Tuesday, 14th October 2008

News Archive

12th January 2008
Review Of The Day

There was little change at the head of the Premier Division with the top three all winning although both first and second had to come from interval deficits to overcome sides battling against relegation.

Leaders WITTON ALBION were behind at the break to ILKESTON TOWN with their winner coming just six minutes from time whilst FLEETWOOD TOWN left it even later as they had only four minutes to spare when Andy Bell popped in his second of the game to beat NORTH FERRIBY UNITED.

Third place MARINE had Karl O'Donnell to thank for both their goals against EASTWOOD TOWN who dropped out of the play-off spots as a result of their defeat. They were replaced by BUXTON who made it thirteen goals in their last three home games when beating OSSETT TOWN 3-1 to keep pace with GATESHEAD who beat STAMFORD 2-1.

Bottom club FRICKLEY ATHLETIC continued their resurgence with a point at PRESCOT CABLES whilst in the two other top flight matches WHITBY TOWN twice led ASHTON UNITED only to lose in stoppage time whilst the game between WORKSOP TOWN and MATLOCK TOWN saw the lead change hands twice in a 2-2 draw.

After a barren festive season First Division North leaders CURZON ASHTON bounced back in style to hit BRIDLINGTON TOWN for six with five of those coming before half-time. OSSETT ALBION moved in to second despite going behind at home in the first minute against CLITHEROE before hitting five without reply in the second half.

FC UNITED of MANCHESTER moved up a place to fourth after their third win on the run with SKELMERSDALE UNITED dropping two spots to fifth after losing at ROSSENDALE UNITED who are now unbeaten in seven. Just outside the play-off zone but on the same points as FC United and "Skem" are BAMBER BRIDGE who left it late in beating GARFORTH TOWN Elsewhere LANCASTER CITY kept their sixth consecutive clean sheet when beating WAKEFIELD, RADCLIFFE BOROUGH's mini recovery came to end when they lost for the first time in seven to WOODLEY SPORTS and HARROGATE RAILWAY recorded their first win in seven when beating MOSSLEY.

South section leaders RETFORD UNITED were held to their fourth draw in their last five games when drawing 2-2 at QUORN who had twice been behind and United are now only four points clear of CAMMELL LAIRD who edged out BELPER TOWN 3-2.

Third place GRESLEY ROVERS had their run of six straight wins rudely interrupted at home to GRANTHAM TOWN who found the back of the net four times after shooting blanks in their previous two outings. Both Grantham and GOOLE climbed above NANTWICH TOWN who the "Vikings" beat 1-0.

Once again SHEFFIELD FC were rained off but if they ever get to play they will be a danger to all with their games in hand. Two massive games at the bottom where SHEPSHED DYNAMO ended a sequence of seven successive defeats to go above victims BRIGG TOWN whilst wooden spoonists SPALDING UNITED must have thought they had their third win of the season in bag when leading KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC by two goals with two minutes left only to be hauled back to level terms in a tense finish.

The one other game also saw a dramatic revival as WARRINGTON TOWN turned a 3-2 interval deficit at CARLTON TOWN in to a 6-3 victory!

UniBond League Cup Draws

The draws for the Quarter-Finals of the UniBond League Challenge Cup and the President's Cup were made on Wednesday with the only previous winners left in either competition, Marine, drawn away to Skelmersdale United - the First Division's only survivors in the Challenge Cup. Marine are attempting to set two records in this competition by reaching their sixth Final and winning their fourth having previously been successful in 1985, 1992 and 2003 in addition to being losing Finalists in 1981 and 1986. They currently share both records with Hyde United and Runcorn.

Beaten Challenge Cup Finalists in 1990 and 2003 Gateshead have a long trek to Witton Albion who, somewhat surprisingly, will be looking to reach their first League Challenge Cup Final whilst Ilkeston Town host the winners of the delayed Guiseley / Eastwood Town and Worksop Town are at home to either Whitby Town or Frickley Athletic.

There will be a new name on the President's Cup this season with the only two teams to have previously reached the Final of this competition, Wakefield and Goole, having been drawn against one another. Wakefield will be hoping to go one better than last season when they lost to Buxton whilst Goole's only previous Final appearance was in the inaugural competition in 1982 when they too lost to Buxton. The only other clear cut tie is at Radcliffe Borough who, despite struggling in the league, have done very well in cup competitions this season and they will host Brigg Town who, like Radcliffe have struggled in the league until recently. In the other ties Ossett Albion will travel to either Sheffield or Retford United whilst the winners of the twice postponed Nantwich Town and Cammell Laird tie will be visited by either FC United of Manchester or Rossendale United.

The full draws are as follows with ties to be played to a conclusion on Saturday, 9th February -

UniBond League Challenge Cup - Quarter Finals

Ilkeston Town v Guiseley/ Eastwood Town
Witton Albion v Gateshead
Skelmersdale United v Marine
Worksop Town v Whitby Town/ Frickley Athletic

UniBond League President's Cup - Quarter Finals

Goole AFC v Wakefield FC
Radcliffe Borough v Brigg Town
Nantwich Town/ Cammell Laird v FC Utd of Manchester/ Rossendale United
Retford/ Sheffield v Ossett Albion

Whitby Hand Job To Caretakers

Whitby Town announced this week that joint caretaker bosses Phil Brumwell and Graham Clarke have been appointed to the position on a permanent basis. They had taken over in October after the departure of Lee Nogan. 32 year old Brumwell, who made over two hundred appearances in the full time game mainly with Darlington, intends to continue playing leaving Clarke to run things from the dug out on match days. Clarke was Assistant Manager to John Charlton at Blyth Spartans and also managed both Tow Law Town and the ill-fated Spennymoor United in his own right. Brumwell played under Clarke at both Blyth and Spennymoor and was captain at the latter when they folded.

UniBond League Action Pics

The League now has an official photographer in Alan Michaelovitz and his quality pics can be accessed at www.nplimages.co.uk They are well worth a look.

Johnson Withdraws From Leek Manager's Position

Leek Town defender Wayne Johnson has dropped out of the running to become the club's manager on a permanent basis. The 34 year old has been holding things together for the Harrison Park side after the sudden departure of Paul Moore in December and initially relished the opportunity to prove himself in the hot seat.

However, he has found out the hard way that the combined job of playing and managing is tougher than he had anticipated and, as he wants to continue playing, he wishes to vacate the manager's job. He said: "The job on my own is too much. I didn't think it would be so hard and as playing remains my priority I now realise I am not yet ready for management. It is a seven days a week task and not just about putting a team out on the field".

Big Blow For Skelmersdale

Skelmersdale United suffered two blows this week when their dream of a UniBond Cup double was halted in its tracks on Tuesday by the First Division North's bottom club Radcliffe Borough who have excelled in cup competitions this season despite their poor league record and then three days later losing leading goalscorer Tony Evans.

"Skem" went out of the President's Cup on Tuesday evening with Evans scoring their only goal to take his tally to 24 for the campaign including no fewer than five hat-tricks. He was then signed on Friday by Witton Albion who are already the top tier's highest goalscorers by some distance

Smith Returns To Eastwood

Another striker on the move this week was 33 year old Marc Smith who has returned to Eastwood Town from Guiseley in exchange for a not insignificant four figure fee. He originally left Eastwood for Harrogate Town prior to his switch to Guiseley.

Groundsman Of The Year

From the nominations received the UniBond League have forwarded the following four clubs for consideration of the Football Association's Groundsman of the Year awards - Witton Albion (Premier Division), Garforth Town and Skelmersdale United (First Division North) and Belper Town in the First Division South.

UniBond League Television

Forthcoming Games

Sat 19th Jan Witton Alb v Leek Town Live Game 12:45
Sat 26th Jan Retford Utd v Belper Town Match of the Week
Sat 2nd Feb Woodley Sports v Clitheroe Match of the Week
Sat 9th Feb League Cup Quarter Finals Skelmersdale Utd v Marine
Worksop Town v Guiseley or EastWood Town Match of the Week
Tue 13th Feb Live Game TBA Live Game

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

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Rovers Make A Point On The Road

New Signing

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

This evening, 7.45pm

View previous encounters with Willenhall Town