Thursday, 16th October 2008

News Archive

17th September 2005

Review Of The Week

Something had to give when the top tier's first and third placed clubs met each other but strangely both still occupied the same positions after Burscough overcame North Ferriby United 3-2 watched by a crowd in excess of 700 boosted by some five hundred schoolchildren. Ferriby were able to continue leading the table thanks to Blyth Spartans having a goalless stalemate at Ilkeston Town. The North East side have still only conceded one goal in their opening eight league fixtures and they head Burscough on goal difference one point adrift of Ferriby. Just a point behind the top three are Guiseley who beat Radcliffe Borough 3-2 at home despite a brace from Carl Lomax for the visitors. A first defeat of the season for Frickley Athletic in midweek at Blyth Spartans was quickly followed by a second 1-0 reverse on Saturday when they went down at home to Prescot Cables who hadn't picked up a point in their previous four attempts. Athletic drop to sixth, level on points with Marine (5-1 winners on Saturday) and have Witton Albion just a point behind them with a game in hand after Albion won at Whitby Town. At the opposite end of the table there was a first win of the campaign for Runcorn Fc Halton who surprised Wakefield-Emley and the win takes the "Linnets" off the bottom rung by virtue of goal difference over Ashton United who could only manage a point from their two games in the week. Another side to enjoy a first win were Leek Town who won at Prescot Cables in midweek. Matlock Town supporters saw their side stage the recovery of the season to date in midweek when they came from 4-1 down at Ossett Town with seven minutes left to grab a point and they will therefore have been bemused by no goals from either side on Saturday when they entertained Farsley Celtic.

Newcomers Fleetwood Town continue to lead the First Division on the back of conceding just three goals in their six games and they are the only undefeated club in either Division. By contrast, nearest rivals Mossley are basing their assault on the title by attack and have found the net an amazing 25 times in just six outings including four in midweek against Belper Town followed by six on Saturday when Bridlington Town were the victims. Two home wins in the week see Gresley Rovers join Mossley in joint second on goal difference whilst Colwyn Bay are a third club separated from the top of the table by just a point after they twice came from behind against bottom club Spalding United who are now the only club in either Division still seeking a win after Bishop Auckland won despite conceding the opening goal at home to Kidsgrove Athletic. The biggest shock of the day in the lower tier came at Kendal Town who hadn't conceded a goal at home and had won 5-0 away in midweek at Bamber Bridge. However they were no match for Brigg Town and went down 4-1 despite Brigg having won only one of six previous league outings.

100% Record In FA Cup Replays

There was a 100% record for the three UniBond League clubs involved in FA Cup replays against outside opposition in midweek although both Afc Telford United and Rossendale United required extra-time before overcoming Rugby Town and Billingham Town respectively on Tuesday. Bradford Park Avenue had a much easier ride against Padiham 24 hours later and with BISHOP AUCKLAND beating fellow First Division side Chorley the League will have 21 sides in action next Saturday for a place in the 3rd Qualifying Round. Following their win Rossendale now have a chance of putting their poor league form behind them and making it to the 3rd Qualifying Round for the first time in many seasons with a visit to Armthorpe Welfare who are mid-table in the Northern Counties East League. Telford, however, have a much more tricky prospect ahead of them with a trip to Conference North high flyers Nuneaton Borough. Other clubs facing away days at Conference North opposition are Burscough, Goole AFC and Witton Albion whilst Frickley Athletic are at home to table topping Northwich Victoria. First Division Eastwood Town have an attractive home tie against Conference South promotion hopefuls Cambridge City.

There are just two all UniBond ties with the tastiest perhaps being the meeting of Farsley Celtic and Bradford Park Avenue. The other game sees Prescot Cables making a daunting trip north to Blyth Spartans who conceded just one goal in their opening seven league fixtures. The full draw as it affects UniBond League clubs can be found on the Fixtures Page.

In this season's FA Cup to date, UniBond League clubs have won 27 out of 41 ties against outside opposition and, in all, have shared £62,250 in prize money.

Leek Break Club FA Cup Records

In the past week Leek Town have broken their FA Cup scoring and winning margin records and also put another unwanted statistic behind them. Prior to last Saturday's 7-0 demolition of Long Eaton United the most goals scored by the Staffordshire outfit in the world's most famous knock out competition had been five which they achieved on two occasions. The first of these was in 1985/6 when they hosted GKN Sankey and won 5-4 in the 2nd Qualifying Round and again in 1993/4 when they beat Bamber Bridge 5-3 also in a 2nd Qualifying Round tie. Their previous highest winning margin had been 4-0 against both Sandbach Ramblers (1973/4) and Rocester (1994/5).

Meanwhile, Tuesday evening's 2-0 success at Prescot Cables ended the club's longest ever run without a league victory stretching back to 12th February when they had won 4-0 at Bamber Bridge. The 21 game sequence contained ten defeats.

Caretaker boss Nigel Deeley, who has enjoyed a good first week in the job following the departure of previous incumbent Paul Ogden, has named Mark Cartwright as his Assistant. 32 year old Cartwright, a goalkeeper who played over fifty games for Leek last season before being forced to retire through injury on the eve of the current campaign, made over a century of appearances in the full time game with the likes of Stockport County, Wrexham, Bury, Brighton, Shrewsbury, and Halifax Town.

Hundred Up For The Greenwoods

Last Saturday's game against Spalding United saw the Tony and Nigel Greenwood management team of Fleetwood Town clock up their 100th league game in charge of which they have lost just seventeen and won 65.

Substitute Spartans

Blyth Spartans went substitute crazy on Tuesday evening in their 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Frickley Athletic. First substitute Chris McCabe went on after just eight minutes but he himself was substituted by the scorer of the game's only goal Liam Gildea after 55 minutes. Gildea himself was then substituted by Steve Johnson in stoppage time!

Unibond Clubs Set Out On FA Youth Cup Trail

Several UniBond League clubs were this week setting out on the FA Youth Cup trail. For the first time ever more than half the member clubs have entered teams with seven unfortunate enough to be drawn in action in the Preliminary Round including Belper Town and Eastwood Town despite both of them reaching the 1st Round Proper last year. There will be no such heroics from the "Badgers" this season however as, with a completely new team, they went out on penalties to Teversall. Belper, though, went through with a 1-0 win against Eccleshall but Matlock Town suffered the same fate as Eastwood going down after a spot-kick contest.

Elsewhere, AFC Telford United received a walkover when Mickleover Sports withdrew but Frickley Athletic crashed at Leigh RMI whilst Woodley Sports visit Lancaster City tomorrow (Sunday). The other club involved in Preliminary Round action, Marine, had their fixture at Chadderton called off due to problems with goal posts.

The remaining sixteen UniBond entrants, including Burscough who have the enviable record of having reached the 1st Round Proper in six of the past seven campaigns, enter the fray at the next stage.

Kilheeney On The Move Again

Former Manchester City youngster Cieran Kilheeney signed this week for Ashton United after a stint at Radcliffe Borough. Still now only aged 21 Kilheeney burst on to the UniBond scene two years ago with Droylsden after being released by Exeter City for whom he made four appearances at the end of their relegation campaign of 2002/3. His exciting runs made him very popular with fans but his progress was abruptly halted with a double fracture of his leg suffered against Burscough in October 2003.

Wilford Returns To Whitby

Aaron Wilford, a 23 year old striker, has returned to Whitby Town some two years after leaving the "Seasiders" for the then Football League club York City. He made eight appearances for York during the club's ill-fated 2003/4 campaign before moving to Lincoln City towards the end of the same season where he made a handful of appearances for the "Imps". More recently Wilford has been playing for Barrow in the Conference North.

Nolan Returns To Unibond Scene

David Nolan is another to return to the UniBond scene after a couple of year's absence. The 37 year old former Hyde United and Kidsgrove Athletic player-manager has signed for Colwyn Bay after a stint with St Helens Town in the North West Counties League. Nolan has also appeared for Runcorn, Chester City and Barrow.

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