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13 to 16 January 2005 |
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13 to 16 January 2005 |
Right: Mark Maddox's text-book finish at Leigh. Picture courtesy of Gavin Rathbone.
Yesterday's Trophy games affected two future Altrincham games:
A further picture and match report link are below...
Gainsborough Trinity beat Ashton 1-0 yesterday and the club website says that [ex-Alty man] "Lee Ellington was the difference between the sides with his first half strike".
NL Daily reports the following moves:
Also Guiseley have put in seven days notice on Barrow centre-back James Cotterill, who has played 27 games for Barrow this season. Guiseley also hope to sign "striker Arran Wilford from Scottish club Clyde.... [He] has also had experience with Whitby Town, Worksop Town and Harrogate Town... [but] manager Neil Parsley had shown the door to centre-back James Stansfield... [formerly at] Bradford PA".
Runcorn FC Halton announce that "Carl Brown has been released to return to Gresley Rovers... Peter Ellis, after announcing his retirement due to his chronic injuries has, on his insistence, requested his registration be cancelled"
Above: Gavin Rathbone's superb shot of Val Owen contesting for the ball at Leigh against Warren Peyton. You can buy Gavin's photographs at the Robins' Shop or by ringing the club.
Match report here.
FA Trophy Saturday 15th
Worksop Town report that "The rollercoaster ride with the Bassetlaw Council is once again on the downward spiral after their demands of much increased payments to reduce the club's £60,000 debt... In January 2005 the club are now faced with the distinct possibility in going into administration after the Council's latest demands which require the club to pay two instalments of £5,000 in the first two months of the year. Bassetlaw MP John Mann is supporting the club after requesting that the Bassetlaw Council drop their demands and write off the £60,000 debt".
"After turning down the chance to go back to rivals Stalybridge Celtic last weekend, [Lancaster boss, Phil] "Wilson is looking to the future... But the City boss did admit he would like to return to Bower Fold where he has had two spells as manager before -later in his career... 'It was a very difficult decision to make', admitted Wilson. 'I had nine very happy years there as manager and it is a place that one day I would like to go back to, but this is the wrong time for me. I have got work to do here, we are progressing and I am hoping that I am going to be at Lancaster for the next couple of years at least'... Wilson added. "We have the best training facilities in nonLeague football at Preston Sports Arena which is a big plus when enticing players... The league is wide open, any team that can put a few wins together will be right up-there'" reports Lancaster Today.
"Karl Brown has rejoined Gresley Rovers from Runcorn FC Halton".
NL Daily confirms that "Belper Town have... appointed former Gainsborough Trinity, Leek Town, Matlock Town and Hucknall Town boss Ernie Moss as their new manager".
Meanwhile Bill Taylor, the Leigh RMI Chairman has issued a statement in which he says "We sincerely wish to unreservedly apologise to our supporters for the events at last Tuesday's game against Southport. The unforeseen sequence of injuries, sickness and a motorway accident left our squad with only 11 players, three of whom were goalkeepers, at the commencement of the game. We the directors and I personally will ensure that this is not allowed to happen again. All the club officials are working very hard to ensure we provide a competitive side and this is by no means an easy task since some of our better players recently left of their own accord and are proving difficult to replace. We would also like to place on record our sincerest appreciation to our loyal fans who have backed us through these difficult times and had to endure some substandard performances particularly on Tuesday night. We are confident that we can put out a side capable of beating Altrincham on Saturday and we would ask you all to please give your usual whole hearted support to the team... I look forward to seeing you at the game on Saturday and to an RMI victory".
In SAM "Alty boss Graham Heathcote says fans should not underestimate the side that are currently languishing at the bottom of the Conference table... Heathcote told SAM Sport: 'People have got to be aware that the results don't matter one iota it is about this cup and Leigh will want to run in it. It will be a tough game, they are a decent footballing side. Perhaps the game will show people the gulf between Conference and the Nationwide North. Just because a team is struggling in the league doesn't mean they can't cope with a team from another level. We have done our homework and have been preparing as professionally as we can. It is a big game for both sides - Leigh are just as desperate for money as we are'. The 32 winning clubs from the third round of the FA Trophy will earn £4,000... Heathcote hopes that the Leigh match will prompt a similar following as last year's game against Weymouth in the competition".
Harrogate, who were recently top, currently lie 3rd in Nationwide North with 40 points, whilst Stalybridge are bottom with 15 points.
IC Cheshire says that "Runcorn boss Alvin McDonald hopes to buck the trend in more ways than one by signing a player from Southport. The movement has all been the other way since former Runcorn boss Liam Watson left Halton Stadium for Haig Avenue. But McDonald made his interest in Sandgrounders' transfer-listed striker Lee Mulvaney known in the hope of amending effectively the poorest strike record in Nationwide North. Runcorn have struck only 24 times in 25 league outings... McDonald has spoken to Mulvaney but Southport want a fee and the player is in discussions with other suitors. 'Four or five clubs have been given permission to talk to Lee,' said McDonald. 'He is going to listen to all of them out of courtesy and then come to a decision. Even clubs in a lower league can offer more money than we can and if it is about that sometimes we are going to be second best. But it went well and I got the impression he liked what I said to him'...A player exchange could yet be an alternative. But McDonald added: 'The player they want, they won't get off me'... The player concerned is player-of-the-year Matty McGinn. Meanwhile, McDonald has admitted to feeling really down about Runcorn's run of league form... 'There was a comment which appeared on Tuesday that I am leaving the club... Apparently, I have gone for the Witton job which I haven't and gone for the Ashton United job which I haven't'".
Worksop Today says that the Tigers' "Pacy winger Blake Norton is set to stay at Worksop, even though two unnamed clubs have been chasing his signature. Norton joined the Tigers on a pay-as-you-play deal in August and has grown in stature after a slow start. His form has drawn the attention of other clubs, but manager Ronnie Glavin has coaxed the Manchester-based player into staying at Sandy Lane. 'Worksop are struggling to compete with some other teams financially, but Blake is here for the right reasons and that is great to see'" said Glavin. Norton was formerly with our neighbours Trafford and Stalybridge Celtic. The same site also has a match report on last Saturday's draw with Altrincham". The report refers to a "typically robust Altrincham defence". It adds "The game as a whole was very much in keeping with recent past clashes between the two sides at Sandy Lane. Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote sent his side out to defend their 18-yard line and hit Worksop on the break. It is a tactic that has worked well for them before and did so, to a certain degree, this time".
Obviously, a more experienced side can be expected to play against Altrincham on Saturday as well as some new faces. The BBC says that "Leigh RMI manager Geoff Lutley is close to completing the signing of former England youth striker Ashley Scothern. Scothern, 20, has been playing for Bradford Park Avenue since leaving Barnsley last summer. 'There are still a couple of loose ends to tie but hopefully he will be playing for us on Saturday' said Lutley. The Leigh boss has brought in Michael Reed from Penrith and put in seven days' notice for Chorley's former Bury striker Daniel Douglas-Pringle".
"Chester winger Kevin Ellison (right) has joined League One leaders Hull City, reports BBC Radio Humberside. The clubs have agreed a £100,000 fee and Ellison, 25, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract. Tigers' manager Peter Taylor said: 'He has got tremendous potential - he's strong and he scores goals and he'll be a very good signing for us'... Taylor also signed Ellison from non-league Altrincham when he was boss at Leicester in 2001". Before the deal, IC Cheshire quoted Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan: "Ian Rush doesn't want Kevin to move and quite frankly, neither do I. But the player has now requested a transfer, and because of a clause in his contract with us we have to allow him to talk to Hull'... Meanwhile Droylsden have inquired about the
availability of strikers Darryn Stamp and Andy Watson".
After Stafford's win on Tuesday at Alfreton the unofficial website described former Alty player Jamie Phoenix as a "Thorn in the side of the Alfreton defenders. He'll be a real asset when he can last 90 minutes". In the site's match report it adds that "Phoenix's impressive performance came to an end on 62 minutes as fatigue took a hold".
In the Marsden Trophy on Tuesday, Ian Craney scored twice for Accrington against Atherton LR.
SAM reports that "Altrincham came away [from Worksop] with a point from the first of their four consecutive away encounters" and goes on to provide a match report.
Kettering Today says that "Fighting broke out between rival supporters at Tuesday night's match between Kettering Town and Nuneaton Borough. Kettering Town club secretary Graham Starmer said: 'The people who did this are not welcome here. We regret it happened and we will do everything we can to find them and ban them'. It is believed the incident broke out when Kettering supporters entered the area at the Rockingham Road end of the ground, in which the Nuneaton fans were watching the game. Mr Starmer said 'We haven't had any problems here for years, but it only takes one group. We don't want these people here. Once we pinpoint them we will make sure they are not let into the ground again. We have stewards at each game'... A police spokesman said: 'There was a disturbance, which spilled outside and a bus was damaged'".
Harrogate Town are protesting against the fact that "The West Riding County FA have ruled Harrogate Town's 10-0 win against Armthorpe Welfare last November as void. Town are alleged to have fielded an ineligble player, namely Danny Holland... Apparently, the County FA introduced a new rule this season that loan players are banned from the County Cup competition. However, they seem to have failed to draw the rule change to the attention of clubs. Furthermore, at the time of writing on 11 January 2005, there is no mention that loan players are ineligible in the 'Rules of the County Cup Competition' on the WRCFA's Official Website. When the match was played on 30 November 2004 against Armthorpe Welfare, Danny Holland was on loan from Hucknall Town... John Reed is reported to have told the Hinckley United's defeat of Moor Green on Tuesday was their "first league win in 5 games and and the first league win at home since September". But "The Marston Stadium and De Montfort Park complex has suffered another setback delaying the opening match by a further month. Problems with the Highway Authority concerning access to the complex, delays installing the perimeter fencing and general Health & Safety measures have caused the second delay to the opening day. The first match for the new Stadium has now been scheduled for Saturday 26th February, against Bradford Park Avenue".
The Southport Midweek Visiter says that "goalkeeper Steve Dickinson signed a new deal at the weekend keeping him at the club for a further two seasons after this one. A delighted Liam Watson said: 'It took 25 seconds to get Steve to sign the new contract... and I know I have signed the best goal keeper in Nationwide North'".
This is Redditch quotes United boss Rod Brown on their trip to play Carlisle on Saturday. "Whatever happens it's a massive day for us and we'll be treating it like our cup final." The site adds, "The Reds' players and staff will be travelling up to their opponents on Friday night as they had planned but will now be playing the game at Northern Premier outfit Workington FC on Sunday... Reds' Chairman Pat Cremin said: "I called them up on Friday and they told me the water was up to the 14th row in the main stand then I rang them on Monday to check again and they said the water was still three and a half feet deep. It's not just water it's the slurry and sludge which comes with it. Both dressing rooms have been flooded".
NN Tuesday 11th
Lancashire Marsden Cup
NN League Cup
