Tuesday, 7th October 2008

News Archive

12th April 2008
Review Of The Week

FLEETWOOD TOWN won their game in hand at LINCOLN UNITED on Tuesday to move to within just one point of season long Premier Division leaders WITTON ALBION going in to the weekend programme where both contenders registered home victories by the odd goal to maintain the status quo.

GATESHEAD virtually assured themselves of home advantage in the play-offs with a win against PRESCOT CABLES who dropped in to the relegation spots as a result.

But it looks like any two from BUXTON, EASTWOOD and GUISELEY for the other two play-off places after MARINE lost at WHITBY TOWN.

Fleetwood's 3-0 win over Lincoln confirmed the latter's relegation and it is now just two from eleven as to who accompanies Lincoln in the drop with LEEK TOWN keeping their chances of escape alive with a 5-0 midweek defeat of KENDAL TOWN whilst STAMFORD also gleaned a point against high flying GATESHEAD. Leek, however, then lost at home to Stamford for whom it was a first win in ten whilst NORTH FERRIBY UNITED moved out of bottom three with victory at LINCOLN UNITED.

The First Division North title is still wide open going in to the final fortnight of the season and after BAMBER BRIDGE's defeat at NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR in midweek OSSETT ALBION could gate-crash the play-off party on the back of a nine match unbeaten run.

Albion and "Brig" still have to play one another twice and those two games could determine which of them make the play-offs.

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE emerged from the week as slight favourites after coming from behind to beat WAKEFIELD after a goalless draw with rivals FC UNITED of MANCHESTER.

The latter got their show back on the road with wins over HARROGATE RAILWAY (who then held leaders CURZON ASHTON to a draw) and LANCASTER CITY who had twice led in front of more than 2,700 on Saturday.

The other contenders SKELMERSDALE UNITED lost ground when they were beaten at home by RADCLIFFE BOROUGH who moved out of the bottom two for the first time this season.

With the First Division South title already decided it is still any four from eight for the play-off places.

Whilst only SHEFFIELD FC, who had two wins in the week, and NANTWICH TOWN can catch CAMMELL LAIRD for the automatic promotion place every other club down to COLWYN BAY in ninth will harbour hopes of making the end of season promotion lottery.

One thing was decided, however, with SPALDING UNITED losing to a late goal against Lairds and the "Tulips" will now finish bottom of the Division and have just one game left to register a first home league win of the season.

Former NPL Referee Given FA Cup Final Appointment

The UniBond League sends it congratulations to one of its former officials Mike Dean who has been given charge of this season's FA Cup Final. Dean was promoted to the Northern Premier League line from the West Cheshire League and was given quickly his place in the middle before progressing to the Football League and ultimately the Premiership.

Macron "Safe Hands" Awards

The Macron "Safe Hands" awards for March have gone to Fleetwood Town's Danny Hurst, former England semi-pro international Andy Woods now plying his trade for Wakefield and Danny Haystead of Sheffield FC.

Hurst, who kept five clean sheets during the month, becomes the second Fleetwood 'keeper to win the award with Mike Hale having taken December's accolade and Haystead (also five shut outs) likewise for Sheffield FC with Jamie Holshaw having taken October's prize.

In the First Division North, Bradford Park Avenue's Jon Worsnop actually had more clean sheets (six) than the four kept by Woods but as he had already won the prize earlier in the campaign he could not take it for a second time under the rules.

All three winners will receive a pair of the top of the range goalkeeping gloves from the sponsors.

In the race for the overall season prize Witton Albion's Jon Kennedy, who was on contract at Sunderland for four seasons earlier in his career, held a narrow lead going in to today's games over Worsnop with eighteen clean sheets as against seventeen.

Guiseley's Piotr Skiba, Terry McCormick of Bamber Bridge, Ryan McMahon of Skelmersdale United all had fourteen as did Haystead including his efforts at Quorn before his move to Sheffield in February.

The prize for the overall season winner across the three Divisions is the opportunity to travel to Italy as guests of Macron to spend a week pre-season training with Italian Serie B club Piacenza.

Lincoln Relegated

The second issue of the season to be resolved after Retford United had won the First Division South title last Saturday came about on Tuesday evening when Lincoln United lost 0-3 at home to Fleetwood Town.

That result meant that Lincoln could not escape the drop which must have been the last thing on their minds at the start of the campaign when they took thirteen points from the first seven games.

However, they then took only eight points from the next sixty on offer leaving new boss Mark Shaw with an uphill battle to save them when he took over in February.

Now That Is Sharp Shooting

Bamber Bridge goalkeeper Terry McCormick may well be a close outside contender for the Macron sponsored "Safe Hands" overall season prize (see above) but he very quickly knew he wouldn't be adding to his tally of clean sheets when his side met Newcastle Blue Star on Wednesday evening.

Lee Novak scored after seventeen seconds and thirty seconds later McCormick, amazingly, was picking the ball out of his net for a second time as Dave McTiernan scored the first of his two goals on the night.

FA Historian David Barber says there is no category for this achievement but he personally has never heard of two goals being scored faster whilst Blue Star Sectary Jim Anderson is approaching the Guinness Book of Records to have the feat recognised in the record books.

Marine Axe O'Donnell

Marine have announced that striker Karl O'Donnell has been axed from their squad after he was sent off for violent conduct in an off the ball incident against Gateshead last Saturday.

The 22 year old had only been on the pitch six minutes when he was dismissed in the 76th minute. The incident came in his first appearance since going awol a fortnight earlier and left the "Mariners" with the possibility of facing an FA charge as it was their eleventh red card of the season.

Woodley Players On Premier League Trials

Woodley Sports may be languishing at the bottom of the First Division North but two of their youngsters Tom Sellars and Jordie McNally spent this week having trials with Bolton Wanderers.

During the club's comparatively short time in the UniBond League Woodley have already supplied two players who have made a significant impact in the Football League.

Carlisle United's Simon Hackney was a nomination for the League One Player of the Month in January in addition to previously making a significant contribution to their promotion season whilst Liam Dickenson has been amongst the goals on a regular basis since his move to Stockport County in 2005 and is currently their leading goalscorer.

Ashton Attract High Flyers

Former Ashton United manager Derek Partridge has organised a match between a Manchester City "Old Boys" team and an RAF side made up of serving members from all over the country to be played at Ashton's Hurst Cross ground on Sunday, 27th April at 2.00pm.

The servicemen making up the RAF team will be personnel who have either just seen service or who will shortly be undertaking active service in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and the City Old Boys are staging the game not only as a joint fund-raiser but also as a morale booster for the men and women of the RAF who will also be guests at the City v Fulham Premiership the previous day.

The Old Boys team will include the likes of Peter Barnes, Asa Hartford, Andy Dibble, Eric Nixon, Dave Bennett, Ian Brightwell, Neil Poynton, Nicky Summerbee and former Ashton favourite Barney Daniels who was signed for City from Hurst Cross by Malcolm Allison.

Chorley Veterans Guests Of Honour

Two old timers Arnold Hartley and Peter Dunn were VIP guests of Chorley FC at the club's Lancashire FA Trophy Final appearance which the "Magpies" lost 4-1 to Southport a week last Wednesday.

Arnold, now aged 85, played in three Lancashire Trophy Finals including the 1943 game against a Blackpool side containing the legendary Stanley Matthews. He had to wait until his third final, however, before tasting success in 1946 when Chorley did a league and County Cup "double".

73-year-old Peter played in four consecutive finals starting fifty years ago and won three of them with the "Magpies" only defeat coming in the 1960 Final against Wigan Athletic when he himself was injured during the game which his side lost 2-1.

Curzon To Host England International

In addition to hosting the President's Cup Final between FC United of Manchester and Radcliffe Borough next Thursday evening and the League Challenge Cup Final featuring Eastwood Town and Skelmersdale United on Monday 21st April Curzon Ashton's impressive Tameside Stadium will be hosting an England v Holland international that is part of the build up to the European Learning Disability football championship in July.

The match takes place on Sunday, 27th April kick off 1.00pm and the following day the UniBond League club will host the draw, to be made by Sir Trevor Brooking at 2.30pm, for the July tournament

Unibond League Television

Forthcoming Games

Sat 12th April Grantham Town v Goole AFC Match of the Week
Tue 15th April Witton Albion v Frickley Athletic Live Game
Thu 17th April FC United of Mcr v Radcliffe Borough Presidents Cup Final Highlights
Sat 19th April Curzon Ashton v Clitheroe Match of the Week
Mon 21st April Eastwood Town v Skelmersdale Utd ULCC Live Game
Sat 26th April To be decided Match of the Week
Mon 28th April Play Off Semi Final Live Game
w/c 28th April Play Off Semi Finals Highlights
Sat 3rd May Play Off Finals Highlights
All games can be accessed through the banner link on www.unibondleague.com and are subject to change.

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