Friday, 29th August 2008

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30th September 2006

Last Saturday's First Division leaders Eastwood Town lost at Stocksbridge on Tuesday but kept top spot as nearest challengers Buxton also went down in midweek despite scoring three times at Harrogate Railway. That defeat not only cost the Derbyshire top place but also their unbeaten record leaving newcomers Cammell Laird as the only team in the lower tier not to have lost. The Birkenhead side, however, needed a last gasp equaliser at home on Tuesday to deny Bamber Bridge a first success in five and they will also have been disappointed to be held to a draw on Saturday when leading struggling Bridlington Town 2-0 with only five minutes left. Eastwood recovered from their midweek blip with victory at Clitheroe but are joined at the top by Bradford Park Avenue who picked up six points in the week. Alsager Town were another side to claim six points and their reward was to climb in to the play-off places.

In the FA Cup it was virtually honours even in the games against outside opposition with six wins for UniBond clubs against seven defeats with two draws. First Division sides did particularly well with Ossett Albion and Woodley Sports overcoming Conference opposition as did Premier Division Witton Albion and Matlock Town with the latter perhaps being the performance of the day as they beat high flying Histon. Other notable First Division efforts came from Kidsgrove Athletic who hit six and Warrington Town who drew at Premier Division Kendal Town whilst Skelmersdale United won at Marske United who had previously dealt out blows to higher ranking opposition.

Buxton Hit By Hutchinson Blow

First Division title challengers Buxton have been hit by the news that right back Sean Hutchinson will be out for the rest of the season after the injury he received at Stocksbridge earlier in the month was diagnosed as cruciate ligament damage.

UniBond One "Club Of The Month" Award

The First Division accolade was a close affair with Ossett Albion and Skelmersdale United winning six games and losing one. However, the panel went with Albion who could claim Workington of the Conference North amongst their victims in an excellent FA Cup victory.
Kidsgrove Short On Hot Shots

Just two players have managed to find their way to goal in league games this season for Kidsgrove Athletic. Only Michael Lennon and Matt Rhead have found the back of the net in seven league games.
FA Youth Cup

The UniBond League will have nine clubs in the 2nd Qualifying Round of this season's FA Youth Cup but were disappointed to lose seven clubs to outside opposition in this week's 1st Qualifying Round ties. Balancing the deficit, however, were Brigg Town, Marine, Kendal Town, Grantham Town, Hednesford Town and AFC Telford United whose Under 18's all marched on. In the all UniBond games Burscough won 3-1 at Witton Albion thanks to two late goals whilst North Ferriby United beat Goole 4-0 and Leek Town showed their seniors how to find the net with an impressive away 8-1 thrashing of Gresley Rovers.

The draw, however, for the 2nd Qualifying Round has been very unkind to the surviving UniBond clubs with no fewer than seven of the nine drawn away. The ties involving UniBond clubs is as follows with the games to be played in week commencing 9th October -

Thackley v NORTH FERRIBY UNITED
Farsley Celtic v BRIGG TOWN
Curzon Ashton v BURSCOUGH
Bootle v KENDAL TOWN
Colne v MARINE
Glossop North End v LEEK TOWN
HEDNESFORD TOWN v Nuneaton Borough
AFC TELFORD UNITED v Gornal Athletic
Lowestoft Town v GRANTHAM TOWN

Bridlington To Become Number Five?

Following the managerial changes at Clitheroe, Chorley, Grantham and Frickley Athletic already this season it seems that Bridlington Town could be the next club to see a change in occupancy of the hot seat. The current incumbent is Chairman and owner Peter Smurthwaite is struggling to combine all of his football duties with that of running his own business and has decided to reduce the titles on his job description by one - that of manager.

He said after Monday's 2-0 defeat at Bradford Park Avenue "I have decided to advertise for a manager to take over from myself as soon as possible. Obviously results have been disappointing and I was particularly unhappy with the performances at home against Harrogate Railway and Gresley Rovers. We need to strengthen the side and I am finding the time taken up looking for players, speaking to contacts and other clubs on top of organising two first team games a week is just too much. However, the financial side of the club is now better after four years of chaos and we have the situation under control. Another plus is that I have been pleased with the attendances so far at home but to find out we only had two cars to take players and kit to Bradford when I had spent four hours making 26 phone calls the day before on football business makes me wonder why I am still at the club in any capacity"

Bamber Bridge Support Lancs Police Anti-Yob Scheme

Along with Premiership referee Mark Halsey, First Division Bamber Bridge are giving their full support to a "Pub Watch" Red card scheme introduced in the South Ribble area by Lancashire Police. Mark is the face of the new poster campaign "Behave or be Banned" which emphasises unruly behaviour in pubs and other licensed premises is not acceptable and those who indulge in such behaviour are likely to be banned from entering licensed premises in and around the Bamber Bridge area. The Red Card scheme operates in a similar way to football's red and yellow card system. Foul and abusive language or disorderly conduct will be dealt with by a yellow card or warning and a repeat will see the person banned. People who commit violence or damage property in and around licensed premises will be banned from all pubs etc in the area participating in the scheme.

Gresley Take First Steps To New Home

Gresley Rovers this week were delighted to receive news that the South Derbyshire District Council had accepted the club's bid for a grant to enable them to purchase the Moat Ground which is a big step to their long awaited move to a new stadium.

The Moat Ground has been the club's home since 1909 but it has been the club's dream to move to a new home for the past sixteen years. Club Chairman Mark Evans said " I am delighted and really appreciate the local council accepting our application and awarding the grant. I will be meeting with the council early next week to progress the matter and the project team who have been tasked with managing the re-location to a new stadium will be meeting in the near future. Several interested parties have already been in touch with the club regarding the purchase of the Moat Ground and further meetings have been arranged over the next few weeks. This is a very important milestone for the club and although there remains a lot of work to do it is a big step towards the club's dream of moving in to a new stadium".

Gresley have also ensured their local newspaper's appeal for "Boots 4 Africa" has got off to a flying start. The Burton Mail launched the appeal after their deputy editor Andy Parker, who also helps out at Rovers, visited Gambia and saw at first hand how hundreds of youngsters play football in their bare feet due to the prohibitive cost of buying boots in the impoverished nation. Rovers' Chairman Mark Evans said "Manager Gary Norton and the players thought it was great idea to back the appeal. Lots of boots end up in the skip each season and this is a much better way of disposing of them".

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At home to:
Alvechurch (FA Cup Preliminary Round)

Saturday 30th August, 3.00pm

View previous encounters with Alvechurch