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9th April 2007
Buxton are almost home in the First Division after two defeats for Cammell Laird who kept their slim title hopes alive on Monday with a 3-1 win over fellow play-off contenders Stocksbridge PS that secured Lairds a minimum of a play-off spot but it would take a mega change in form to deny the Derbyshire side the spoils in their first season back.

Eastwood Town also guaranteed themselves a play-off place when they beat Belper Town but the two other spots are wide open. Colwyn Bay are putting a run together and have been beaten only once in a dozen games, Bradford Park Avenue were held to a draw by third bottom Wakefield after two wins whilst neither Ossett Albion or Kidsgrove Athletic can be ruled out.

UniBond One "Fair Play" Award

The UniBond One "Fair Play" award for March has gone to Bradford Park Avenue.

Bradford collected just three cautions in seven outings during the month but the overall £1,000 first prize in the lower tier appears to be Kidsgrove Athletic's for the taking after they maintained their impressive season long discipline with six cautions in eight games and they are the only member club in either Division not to have had a player dismissed this season. They are the proverbial mile ahead of nearest rivals (and coincidentally, nearest neighbours too) Alsager Town who themselves are well placed to pick up the runners-up prize of £500. Bradford's excellent month has enabled them to close right up to Harrogate Railway to dispute who will get the £500 third place prize and who will take the £250 fourth prize. Waiting in the wings for either of these having a poor last month on the disciplinary scene are Woodley Sports, Shepshed Dynamo and Champions elect Buxton.

UniBond League Cup Final

The UniBond League Challenge Cup Final between Fleetwood Town and Matlock Town will take place at Witton Albion FC on Monday 16th April 2007. Matlock are attempting to win the competition for the second time in three seasons and, in addition, if they are successful in their quest, will join an elite band of just four clubs to have won the competition on three occasions. The other sides to have achieved this feat are Marine, Runcorn and Hyde United.

The Final is likely to be a very close fought affair as both league fixtures between the two this season have resulted in 1-1 draws. Neither participants have happy memories of visiting Witton during the current campaign with Fleetwood losing there in both the league and FA Trophy whilst Matlock also lost on their league visit!

Unibond League TV

Forthcoming Games

14th April Marine v Whitby Town
16th April Fleetwood Town v Matlock Town [LCC Final at Witton Albion]
21st April Bradford Park Avenue v Buxton
24th April Witton Albion v AFC Telford Utd (possible live game)
28th April AFC Telford United v Burscough
5th May Premier Division Play Off Final (possible live game)

All games plus highlights from other UniBond matches are available on UniBond TV viewed via the link on our website www.unibondleague.com

Restructuring

On Tuesday 3rd April the Football Association issued the following statement on their restructuring of the game at UniBond League First Division level -

"The Football Association today confirmed that the planned expansion of Step 4of the National League System to incorporate an additional division of the Northern Premier League will proceed in time for the 2007 / 2008 season.

The revised structure will see the Northern Premier League operating with two First Divisions each comprising initially eighteen clubs. The additional Division will require a further twelve clubs to move up from current Step 5 leagues with the North West Counties, Northern Counties East and Midlands Football Alliance each providing a minimum of three clubs. The Northern League will also provide two clubs with both Durham City and Newcastle Blue Star committed to moving up the National League structure.

Although the Northern Premier League had been pressing for two Divisions of 20 clubs they are happy to accept the 18 club Division as a means of putting the new structure in place. National League System manager Mike Appleby commented that he was happy with the outcome "The decision means that the restructure at Steps 1 to 4 will now be complete and in place for next season. The decision to go with eighteen clubs means there should be limited, if any, impact on the Southern League who remain against any mass movement of clubs from their current Step 4 Midland Division. Now that this phase of the restructure has been agreed we can now look forward and begin a review of the Step 5,6 and 7 competitions".

Northern Premier League Chairman Peter Maude said "The League is of the opinion that the decision raises questions that can only be answered when the constituent member clubs are known which isn't expected to be until early May. The League will not be making any further statement until that time".

Avenue Make Management Change

Bradford Park Avenue this week took the number of managerial changes within the UniBond League past the 50% mark when they announced the appointment of Benny Phillips as full time manager to take over from Phil Sharpe and Clive Freeman who will remain with the club. The Board made the decision to go with a full time manager in order to achieve their aims of progressing up the National League System and developing its ties with the local community but neither Sharpe or Freeman could commit to full time employment with the club due to their own business commitments. In addition to managing the first team Phillips will oversee the Reserves and all other teams playing under the Avenue banner as well as diversifying in to developing the business aspects of the club through schools, websites etc. He has a great deal of experience within the League having managed both Mossley and Witton Albion and been Assistant Manager at Stalybridge Celtic and Ashton United. In his playing days he was with Crewe Alexandra, Macclesfield Town, Bury, Stalybridge Celtic, Mossley, Winsford United, Barrow, Buxton and Rossendale United. Phillips is the 24th managerial change during the current UniBond campaign.

The Run In

Despite the First Division championship appearing to be Buxton's for the taking there is still a great deal of interest in the play-off slots. With Eastwood Town and Cammell Laird favourites for two of the four available spots several clubs are competing for the remaining two places.

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At home to:
Alvechurch (FA Cup Preliminary Round)

Saturday 30th August, 3.00pm

View previous encounters with Alvechurch