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29th November 2008
Review Of The Week

EASTWOOD TOWN had a fabulous day on Saturday when they became one of just twenty clubs in the whole country who will now mix it with the 44 big boys of the Premiership and Championship in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. Lindon Meikle and Peter Knox were the goalscorers as they put out League Two high flyers Wycombe Wanderers. The League's other representatives CURZON ASHTON played an hour with only ten men after having goalkeeper Dave Carnell sent off but still gave a spirited performance before going down 2-0 to Kidderminster Harriers.

Premier Division leaders HEDNESFORD TOWN failed to win for the third game in a row when they lost 3-0 at FC UNITED of MANCHESTER but second place GUISELEY failed to join them at the top when they were held at home by NANTWICH TOWN whilst MARINE maintained third with a win at NORTH FERRIBY UNITED who drop out of the play off spots as a result. ASHTON UNITED's win at BUXTON saw them move up three places to fourth. WHITBY TOWN's defeat at BOSTON UNITED leaves them with just one in eight games and MATLOCK TOWN were looking at a fifth successive game without a point until Jamie Donnelly-Jackson struck twice late on to grab a home point against next to bottom WORKSOP TOWN.

It was all change at the top of the First Division North when last week's leaders FC HALIFAX TOWN were held at home by fifth place NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR to drop to third with the new leaders being BAMBER BRIDGE followed closely by LANCASTER CITY who made it five league wins on the bounce when they overcame OSSETT ALBION. However, DURHAM CITY with a mountain of games in hand are a danger to all and still unbeaten since their promotion to the UniBond League. At the bottom SALFORD CITY conceded four goals or more for the eighth time when hit for six by CHORLEY. First Division South leaders CARLTON TOWN also hit six with their victims being LEEK TOWN as all the top three won. The win of the day in this Division, however, belonged to SPALDING UNITED who so often last term were the whipping boys but are much stronger this time round and proved so with a 5-1 win against GRANTHAM TOWN.

Unibond "Club Of The Month" Awards

The UniBond "Club of the Month" awards in respect of November have gone to Eastwood Town, Skelmersdale United and Shepshed Dynamo respectively. After the "Badgers" win over Wycombe there could only be one top tier winner as they had won six and drawn one of their other seven games in the month. "Skem" had an indentical record to that of Eastwood to take the First Division North prize whilst Shepshed landed the First Division South spoils with four wins in five games.

Goole Deducted Ten Points

At a meeting last Sunday the League's Board took the decision to deduct ten points from Goole AFC's playing record in accordance with League Rules after the club had entered in to a Company Voluntary Arrangement. The points deduction will show in league tables after the period of time allowed for appeal has expired although it is understood by the League that the club will not be appealing against the decision.

The ten points will bring Goole's total points deduction for the current season to eleven as the "Vikings" had a point deducted for playing an ineligible player in a 3-3 draw at Kidsgrove Athletic on the opening day of the campaign.

Cameron Quits At Avenue

Bradford Park Avenue manager Dave Cameron became the thirteenth managerial change of the season when he resigned following his side's home defeat last Saturday against bottom club Witton Albion. Club Chairman Dr John Dean said "Whilst the results of the team over the last couple of months have not been as either he or the Board would have wished for, it is easy to forget that Dave came to us last season with our promotion dream turning in to a nightmare. He steadied the ship, took us on a seven game unbeaten run and landed the First Division North title for us for which we will always be grateful".

Cameron felt by resigning now it would give whoever is the new manager every opportunity to still achieve a second successive promotion this season. Taking over in a caretaker capacity is newly appointed coach Mike Marsh.

At Least Two In Last 32 Of FA Trophy

The UniBond League will have at least two representatives in the last 32 of the FA Trophy after a thumping 5-0 victory by Hednesford Town over Conference North side Hyde United in last Tuesday's final qualifying round. The "Pitmen's" success ensured two all UniBond pairings as they now entertain Nantwich Town whilst last Monday's 1st Round Proper draw also Ilkeston Town and Ossett Town drawn against one another.

The two First Division North survivors Durham City and Skelmersdale United had mixed luck with Durham at home to Harrogate Town but "Skem" on their travels to Barrow who have just knocked Football League Brentford out of the FA Cup. The League's one other survivor Boston United have drawn a tasty looking home tie against AFC Telford United but there is just one problem with that as the "Pilgrims" home form does not match their away record as proved once again on Wednesday evening when they travelled to remove FC United of Manchester from the competition.

Colwyn Bay To Host Under 18 Internationals

Colwyn Bay announced this week that their Llanelian Road home will host an Under 18's schoolboys international next April when Wales take on Northern Ireland. Although the club hosted some of the games in last summer's 4 Nations Semi-Pro Tournament it will be the first time that a schools international has been played in the town since 1996 when Holland visited the old Eireas Park complex.

The Price Is Right For Ferriby

Frickley Athletic have signed former Wales Under 21 captain Michael Price who won thirteen Under 21 caps whilst playing with Everton and Hull City. He has played previously in the UniBond League with North Ferriby United.

Marine Take "Boots In Africa" Initiative

Marine have shown a great initiative in the "Boots for Africa" appeal being run by the League in conjunction with League Sponsors Henkel and the originators of the scheme, Sheffield FC. The club have entered in to an agreement with 22 local schools who will act as collecting centres for unwanted and outgrown boots. As an incentive children who have donated boots and attend Marine's home game against Buxton on 6th December will receive a free raffle ticket to win a signed Liverpool match ball.

The game with Buxton will be the focus of the appeal with free admission to Liverpool and Everton season ticket holders and the former supported Marine's "Boots for Africa" appeal with a full page article about the event in last weekend's match programme for the visit of Fulham. Everton have also promised to support the campaign.

Lairds Hit Hard Times

Cammell Laird are the latest club to have been hit by the "credit crunch" and will not be paying players in the immediate future. With match day revenue down despite being promoted last season and early exits from both money spinning FA competitions the club is now preparing to "cut its cloth" accordingly and will help any players who wish to leave to find alternative clubs. Lairds, who celebrated their Centenary season last year, have had a fairy tale rise up the pyramid with four promotions in five years taking them from the West Cheshire League to within three promotions of Football League status.

Smith Steps Down At Clitheroe

Peter Smith has stepped down as joint manager at Clitheroe leaving Neil Reynolds to carry on in his own right. Smith stays with the club as coach and is joined by Lee Sculpher who will share the coaching side of things. The latter has managed Clitheroe previously and was in charge when they won promotion to the UniBond League.

Obituary

The League was sad to learn this week of the death of former Leigh RMI stalwart Les Berry who had been with the club since its days as Horwich RMI. He was one of the leading figures behind the move from Horwich's old ground at Grundy Hill to Leigh's Hilton Park as he knew the club could not move forward in the pyramid due to the limitations of the ground at Horwich. In latter years he was often to be found at Radcliffe Borough when they were playing at home. The funeral service will be held next Thursday at St Michael's Church, Moses Gate, Farnworth at 11.00am before moving on to Overdale Crematorium, Chorley Old Road, Bolton.

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