Holker Street Newsletter 1648 - 6th January 2006

FROM BBC RADIO CUMBRIA
Saturday 31 December: Barrow last night dropped to 14th in Nationwide North despite a much improved performance against high-flying Nuneaton Borough. Two-one was the final score, away at Manor Park, with the Barrow goal credited as a Kevin Wilson own-goal.


GOOD PREPARATION FOR BORO
From www.nonleaguedaily.com, 31 December

Nuneaton Borough moved to the top of the Nationwide North table on Friday night after coming through 2-1 against a battling Barrow side in front of a crowd of 902 at Manor Park. Gez Murphy gave Boro the lead five minutes before half time but a 70th minute own goal gave the Bluebirds hope of snatching a draw. But with less than five minutes to go David Staff popped up with Nuneaton’s winner to give them plenty of confidence ahead of their massive FA Cup tie with Premiership Middlesbrough.

Moor Green are one of the form horses in the Division at present and they produced another solid display to record their second win of the holiday period at Sandy Lane against Worksop Town. The visitors went ahead after just five minutes through Junior English and made sure of the points ten10 minutes from time when a Phil Trainer free kick was converted by substitute Peter Faulds.

Fourth-placed Hucknall Town travelled to struggling Leigh RMI hoping to gain three points towards their challenge. However, the new-look Railwaymen, who included a number of new signings in their ranks, took a 34th minute lead through Scott Willis and then shocked the Nottinghamshire side by going two-up just a couple of minutes before the break. Robert Gill managed to reduce the arrears around the hour-mark, but Leigh held on for three vital points.


RANGERS RETURN TO THE SUMMIT
From www.nonleaguedaily.com, 31 December

The big match in Nationwide North on New Year’s Eve between Stafford Rangers and fellow title contenders Northwich Victoria managed to beat the weather, but the scheduled games at Kettering Town and Lancaster City were both called off due to waterlogged pitches. At Marston Road a crowd of 1677 saw Rangers return to the top of the table after briefly being replaced by Nuneaton Borough, who won on Friday, thanks to two goals in five minutes against Vics. Veteran striker Neil Grayson opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and Nathan Smith grabbed the second and decisive goal in the 37th and the hosts held on to that lead, although both teams ended up with ten-men after Rangers’ Wayne Daniel and Vics’ Mark Sale were dismissed.

A goal from Andy Brown in the 18th minute sealed a 1-0 win for Hinckley United and keep home side Vauxhall Motors firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, while Droylsden remain just ahead of the Knitters on goal difference in seventh spot after being held to a 1-1 draw at the Butcher’s Arms by Hednesford Town.

However, nearby at Ewen Fields, Hyde United moved into tenth place after hammering Worcester City 4-0 – a result that keeps Andy Preece’s side in trouble, fourth-from-bottom. Nathan Wharton gave the Tigers a 23rd minute lead and then made it 2-0 from the penalty spot four minutes before half time. But the relatively poor attendance of 401 had to wait until the final 3 minutes for the next goal – and like waiting for a bus, saw two in three minutes! Matty McNeil made it 3-0 on 87 minutes and Nicky Clee scored the fourth in stoppage time.


NATIONWIDE NORTH
Leigh RMI 2 Hucknall Town 1 (181), Nuneaton Borough 2 Barrow 1 (902), Worksop Town 0 Moor Green 2 (284).

P W D L F A Pts GD
1 Nuneaton Borough 19 14 4 1 38 16 46 22
2 Stafford Rangers 20 13 4 3 38 17 43 21
3 Northwich Victoria 17 12 3 2 43 22 39 21
4 Hucknall Town 21 9 5 7 33 27 32 6
5 Harrogate Town 18 10 2 6 32 26 32 6
6 Stalybridge Celtic 20 8 7 5 36 30 31 6
7 Kettering Town 20 7 8 5 31 26 29 5
8 Droylsden 20 7 8 5 35 31 29 4
9 Hinckley United 20 6 9 5 32 29 27 3
10 Moor Green 21 6 9 6 32 37 27 -5
11 Lancaster City 18 6 8 4 26 22 26 4
12 Workington 20 7 5 8 34 35 26 -1
13 Worksop Town 22 6 7 9 26 32 25 -6
14 BARROW 21 6 6 9 38 38 24 0
15 Hyde United 21 6 6 9 36 37 24 -1
16 Gainsborough Trinity 21 6 5 10 22 36 23 -14
17 Leigh RMI 18 5 4 9 22 32 19 -10
18 Redditch United 22 5 4 13 29 48 19 -19
19 Worcester City 16 3 7 6 19 21 16 -2
20 Alfreton Town 17 2 9 6 19 25 15 -6
21 Hednesford Town 19 3 6 10 24 43 15 -19
22 Vauxhall Motors 19 4 2 13 23 38 14 -15


BARROW’S RESULTS IN DECEMBER
Saturday December 3 Kettering Town 1 Barrow 3 1272
Tuesday December 6 Blackpool Mechanics 1 Barrow 2, Lancashire Cup Second Round, 70
Saturday December 10 Barrow 1 Redditch United 1 839
Sunday December 18 Barrow P Clitheroe P, FA Trophy First Round
Thursday December 22 Barrow 2 Clitheroe 1, FA Trophy First Round 937
Monday December 26 Lancaster City 3 Barrow 0 702
Friday December 30 Nuneaton Borough 2 Barrow 1 902


LAWSON PROUD OF HIS BLUES
From www.clitheroetoday.co.uk, 30 December

Tommy Lawson was extremely proud of his Clitheroe players over the Christmas period. Victory against basement UniBond side Bishop Auckland may have looked a certainty on paper, but the Boxing Day League match threw up some difficulties before the Blues took home a 2-1 win. And last Thursday's FA Trophy encounter against Nationwide North outfit Barrow may have ended in a 2-1 defeat, but Clitheroe more than matched a team two Leagues above, them packed with ex-professionals like former Burnley left back Tom Cowan, and the Blues boss couldn't have asked any more. Bishop have only won two games this term and are firmly rooted to the bottom of the League, but, given the long journey to County Durham, the state of the pitch and selection problems, Lawson was just glad to grind out a result: "I said to the players before the game that they'd have to beat the pitch, which ultimately made it a hard game. "But it didn't matter about the performance as we had players missing. It was the three points we were after, and I was well pleased to take them." And he was happy to have Tony Evans back scoring goals, both at Bishop and Barrow: "Tony has been a big boost but he's been out for a while and he looked tired towards the end of Monday's game, but the last 15 minutes were vital and now he's put that in to the bank he should be ready for Chorley." And he felt, overall, that the Barrow game was a triumph for his young side: "I was very, very proud of their performance. It wasn't just a game, it was an occasion, as many of my players have not played in front of such a large crowd before (897) and I thought we matched Barrow. "And had we been granted a penalty for what I thought was a foul on Craig Sargeson in the first half, it could quite easily have been us in the next round. It was an adventure, we raised a few quid, perhaps all told £10,000, which is a lot of money and we've now got to look forward to our next challenge" That next encounter is against Chorley on Bank Holiday Monday, where Lawson is hoping to have a few extra players back in contention. Gareth Evans will hopefully be back after sustaining ligament damage at Barrow, while John Paul Fagan may also be available, but due to his job the Blues boss can't rely on him for Saturdays and won't be building anything around him: "There is no doubt about his ability, and I look forward to seeing more of him as and when he can make it, as he proved a useful addition at Barrow." Simon Garner is doing light training, the bruising to his ankle ligaments has gone and he could be back for Chorley, but Lawson doesn't want to rush him: "Bishop Auckland was a game too soon, it's important that we get him back but we don't want to rush things and then find his ankle flares up again."