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5th December 2005

Review Of The Week

Burscough are in the draw for the 3rd Round Proper of the FA Cup to be made tomorrow (Sunday) but that was about the only consolation they could take when their big day out was spoilt on receipt of a 'phone call on route to Burton Albion informing them that their 2nd Round tie had fallen foul of the weather. Other clubs feeling just as badly let down by the vagaries of the English climate were Ashton United and Bradford Park Avenue both of whom clocked up unwanted hat-tricks of three consecutive Saturday postponements. Where play was possible North Ferriby United stretched their lead at the top of the Premier Division to six points but will have been disappointed to have been held at home where all six goals shared between them and Wakefield-Emley came in the second period. Marine moved in to third but only after falling two behind at home to lowly Ilkeston Town before all three Marine substitutes found the net in a come back that saw the "Mariners" run out 4-2 winners. Witton Albion lost ground on the top four when held at home by Whitby Town in a goalless affair but Farsley Celtic, who started last season slowly and came with a big run, look like doing the same again. They took November's "Club of the Month" award and celebrated with the biggest away win this season in the top tier hitting five without reply at Radcliffe Borough. Elsewhere Runcorn FC Halton made it three wins on the bounce with success at Gateshead, the only goal of the game enabled Lincoln United to surprise Blyth Spartans and AFC Telford United came from behind to beat Matlock Town.

The First Division's top two, Bridlington Town and Mossley both won but Colwyn Bay, after keeping their unbeaten home record with a 3-0 win over Warrington Town, move up to third above the inactive Fleetwood Town and Mossley's victims, Gresley Rovers who have won only three of eleven games on their travels. Kendal Town and Brigg Town could both have gone joint fourth above Rovers but were held at home with the Lake District side no doubt despondent after squandering a two goal lead against next to bottom Belper Town for whom Zimbabwean Kelvin Mushambi scored on his debut. Continuing to climb the table are Stocksbridge PS who inflicted bottom club Bishop Auckland's fourth defeat on the bounce whilst Bamber Bridge's young side have lost only once in their last fourteen outings after their fine 4-0 success against Spalding United who hadn't lost in eight. Chorley achieved only their second home win of the campaign when beating Ossett Albion for whom it was a thirteenth game without a win. The bottom of the table clash between Rossendale United and Goole AFC finished all square with striker Bernard Morley an unlikely hero for the home side who were drawing for the fourth game in succession since Derek Egan took over as manager. They had twice led but faced defeat when 'keeper Mark Andrews was dismissed in stoppage time. Morley went between the sticks and saved the resultant penalty from Wayne Benn! In the one other game Woodley Sports beat Eastwood Town 4-1.

Trophy Draw Unkind To UniBond Survivors

The draw for the next round of the FA Trophy was made on Monday and was particularly unkind to the four surviving UniBond clubs with three of them receiving away draws. Farsley Celtic were given scant reward for their excellent victory in last week's final qualifying round against Nuneaton Borough when they were sent on a tough looking trip to Paul Gascoigne's Kettering Town. First Division Clitheroe also have to concede both ground advantage and status when they visit Barrow whilst there is one all UniBond tie with Premier Division Blyth Spartans travelling to First Division strugglers Warrington Town who, going in to today's league encounter at Colwyn Bay, had won more cup games this season than league victories! Just for good measure had AFC Telford United overcome Worksop Town in Tuesday evening's replay they, too, would have been away!

The ties are to be played on Saturday, 17th December 2005.

Flicking Football Returns To Witton

Following the success of last year's English Table Football Association's ranking event at Witton Albion FC the club again hosted the top stars from the table version of the game today (Saturday) as the UniBond League club looks set to become a regular venue on the table football calendar. 32 competitors including a number of senior and junior internationals took part in the competition and Tournament Director Andy Murray said "With Witton hosting Whitby Town at the same time and the trophies being presented in front of the fans from that match in the bar after the game we are expecting a great day".

Marine Community Day

Premier Division Marine today hosted their biggest ever community event when they played Ilkeston Town. No fewer than two dozen schools were participating in the day's activities, which included, amongst other things, a penalty shoot out, a steel band and the local Fire Brigade promoting safety in the home.

Marine Schools and Community Development Officer Barry Lenton said, "This is the biggest community day we have ever organised. The participation of 24 schools, the Fire Brigade and all the sponsors is tremendous and I am looking forward to a great day for the children and their families".

Cup Holders Go Out At First Defence

Current holders of the UniBond League Challenge Cup, Matlock Town, went out of this season's competition at their first defence of the trophy. In a tricky looking tie at Premier Division table topping North Ferriby United an 89th minute strike from Matlock's leading goalscorer Dene Cropper appeared to have taken the tie in to extra-time only for Ferriby substitute Paul Farley to score the winner in stoppage time just five minutes after entering the fray.

To rub salt in the wounds the game was the only one of the five ties scheduled for Tuesday evening to survive the frost! The only other UniBond League Challenge Cup 2nd Round tie to survive the midweek weather was the all First Division clash between Brigg Town and Stocksbridge PS on Wednesday that went the way of Stocksbridge in a penalty shoot out. Only half of the sixteen ties which were originally scheduled to be played in midweek commencing 21st November have been completed thanks to the recent poor weather.

UniBond "Club Of The Month" Awards

It was a Yorkshire double in the UniBond "Club of the Month" awards for November with Farsley Celtic and Stocksbridge PS picking up the respective Divisional awards. Farsley took the Premier Division honours for the first time since winning April's award with FA Trophy wins over Prescot Cables and Nuneaton Borough allied to an unbeaten three match run in the league that included a draw against leaders North Ferriby United plus a County Cup success.

The First Division prize was a more keenly contested affair with both Brigg Town and Kendal Town pushing Stocksbridge close. Kendal's only defeat in six games came at Conference North club Worcester City in the FA Trophy whilst the other two contenders both went in to their UniBond League Cup encounter on the last day of the month unbeaten. Stocksbridge eventually came out on top of that one in a war of attrition with an 8-7 penalty shoot out victory after a goalless two hours to clinch the award with an unbeaten record in six outings including four wins during the month. Stocksbridge last won the "Club of the Month" prize in September 2004.

UniBond "Fair Play" Awards

November's UniBond "Fair Play" awards have been captured by North Ferriby United and Belper Town respectively. Ferriby took the Premier Division prize with just two cautions in five games again proving that a club can top the table and indulge in fair play. Their disciplinary performance enabled them to close the gap on season to date leaders Farsley Celtic to just 0.09 average points in the race for the £1,000 first prize put up by UniBond for the season overall. Ashton United stay third and Guiseley fourth.

The First Division award was a much closer affair with Belper Town, Kidsgrove Athletic and Rossendale United all tying with an average of 0.75 disciplinary points per game. The award went to Belper on the strength of their better overall season to date record but it was a much improved effort by both Kidsgrove and Rossendale. Kidsgrove still have the next to worst record in the league but deserve credit for a big improvement in the month. Colwyn Bay continue to lead the season's overall table by some distance from Belper with Shepshed Dynamo third and Eastwood Town fourth.

Endsleigh Sports Insurance "Goalscoring" Awards

The Endsleigh Sports Insurance awards for November have gone to Burscough and Mossley respectively. Burscough, who were winning this award for the second month in succession, netted thirteen goals in six games during the month for an average of 2.16 goals per game without scoring more than three times in any one game - a very unusual statistic for a winner of this particular accolade. Mossley were also claiming the award for the second time during the current campaign having picked it up in August. They found the net ten times in four games during November for an average of 2.5 goals per match.

Eastwood Go Defensive

Eastwood Town signed two new central defenders in time for Saturday's trip to Woodley Sports. 26-year-old Matt McKenzie moved to Ilkeston Town after being released by Grimsby Town in 2000 but more recently has been playing for local side Greenwood Meadows before signing for Eastwood. The "Badgers" second new player is 18-year-old Lewis Smith who has been recommended to the club by Nottingham Forest who wish to monitor his progress at this level. Smith has recently moved in to the area after playing for both Norwich City and Ipswich Town at Reserve team level.

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