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News Archive

11th February 2006
Review Of The Week

The top and bottom of the Premier Division stayed pretty much the same as last week with most clubs either involved in one or other of the three UniBond League cup competitions or falling foul of the frost. One club to make some progress away from the relegation zone, however, was Ashton United who moved up three places to 15th with a 3-1 win at play-off hopefuls Guiseley in midweek before their big "six-pointer" against AFC Telford United became one the weather's victims on Saturday. Guiseley's week went from bad to worse when they lost again at home at the weekend to Wakefield-Emley and, having lost the opportunity to move into joint fourth, the Yorkshire side stay in ninth spot. In the one other top tier game to survive Prescot Cables from behind at home to Gateshead to win and end a run of three consecutive defeats.

The heroes of the week in the First Division were two teams who have been badly out of sorts in recent times. Bottom club Bishop Auckland won for the first time since 1st October when they beat Bridlington Town 2-1 in midweek - a result that left promotion challengers "Brid" five games without a win. They appeared to be heading for a sixth when two down at the interval against another side with promotion aspirations on Saturday but produced a storming come back to beat Fleetwood Town. A resurgent Belper Town continued their climb away from the bottom when they put a dent in Gresley Rovers' play-off hopes with a 2-1 win and Goole AFC also made ground away from the relegation zone with a win at Spalding United. In the one remaining game Shepshed Dynamo took full advantage of a turbulent week for opponents Clitheroe who lost their manager and a host of players to score five without reply.

In the Cup competitions Premier Division clubs generally dominated. Three times winners of the League Challenge Cup Marine moved smoothly in to the last four of this year's competition with success over Eastwood Town but Stocksbridge PS hit back for the lower tier with a 4-3 win at Radcliffe Borough who lost 'keeper Danny Hurst in the pre-match warm up. Runcorn FC Halton who haven't featured in a League Challenge Cup Final since back to back wins in 1980 and 81 surprised Witton Albion and completing the last four are Farsley Celtic who repeated last year's play-off semi-final success over last season's beaten finalists Whitby Town. In the President's Cup Brigg Town are the only First Division interlopers after beating Lincoln United on penalties as fellow lower tier sides Mossley and Colwyn Bay failed to find a goal between them against Ilkeston Town and Matlock Town respectively. In the one all Premier Division tie Swedish debutant Achille Traore came off the bench to score fifteen minutes in to his debut to help Bradford Park Avenue win at Burscough. As in the other two competitions the Chairman's Cup also sees the First Division outnumbered three to one with Woodley Sports the only lower tier survivors pitted against Blyth Spartans, Frickley Athletic and Ossett Town.

Lawson Becomes Number Fifteen

The number of UniBond League managerial changes reached fifteen this week when Clitheroe took the decision on Monday evening to relieve Tommy Lawson of his duties at the club. The decision came after Clitheroe had managed only one win in their previous ten league outings as well as going out of three cup competitions in the same period. Acting Chairman Carl Garner, who only recently moved in to the hot seat following financial problems at the club, also indicated that in addition to the poor run of results the club had to prune its playing costs which included Mr Lawson's own wage. Lawson had taken his previous club Prescot Cables to the UniBond League Premier Division play-offs last season before switching to Clitheroe in May. The season started well for his new club and they briefly topped the table in October before their loss of form. Leading goalscorer Tony Evans, veteran midfielder Paul McNally and defender Ian Kearney have also left the club although softening the blow is the return of Ryan Parr (Fleetwood Town) and Owen Roberts (Kendal Town).

Assistant Manager Mark Smitheringale, who Lawson installed as his number two in November and who lives locally, has been placed in charge of team affairs in a caretaker capacity. Smitheringale has played for a host of semi-professional clubs after starting out in the game as an apprentice with Peterborough United where he went on to play in the Football League and he also appeared in the 1984 FA Vase Final at Wembley for Stamford. He has previous management experience with both Harrogate Railway and Goole AFC where he was coach under Paul Marshall before Lawson persuaded him to cut down on his travelling and switch to Clitheroe late last year. Mr Garner said "I would like to thank Tommy for his efforts in the short time he has been with us and I am sure he will soon be back in the game elsewhere".

Cartwright Buys Leek Time

Another managerless club, Leek Town, won't be rushing in to making an appointment after a fine run of form under caretaker boss Mark Cartwright bought the Premier Division's bottom club some breathing space. Club Chairman Marvin Clarke said this week "Although we have had 24 applications for the post Mark has got the lads performing well and there has been a big turn round in performances. He and skipper Ashley Wooliscroft are doing a good job and the spirit in the dressing room is the best I have known it for a long time. We are not therefore in any hurry and an appointment at this stage is not imminent".

Cartwright, a goalkeeper in his playing days with an eight year Football League career at Wrexham, Brighton and Shrewsbury Town, joined Leek a couple of seasons ago but was forced to give up playing at the start of the current campaign due to ongoing injuries.

Fire Brigade To The Rescue

The local Fire Brigade came to the rescue of village team Bethel on Tuesday evening when they visited UniBond League club Colwyn Bay for a 4th Round tie in the North Wales Coast FA Cup. In what must be a unique reason for a late kick off the start of the match was delayed for half an hour as in somewhat bizarre circumstances nobody, however hard they tried, could get the team bus luggage compartment in which their playing kit was stored to open! After a succession of failed attempts the Fire Brigade were called and eventually released the kit. The village side, however, must have been wishing the Brigade were not so good at their job as they slumped to an eleven goal defeat - the biggest win Colwyn Bay have enjoyed since joining the UniBond League in 1991.

Telford To Announce Appointment Next Week

AFC Telford have interviewed thirteen applicants for their vacant managerial position in the past ten days with the final candidate being seen last Wednesday. The Board have now drawn up a short list of three or four hopefuls for a second interview stage which is to be held provisionally next Wednesday. It is then expected that the replacement for former Northern Ireland international Bernard McNally will be unveiled either next Thursday or Friday.

Sowerby Blow For Spalding

Having recently lost manager Alan Biley Spalding United suffered another blow this week when skipper Lee Sowerby, who played his 250th game for the club last Saturday at Woodley Sports, announced that he was hanging up his boots after today's fixture against Goole. The 26 year old has finally had to admit defeat in his battle to overcome a troublesome right knee. Sowerby, who has turned down offers this season from both Grantham Town and Stamford and remained loyal to the "Tulips", has been happy to be a one club man saying "It has never been about money for me. I've stayed at Spalding because there are some great people there and I've made a lot of friends. I'm sorry to finish but if I don't stop now I could end up being crippled and when I have children I want to be able to play with them in the back garden".

New Number Two For Walker

Nick Armitage, the former manager of the 2004 England Regions Cup side that competed in the UEFA Regions Cup and reached the second group stage in Bosnia and Slovenia, has become number two to Glenn Walker at Warrington Town. Nick came to prominence as manager of Mid-Cheshire side Barnton winning a number of titles as well as the National League System Cup to qualify his club to represent England in the UEFA competition. Walker's previous Assistant Jim McBride stepped down to work commitments.

Mossley Take Garvey Until End Of Season

First Division title chasers Mossley have taken striker Paul Garvey on loan from Ashton United until the end of the season. The 27 year old has finished both of the last two campaigns as Ashton's leading goalscorer but this term has seen him blighted by injury. Garvey, in his attempt to get his career back on track, joins former Ashton team mates Martin Allison and Andy Thackeray at Seel Park. Garvey's debut, however, was delayed as both he and Allison were cup-tied for today's game against Ilkeston Town.

Glendon Takes Another Step Back

Having recently relinquished his directorship and full time duties Radcliffe Borough manager Kevin Glendon has taken another step back this week with the news that he is handing over the footbal administration side of things to veteran goalkeeper Andy Johnston. The move leaves Glendon with just first team coaching and management as he concentrates on his new business venture. Another back-room move will see long serving 'physio Roy Davies give way to Ronnie Evans after fourteen years loyal service. Davies is going to live in Portugal at the end of the current campaign. Meanwhile Borough have signed striker Tony Evans and Ian Kearney following this week's upheaval at Clitheroe. Nineteen year old Evans was top scorer last season in Southport's Reserve team and was a pre-season target for Glendon but went instead to Clitheroe where he was again top scorer before his departure. 18 year old Kearney was also with Southport before moving to Clitheroe with Evans after beginning his career at Blackburn Rovers.

McNamara On Way Back

Eastwood Town's former Notts County and Lincoln City player Niall McNamara played a competitive match for the first time in five months last Wednesday evening when he came on as a second half substitute in the 4-1 Notts Senior Cup win over Clifton. The 24 year old Irishman broke his leg in an FA Cup tie at Cradley Heath in September and after coming through the midweek test will now probably be given a couple of Reserve team outings prior to being recalled to the first team squad.

Another long term absentee ready for a run out with the second string is long serving club captain Paul Gould. After missing only a handful of games in the past nine seasons Gould has managed only five appearances this term in which he has been sidelined for the past four months with leg problems.

Just to compound his problems manager Paul Cox is now desperately trying to find experienced goalkeeping cover for Danny Bryant whose appearance in today's League Challenge Cup quarter-final at Marine could be his last for five or six weeks due to the work commitments of a new job. The only other goalkeepers at Eastwood are three teenagers the oldest of whom is eighteen.

Runcorn Sign County Youngster

Runcorn FC Halton have signed seventeen year old goalkeeper Jonathon Ritchie from Carlsberg West Cheshire League side Poulton Victoria. The youngster was formerly with Bolton Wanderers and has already signed a pre-contractual agreement for next season with Stockport County.

The "Linnets", however, could be losing a player at the other end of the age scale with former Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Peterborough United, Rotherham United and Mansfield Town striker Gary Martindale mulling over an approach from Conference North club Vauxhall Motors to become their new player-coach.

Nice Touch From Burton

There was a nice touch from Conference club Burton Albion this week when this season's FA Cup headline makers made a donation of £250 to Burscough's Supporter's Club. Burscough, of course, were Burton's opponents in the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Cup immediately prior to their dream tie with Manchester United. The original game was called off late in the day leaving Burscough's Supporters Club with a coach bill of £250 for the aborted Saturday trip. Having settled their financial responsibilities with Burscough FC, Burton were under no obligation what so ever to the Supporters Club but immediately on hearing about the loss incurred Albion Chairman Ben Robinson sent a cheque to cover the deficit.

Burscough Supporters Club Secretary Eric Berry said "I think this is a marvellous gesture and one that shows what can happen when non-league clubs form a bond and help each other".

Spalding Down To Two

Managerless Spalding United have narrowed their preferred choice of new manager down to a short-list of two and are expecting to be able to make an announcement early next week. In the meantime, player Andy Stanhope was again in charge of team affairs for today's visit of Goole despite still having his leg in plaster from an injury sustained in January.

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