Monday, 12th May 2008

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10th March 2008
Review Of The Week

This season's League Challenge Cup Final will be between EASTWOOD TOWN who came from behind to beat the in form FRICKLEY ATHLETIC whilst the lower tier will have a say in matters with First Division North leaders SKELMERSDALE UNITED edging out GATESHEAD on penalties in the other semi-final. It will be a first ever appearance in the Final for both clubs.

The President's Cup Final will be between FC UNITED of MANCHESTER and RADCLIFFE BOROUGH who also meet in the semi-final of their County Cup and still have each other to play twice in the league - they will be on first name terms come the end of April! FC United beat GOOLE 3-1 but the "Vikings" had the consolation of their biggest competitive "gate" since Scarborough visited them for an FA Cup tie in September 1987.

Borough's cup form held good again to ease past OSSETT ALBION but, remarkably, they could yet come up with the most unlikely double of Cup-Winners and relegation in the same season.

WITTON ALBION continue to lead the Premier Division after maintaining their unbeaten home record with a win over next to bottom LEEK TOWN but FLEETWOOD TOWN closed the gap to eight points with two games in hand thanks to two 1-0 away wins in the week.

BUXTON lost ground in midweek when surprisingly went down at home to NORTH FERRIBY UNITED before winning at fellow play-off hopefuls GUISELEY on Saturday. It was a bad week for the Nethermoor club who had been held at home on Tuesday by FRICKLEY ATHLETIC who were only denied all three points by a stoppage time equaliser.

Down in the drop zone all three bottom clubs lost but crucially in midweek WHITBY TOWN drew at LEEK TOWN to keep themselves four points clear of the last two places and only three points adrift of PRESCOT CABLES and NORTH FERRIBY UNITED in 13th and 14th positions respectively.

In addition to grabbing a President's Cup Final it was a good week for FC UNITED of MANCHESTER who edged out title rivals CURZON ASHTON 3-2 in midweek whilst lowly CLITHEROE did the Reds two big favours by holding SKELMERSDALE UNITED on Tuesday before inflicting a second defeat of the week on Curzon at the weekend.

BAMBER BRIDGE also failed to take advantage of FC Utd's absence on cup duty when they lost at home to WAKEFIELD. At the opposite end BRIDLINGTON TOWN had a great week with a 5-2 win at MOSSLEY before swopping places with WOODLEY SPORTS when they beat the Stockport based side on Saturday.

First Division leaders RETFORD UNITED moved eight points clear of the chasing pack but only after being pulled back to level terms by next to bottom KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC who were two down before the leaders won 3-2. GRANTHAM TOWN's play-off hopes were dented with a 2-1 reverse at ALSAGER TOWN and BELPER TOWN, after moving in to the play-off spots for the first time in midweek, slid out again when held at home by lowly SHEPSHED DYNAMO.

They were replaced by NANTWICH TOWN who took four points in the week from two home games whilst SHEFFIELD FC are very handily placed indeed if they can cope with their games in hand. The final word is reserved for WARRINGTON TOWN whose 2-0 win at bottom club SPALDING UNITED was only their second in twenty league outings.

Macron "Safe Hands" Awards

The Macron "Safe Hands" awards for February have gone to Peter Skiba of Guiseley in the top tier, FC United of Manchester's Aaron Grundy who is on loan from Bury and Michael Payne of Quorn in the respective First Divisions. Ironically Grundy conceded five against Nantwich Town in the President's Cup but cup games don't count towards this prize.

Payne's joy at winning the First Division South award was short and sweet for he unfortunately lived up to his surname when he suffered a recurrence of a shoulder injury that had kept him sidelined for fifteen months until being recalled to the team following Dan Haystead's departure to Sheffield FC at the beginning of February. It is thought the injury will keep him out of action until the end of the season.

Witton Sign Rapley

Although hardly short of firepower Premier Division leaders Witton Albion this week added to their striker strength with the signing of thirty year old Kevin Rapley who has over thirty goals to his credit in the Football League during a full time career of around two hundred appearances.

He began his career as a trainee with Brentford where he graduated to play more than fifty games before moving on to Notts County, Colchester United and Chester City with loan spells at Southend United, Exeter City and Scunthorpe United.

Fleetwood Cock A Hoop With Planning Permission

Fleetwood town were cock-a-hoop this week when they learned the Local Authority had given the club planning permission for the building of two new stands on the north and west sides of their Highbury Stadium home along with agreeing the installation of a new floodlight system.

Plans remain firmly on course to begin construction in May with the project planned to be completed in time for the start of the 2008/9 season. The development will initially increase the stadium's capacity from 3,500 to 5,000 and eventually to 6,000.

In a busy week for the club off the field of play Fleetwood also announced the appointment of their first ever Chief Executive in 35 year old Steve Curwood who will oversee the club's Commercial operation as well as assisting the Chairman and Board of Directors in managing the day to day running of the club.

Curwood's grand-father Albert Curwood played for the club in late 1930's after a Football League career which started at Blackpool before taking him around the country.

Prescott Cables Deducted A Point

At a disciplinary hearing held on Thursday evening Prescot Cables were deducted a point for playing an ineligible player in three games recently. The player concerned, Thomas Moore, was a contracted player with Cables but went playing Sunday football and was involved in an incident which resulted in him being banned until the end of the season. However, he did not tell Prescot either that he had been playing in Sunday football nor that he had been dismissed and banned.

As a consequence Prescot played him in three games against Frickley Athletic, Matlock Town and Buxton in which they picked up one point before the fact that he was suspended due to his misdemeanours in Sunday football came to light leaving the club devastated.

The player's irresponsible actions could cost Prescot dear as the point deduction may yet prove vital with half of the Premier Division clubs very tightly packed in the top tier's dog fight to avoid relegation. The point deduction will not show in the league tables until the time allowed for any appeal against the decision has lapsed.

At the same disciplinary meeting FC United of Manchester were found guilty of failing to fulfil a fixture against Woodley Sports on 6th February and were fined the sum of £500 and ordered to pay half of the costs of the hearing.

Avenue Appoint Cameron

Bradford Park Avenue have appointed Dave Cameron (he should be a good leader with a name like that) as their new manager following the recent departure of Benny Phillips. The 32 year old joins Avenue from Rhyl where he was player-coach and becomes one of the club's youngest ever managers. Cameron is a well-travelled footballer having played in his native Wales, the Scottish League and the Football League clocking up around a century of appearances in the full time game with St Mirren, Brighton & Hove Albion and Lincoln City. In addition he has played at Halifax Town, Droylsden and Chester City prior to his last job at Rhyl.

Stokes Becomes Number 21

The 21st managerial change of the UniBond League season arrived this week when Alsager Town and former Port Vale and Rochdale defender Dean Stokes parted company. Taking over is player Scott Dundas who signed for the club in January from neighbouring Kidsgrove Athletic and who became Assistant to Stokes when Richard Mitchell stepped down. The 34 year old Dundas has extensive playing experience in the non-league game around the Midlands having played for Kidsgrove Athletic with whom he reached the FA Vase semi-final in 1997/98 when he also finished as the North West Counties League leading goalscorer with 53 goals, Stafford Rangers, Leek Town and Ilkeston Town

Albion Boosted

Ossett Albion have been boosted by two of their key players signing further contracts to the end of next season. Influential midfielder Mick Senior who is recovering from a knee injury and leading goalscorer Shane Kelsey who has made a huge impression since his move from Garforth Town in the last close season both put pen to paper this week leaving manager Eric Gilchrist enthusing: "Getting these two players to commit to the club for next season is a big boost and shows the club's attitude to attracting and keeping quality players. This is the first step in my plans for next season".

Hesketh Turns Things Round For Chorley

Chorley made it six games unbeaten under new boss Tony Hesketh on Tuesday evening when beating Conference North outfit Burscough to reach the final of the Lancashire FA United Co-Operatives Trophy for the first time in fifteen years and ironically will meet the same opponents, Southport, as in their last appearance in season 1992-93, when the Sandgrounders beat the Magpies at Bolton's Burnden Park in a thrilling final 5-2 after extra time.

It is exactly 25 years since Chorley last won the trophy for a record fourteenth time in 1982-83. The competition in recent seasons has been dominated by teams from the National Conference and this year the Magpies were the only UniBond League representative in the semi-finals, the other three clubs all coming from the Blue Square North. In reaching the Final Chorley have defeated three clubs from higher Divisions

Marine To Host Fa Sunday Cup Semi-Final

Marine FC have accepted an invitation from the Football Association to stage one of this season's FA Sunday Cup semi-finals on Sunday, 16th March. The tie between Liverpool based Paddock and Hetton Lyons Cricket Club from Durham will kick off at 2.00pm with the game being the fifth consecutive year that the "Mariners" have played host to an FA Sunday Cup semi-final. The Final of the competition will be staged at Anfield.

UniBond League Teams Up With Mobilis

The UniBond League's latest marketing scoop was announced this week when it teamed up with Mobilis, the UK's leading supplier of specialist healthcare and sports medicine products in a three-year deal to launch UniBond League Medical Supplies. The move comes as the FA ramps up the training for medical staff in the professional game following on-field tragedies and near-tragedies over the last 12 months.

Under the terms of the deal, all UniBond clubs will be able to purchase medical supplies and equipment at exclusive prices and also arrange for their physio's to attend Injury Prevention Courses run by Mobilis. The company has two fully trained physios within its sales team.

Marcia Forde from Mobilis' Sports Business Unit said "For more than 20 years we have been supplying specialist healthcare and sports care products and services to professionals and consumers. We strive to provide our customers with the highest possible standards across many sectors including physiotherapy, podiatry and sport. We are delighted to be in partnership with the UniBond League. Mobilis already supply around a quarter of their clubs, and as the focus on players' medical welfare becomes greater in the semi-professional game, we will be on hand to offer expert advice and training."

UniBond League Chief Executive Duncan Bayley also welcomed the competition's latest partner. "The health of our players is uppermost in the minds of all our clubs, and we're very pleased to be able to provide our clubs with the excellent Mobilis product range at prices that could save the clubs a significant amount of money."

Buxton Take Youth International On Loan

Buxton have signed Sheffield Wednesday's Northern Ireland Youth international Dave McClements on loan. The nineteen year old who hails from Ballymena joined Wednesday as a scholar and is now in his second year as a contract player.

UniBond League Television

Forthcoming Games

Sat 8th March UniBond League Challenge Cup Semi Finals
Eastwood Town v Frickley Athletic Match of the Week
Skelmersdale Utd v Gateshead Match of the Week
Sat 15th March Ossett Town v Ilkeston Town Match of the Week
Fri 21st March Colwyn Bay v Cammell Laird Match of the Week
Mon 24th March Witton Albion v Fleetwood Town Match of the Week
Sat 29th March Ashton United v Kendal Town Match of the Week
Tue 1st April Skelmersdale Utd v FC United of M/cr Live Game
Sat 5th April Buxton v Eastwood Town Match of the Week
Sat 12th April Grantham Town v Goole AFC Match of the Week
Tue 15th April Witton Albion v Frickley Athletic Live Game
Sat 19th April Curzon Ashton v Clitheroe Match of the Week
Tue 22nd April Leek Town v Fleetwood Town Live Game
Sat 26th April TBC depending on league placings Match of the Week
w/c 28th April Play Off Semi Finals Match of the Week
w/c 28th April Play Off Semi Final Live Game
Sat 3rd May Play Off Finals Match of the Week

League Cup Finals plus other games will be included in the "Live" schedule when dates are known

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

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Youth Team End With Cup Win

Midland Floodlit Youth League

Three More Sign

Next season's fixtures will be announced during the summer.

Ashfield In2Focus - Gresley Rovers sponsor