Saturday, 30th August 2008

News Archive

26th January 2008
Review Of The Week

It was a good day for FLEETWOOD TOWN who edged out ILKESTON TOWN with a late penalty to close the gap on leaders WITTON ALBION to ten points with four games in hand at the head of the Premier Division table.

Albion were held to a draw at HEDNESFORD TOWN and there was a shock too for last week's third place side MARINE who were beaten at home by season long bottom club FRICKLEY ATHLETIC. The South Elmshall side, who last week lost after being three up, must have had fears of it happening again as the "Mariners" fought back from a three goal deficit to 3-2 but this time Athletic found more resolve and hung on to the three points that lifted them off bottom spot for the first time.

BUXTON made it five wins on the bounce and GATESHEAD three when beating PRESCOT CABLES and LEEK TOWN respectively and both moved above MARINE who are in danger of losing their play-off position to either EASTWOOD TOWN or GUISELEY who both won. Hot shot of the day was WORKSOP TOWN's Andy White whose hat-trick saw off NORTH FERRIBY UNITED whilst Carl Osman scored on his debut to give KENDAL TOWN another point towards staving off relegation when they held OSSETT TOWN. The one other game saw ASHTON UNITED and STAMFORD draw 1-1.

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE and SKELMERSDALE UNITED closed the gap on First Division North leaders CURZON ASHTON (who were without a game) to five points with big wins. Avenue hit four at GARFORTH TOWN whilst Skem went one better with five against MOSSLEY as they maintained their unbeaten home record.

Mossley's defence once again creaked as it was the sixth time in their last eleven games that they have conceded four goals or more. Fourth place OSSETT ALBION lost ground when they went down in stoppage time at CLITHEROE who were recording their first win in seven games but the biggest shock in this Division came at BRIDLINGTON TOWN whose visitors LANCASTER CITY had gone seven games without conceding a goal.

Lowly Brid shattered that record with four as the Giant Axe side had 'keeper Mark Thornley dismissed at 2-0 and finished the game with nine men. Elsewhere NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR struck twice late on to take the points against WOODLEY SPORTS whilst CHORLEY edged five points clear of bottom club RADCLIFFE BOROUGH with a goalless draw at home to HARROGATE RAILWAY ATHLETIC.

First Division South leaders RETFORD UNITED after just one success in six games got their show back on the road with a 3-0 win over BELPER TOWN but the only other team in the top ten to taste success were GOOLE who beat bottom club SPALDING UNITED who are still searching for an elusive first home victory of the campaign.

SHEPSHED DYNAMO moved out of the bottom two with a win over play-off hopefuls GRANTHAM TOWN and were replaced by KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC who dropped a place despite fighting back from two down to earn a point against STOCKSBRIDGE.

Welsh club COLWYN BAY kept their play-off hopes alive with a win over GRESLEY ROVERS but QUORN are now ten games without a win after drawing at SHEFFIELD whilst BRIGG TOWN continued their charge away from the bottom with a 4-1 success at ALSAGER TOWN.

Drury Quits At Stamford

Stamford became the second UniBond League club this year (and the seventeenth of the season) to have a managerial change when boss Graham Drury quit to take over at Corby Town who had dismissed their last manager Kevin Wilson earlier in the month. Drury had been in charge of the "Daniels" since May 2005 and in his first campaign had led the club to promotion via the Southern League First Division play-offs after a fourth place finish. Last term Drury saw his side finish in eighth place in the Southern League Premier Division - their highest ever position in the national league system - whilst Stamford also won the Lincolnshire Senior Shield.

His Coach Paul Holden has left with him but Assistant Wayne Hallcro stayed to take charge of team affairs for today's game at Ashton United although he, too, was then expected to join Drury and Holden at Corby.

Nantwich Youngster At Crewe

Crewe Alexandra have extended the trial period of Nantwich Town youngster Kelvin Mellor inviting him to train with them for a further six weeks. The seventeen year old has first team experience with the "Dabbers" and both the player and the club will be hoping he follows in the footsteps of another Nantwich teenager Matt Freeman who last autumn completed a successful trial at Crewe with the "Railwaymen" signing him in exchange for a five figure fee plus a 10% sell on clause.

Hednesford Youngsters Get National Recognition

No fewer than four of Hednesford Town's current youth team have been called up to represent England Colleges. Jordan Francis, Adam Walker, Jack Stone and Michael Clark join another Hednesford youth team player in the international stakes as striker Harry Hambleton is due to play for England Schools against Australia tomorrow, Sunday, 27th January at Shrewsbury Town.

World Cup Winners Help Avenue Fund Raising Effort

Two members of the 1966 England World Cup winning side Jack Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst will be at Bradford Park Avenue's home game next Saturday against Bridlington Town in a fund raising initiative for the club. The two former players will be signing any memorabilia that fans bring along from 11.45am through to the half time interval. In addition on the same day Avenue are holding a Schools Challenge where the different teams will be competing for a share of £1,000 in prize money.

On the field of play Bradford have this week signed 21 year old Chris Williams who spent five years at Stockport County for whom he made his debut at just sixteen years of age. He made around forty appearances for Stockport plus a further three on loan at Grimsby Town.

UniBond League Television

Forthcoming Games

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
Ilkeston T v Guiseley or Eastwood Town Match of the Week
Wed 13th Feb Newcastle BS v Bradford PA Live Game
Sat 16th Feb Witton A v Gateshead Match of the Week
Sat 23rd Feb Matlock Town v Eastwood Town Live Game

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

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