of the team that Jim Vince then built on. For example it was Gary who brought the likes of Mark Peers, Jon Kennedy and Steve Connors to the club and his teams are highly organized. The decision to relieve Nigel Deeley of his duties was not taken lightly as he is Witton Albion through and through and holds a special place in the hearts of all Wittoners".

Marsh Replaces Ruffer As Avenue's Number Two

Bradford Park Avenue have dispensed with the services of Assistant Manager Carl Ruffer who had joined them in the summer from Rhyl where he had played under Avenue boss Dave Cameron.

The club have made what they believe will be a significant appointment in former Liverpool and West Ham United midfielder Mike Marsh to replace him.

Avenue Chief Executive Bob Blackburn said "I think bringing in somebody of Mike's stature shows how far we have come as a club. He had been offered a full time deal with Crawley Town and there were other offers on the table for him after he left his caretaker role at Northwich Vics this week when Steve King was appointed their manager. Although heavily involved with Liverpool Legends who play a lot of charity games around the world he has promised us as much of his time as possible".

Marsh was an unused substitute in Liverpool's 1992 FA Cup success later moving to West Ham United, Coventry City and Turkish side Galatasary in deals where in excess of a million pounds exchanged hands.

He later won Conference titles with both Kidderminster Harriers and Boston United but on neither occasion could he go in to the Football League with them due to the terms of his injury insurance pay out. In one final swansong he helped Accrington Stanley capture the UniBond League Premier Division title in 2003.

Woodley Looking For A Chairman

Woodley Sports are looking for a new Chairman after Peter Sullivan relinquished the role due to the economic times as he feels he needs to devote his time and energy in running his many business interests which include the development of the Woodley Sports Centre.

In addition to stepping down as Chairman he is also departing the football club side of things at the complex leaving Woodley searching for a new figurehead to take the club forward. All enquiries should be made to Club Secretary Rod Haslam or Hannah Sullivan at the Woodley Sports Centre.

Turbulent Times At Leigh Continue With Departure Of Bleasdale

In another turbulent week at troubled Leigh Genesis, manager Steve Bleasdale has left to be replaced by Reserve team boss Lee Merricks. With many of the side that began the season now also departed due to the cash crisis and the current squad made up mainly of reserve team players it made sense to appoint Merricks to oversee them even though he has no managerial experience at this level.

Bleasdale's departure allied to that of Nigel Deeley at Witton Albion earlier in the week takes the number of clubs involved in managerial changes so far this season in to double figures.

Nantwich Deny Davis Rumours

A different take on managerial positions was adopted this week by Nantwich Town who felt forced to issue a statement in response to unconfirmed rumours broadcast on a local radio station that manager Steve Davis had tendered his resignation.

The club issued a joint statement from Davis himself along with Club Chairman Clive Jackson saying "The club wish to confirm the rumours are completely untrue. Steve has been flattered with recent links to clubs at a higher level but is committed to achieving further success with Nantwich Town".

FA Youth Cup Success For Nantwich

Nantwich Town have reached the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup for the first time in the club's history. They beat another UniBond club Curzon Ashton who themselves have enjoyed excellent runs in the competition over the past few years by a surprisingly comfortable 5-0 scoreline to earn themselves a home tie against Football League opposition in Macclesfield Town in the next round.

The two other UniBond clubs in action this week, however, failed to progress with Worksop Town going down 3-0 at Rotherham United and Wakefield losing 3-1 at Accrington Stanley although that scoreline flattered the Football League side as Wakefield, down to ten men, were holding them to 1-1 with ten minutes to play. The League's one other survivor Hednesford Town travel to Walsall next Tuesday.

Obituary

Whitby Town were in mourning this week for Club President Brooks Mileson who first sponsored the club in 1992/3 season and became President in 1995. Chairman Graham Manser said "Brooks was a lovely, lovely man - never demanding but always generously sponsoring the club for fifteen years. He supported many other organisations but never asked for anything in return. Quite frankly Brooks was a true supporter of the club. It wasn't just money, he genuinely wanted to see the team in at least the Conference North and loved the success at Wembley, the promotions we won and the big FA Cup games we played in. He just loved the club and it made him feel good. Without his vision and backing, mental as well as financial, the club would not be where it is today."

Quorn Physio Efforts In Vain As Fan Dies

Quorn Physio Dave Commons and Belper Town supporter Dave Baines who has a medical background fought tirelessly to save a spectator who collapsed with a suspected heart attack when the two sides met last Saturday. The two of them managed to keep the spectator alive until paramedics arrived but sadly he died later that evening in hospital.

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