Sunday, 12th October 2008

News Archive

3rd November 2007
Review Of The Week

Despite becoming the first team in seventeen league and cup games this season to stop Fleetwood Town scoring, Premier Division leaders Witton Albion had their lead cut to six points as they couldn't breach Fleetwood's defence either when the two met on Tuesday. Nearest challengers Guiseley and Gateshead are now both six points behind but with two games in hand following their midweek victories. The Yorkshire side made it three wins on the bounce as they beat fifth place Marine whilst the Tynesiders secured a first away victory in their last four trips when successful at Kendal Town for whom it was a third league defeat in their last four outings. Fleetwood's point hoisted them above the "Mariners" in to fourth on goal difference.

FC United of Manchester made it 12 points from four games when beating Bridlington Town and they have now closed to within three points of leaders Curzon Ashton after a slow start. Ossett Albion lost ground in third when held to a goalless draw by last week's FA Cup heroes Harrogate Railway Athletic and Newcastle Blue Star have slipped quietly in to fourth with their win at Woodley Sports who have not won a league game in their last six attempts but only one point separates Blue Star and Garforth Town down in ninth. In the First Division South Cammell Lairds joined Retford United at the top thanks to two goals from substitute Chris Nezianya against Nantwich Town who had taken 13 points from the last 15 on offer. After four successive home wins Goole AFC looked to be on course to beat Grantham Town, unbeaten since the opening day, when they scored in two minutes but Grantham hit back to equalise and are now fourth just ahead of Gresley Rovers who won at Kidsgrove Athletic. At the other end of the table the two bottom clubs Spalding United and Brigg Town shared the spoils to earn the Tulips only their second point of the season. In the FA Trophy First Division clubs Colwyn Bay and Sheffield both turned over top tier opposition in Frickley Athletic and Kendal Town respectively whilst Bamber Bridge and Retford United held Marine and Fleetwood Town.

Snippets

Woodley Sports suffered a big set back when during a break-in last Saturday night the culprits did extensive damage to several doors and electrical equipment causing several thousand pounds worth of damage in addition to stealing to the first team's red/blue striped kit, a brand new and still unused youth team kit, a spare kit and UniBond match and training balls. Frickley Athletic Match Secretary Ruth Bradley raised £620 for "Beating Bowel Cancer" with her run in the "Lucozade Active Women's Challenge"..Hednesford Town's Ashley Woolliscroft has signed a two contract with Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic.. Goole debutant Ammy Ninje scored with his first touch after coming off the bench in the 87th minute of Tuesday evening's President's Cup game against Spalding United. Radcliffe Borough, still searching for that elusive first league win of the season, had won six and lost only two out of nine cup ties including today's draw at Chasetown and one of the defeats was on penalties!

UniBond "Club Of The Month" Awards

In a close affair the October Premier Division UniBond "Club of the Month" award has gone to leaders Witton Albion who just edged out August winners Guiseley. Albion were undefeated in six games during October winning four of them whilst the Yorkshire side won five out of six with their only defeat coming in the FA Cup against Conference North opposition. However, Witton's three 6-1 victories during the month plus the fact that they became the first team this season to prevent Fleetwood Town finding the net swung it their way. All five of Guiseley's wins had been by odd goal margins.

The First Division South award was no contest with Sheffield FC adding to their 150th Anniversary celebrations in October by capturing the "Club of the Month" award with a perfect six straight wins - perhaps the most apt winner ever in the history of these awards! The nearest challengers at a respectful distance were Grantham Town who won five and drew one of their eight games.

The First Division North prize was a much closer affair with Harrogate Railway Athletic, Curzon Ashton and FC United of Manchester all having identical records of five wins and a draw from eight games whilst only a penalty shoot out win over Mossley in Tuesday evening's President's Cup elevated Skelmersdale United from also having the same record as the three other clubs mentioned. However Harrogate's magnificent FA Cup achievement in reaching the First Round Proper by beating highflying and previously unbeaten Harrogate Town earned them the award.

The above awards mean that in the first three months of the campaign nine different clubs have taken the prizes demonstrating just how competitive all three Divisions are.

UniBond "Fair Play" Awards

The UniBond "Fair Play" awards for October have gone to Matlock Town, Newcastle Blue Star and Quorn. Matlock took the top flight prize with just one caution in the month - a remarkable turn round from thirteen cautions and three dismissals in their first nine UniBond fixtures!

Newcastle Blue Star's success in winning the First Division North is also very interesting as it comes in the first month of new manager Tommy Cassidy's stewardship. That is worth noting as his previous club Workington were always amongst the front-runners for a share of the end of season Fair Play prize money having won it and been runners-up during their time in the UniBond League. In fairness to Blue Star, though, it must be said that their Fair Play record prior to Cassidy's appointment was already quite reasonable.

Quorn's October success in the First Division South Fair Play enabled them to overtake previous season to date leaders Nantwich Town who drop a place after picking up eight cautions in their five fixtures.

Witton Albion continue to lead the season to date table in the Premier Division proving that winning matches can be achieved alongside fair play. Mossley stay well clear in the First Division North overall tables despite October being the first time this season that the Tameside club had not won the monthly award.

The three overall season winners next May will receive £1,000 courtesy of League Sponsors Henkel with the three runners-up each taking home £650 and the third place teams £350.

UniBond League Television
Forthcoming Games

Sat 10th Nov Warrington Town v Belper Town Match of the Week
Sat 17th Feb North Ferriby Utd v Fleetwood Town Match of the Week
Tue 20th Nov Nantwich Town v Cammell Laird Live Game
Sat 24th Nov Leek T v Ilkeston T [subject to FAT] Match of the Week

All games can be accessed through the banner link on www.unibondleague.com and are subject to change.

Rossendale Youngster Gets England Trial

Tom Williams, a promising 17-year-old forward with First Division North Rossendale United was called up last weekend to attend an England Under 18 trial at the National Football Academy in Keele. Rossendale manager Derek Egan said "Tom has lots of potential. He has good pace and is a hard working and level headed lad. I believe his spell here with us will add some qualities he may perhaps not get in the sometimes over protective world of football academies. I think it will round off his development". Club Chairman Steve Hobson added "It's a great feather in our cap to have one of our young players recognised in this way and everyone at the club has their fingers crossed that he can progress within the England structure".

Prior to signing for Rossendale at the beginning of October Williams had been with Wigan Athletic but is now suffering a slight injury that is likely to keep him out of action for a couple of weeks.

Toronczak On The Move

Another striker in the news this week was Danny Toronczak who has moved from First Division South club Belper Town, where he was the "Nailers" leading goalscorer with nine goals in nineteen games, to First Division North Mossley.

It isn't the first time that Mossley boss Gerry Quinn has signed Toronczak with the 31 year striker having played under him at Ashton United. Toronczak's most prolific era, however, has been his time with Ossett Albion where he scored 143 goals in 235 games for the Dimple Wells club. After missing much of the 2005/6 campaign with injury he recovered well to find the net 29 times last season.

Nantwich Sign Darlington 'Keeper

Nantwich Town have signed the experienced 37-year-old Lee Jones who has been recently released by Darlington. Welsh born Jones made his Football League debut in 1994/5 for Swansea City before moving to Bristol Rovers where he made approaching a century of appearances. He then clocked up a similar number with both Stockport County and Blackpool before playing a couple of games on loan for Bury and finally making a handful of appearances for Darlington.

Brigg Players Involved In Car Accident

Brigg Town arranged a practice match against Grimsby Town reserves last Monday evening with a view to having a look at some triallists but the occasion almost turned in to a disaster when a car carrying five players including three Brigg regulars Damian Steer, Daniel Barrett and Michael Jacklin was involved in an accident. All three and two triallists were taken by ambulance to hospital but none suffered bad injuries. 20-year-old left back Barrett, however, will be out of action for several weeks as a result of the accident.

Sheffield FC's Big Match To Boost Boots For Africa

Sheffield FC's 150th Anniversary Match against Inter Milan next Thursday, 8th November will be used to significantly boost the club's "Boots for Africa" appeal. Anyone donating a pair of boots to Sheffield United for the charity before 5pm next Thursday will receive a free ticket for the game which will include an appearance on the pitch by Pele.

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Rovers Make A Point On The Road

Lincoln Pre-match News

At home to:
Willenhall Town (UniBond President's Cup 2nd Round)

Tuesday 14th October, 7.45pm

View previous encounters with Willenhall Town