Holker Street Newsletter 1694 - 14th April 2006

NATIONWIDE NORTH
Thursday 13 April: Stalybridge Celtic 2 Lancaster City 1 (308)

P W D L F A Pts GD
1 Northwich Victoria 38 26 5 7 89 45 83 44
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 Stafford Rangers 38 23 10 5 63 30 79 33
3 Nuneaton Borough 38 19 11 8 60 39 68 21
4 Droylsden 38 17 12 9 75 54 63 21
5 Harrogate Town 37 19 5 13 58 50 62 8
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 Kettering Town 38 16 10 12 55 46 58 9
7 Stalybridge Celtic 37 16 9 12 62 47 57 15
8 Worcester City 38 14 13 11 51 41 55 10
9 Moor Green 38 13 16 9 60 59 55 1
10 Hinckley United 38 12 16 10 53 49 52 4
11 Hyde United 38 14 9 15 61 53 51 8
12 Workington 37 12 13 12 54 53 49 1
13 Hucknall Town 38 12 12 14 51 51 48 0
14 Lancaster City 36 12 10 14 49 54 46 -5
15 BARROW 37 11 10 16 56 58 43 -2
16 Alfreton Town 38 9 14 15 41 52 41 -11
17 Gainsborough Trinity 38 10 11 17 42 61 41 -19
18 Vauxhall Motors 38 11 5 22 44 66 38 -22
19 Redditch United 38 8 11 19 48 69 35 -21
20 Worksop Town 37 8 11 18 42 64 35 -22
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
21 Leigh RMI 38 8 11 19 40 71 35 -31
22 Hednesford Town 37 6 12 19 38 80 30 -42


CELTIC MAINTAIN OUTSIDE CHANCE
From www.nonleaguedaily.com

Stalybridge Celtic maintained their outside chances of sneaking into the play-offs after beating mid-table Lancaster City 2-1 at Bower Fold on Thursday night. Lee Ellington gave Celtic the lead after 20 minutes and that’s how the side’s went into the half time break. Lancaster equalised on 61 minutes through Ryan Elderton but six minutes from time James Turley popped up with the home side’s winner. Stalybridge are now five points adrift of Harrogate Town, who currently hold the final play-off slot, but the Tamesiders do still have a game in hand on Kettering Town, a place and a point ahead of them.


SPECULATION CONTINUES AT CITY
From www.lancastertoday.co.uk

Speculation continues at Giant Axe as talks continued over the ownership of Lancaster City. It was announced last week that former chairman and current owner Ron Moore was selling his shares. And well-known Lancaster figure, Mick Hoyle, was the focus of rumours suggesting he could return to the club he used to serve as commercial manager and also had a spell as assistant-manager in the 1990s. But with nothing confirmed, neither Hoyle, the owner of Squires Snooker Centre, or officials from Lancaster City were prepared to comment on the speculation. The club's board had their usual meeting on Wednesday but there were no further developments with news expected next week. Club manager, Peter Ward, said he was just concentrating on on-field matters as his side contemplate another hectic week. Last Thursday's win at Giant Axe over Harrogate Town ensured that City remain out of any relegation trouble and Ward is keen to finish as high as possible in the table, ideally over Barrow, now managed, of course by ex-City boss Phil Wilson. Ward said: "Of course we want to finish above Barrow. We are two games behind and three points in front and they are our local rivals. We are comfortable but we are not settling for that. We want to finish with as many points as we can."


THIS WEEK’S NATIONWIDE NORTH FIXTURES
Saturday 15 April: Hednesford Town v Redditch United, Hucknall Town v Droylsden, Lancaster City v Alfreton Town, Leigh RMI v Gainsborough Trinity, Moor Green v Stafford Rangers, Northwich Victoria v Hinckley United, Nuneaton Borough v Workington, Vauxhall Motors v Stalybridge Celtic, Worcester City v Harrogate Town, Worksop Town v Kettering Town.


FROM THE BARROW v VAUXHALL MOTORS PROGRAMME (PART TWO)
This the text from the original edition for the postponed game on 28 March, the game was eventually played on 11 April. News From The North by Phil Yelland

Shrimps Net McLachlan: Morecambe's form of late, particularly on the road has been patchy and in the run up to the transfer deadline acting manager Sammy McIlroy has brought in a new face to increase his midfield options. The player in question is Manchester born Fraser McLachlan. He began his career with Stockport County and this season he has been with another League Two side Mansfield Town. The deal will run through until the end of the current campaign. Meanwhile teenager Shaun Gray has been allowed to move out on loan to UniBond First Division challengers Fleetwood Town where he will provide defensive cover for the rest of the season.

'Port Stock Up: Southport are battling hard to avoid the drop form the Nationwide Conference and boss Liam Watson has brought in three new players to boost his pool. In a surprise move, former skipper Chris Price has agreed to return to Haig Avenue for the rest of the season on loan form Stalybridge Celtic of Nationwide North. Another option is Kyle Armstrong who was on Preston's books and has had recent Nationwide Conference experience with York City. The third new face is giant striker Matt Jackson who has joined on loan from Preston North End of the Championship. He will be expected to support Steve Daly whose goals have been keeping the Sandgrounders afloat almost single handed.

Trinity To Cash In?: Gainsborough Trinity have been struggling a bit in Nationwide North this season and now they have lost the services of one of their outstanding players for the rest of this season at least. The player in question is 22 year old midfielder Jamie Sherlock. He has previously featured for North Ferriby United, Brigg Town and Ossett Town and has now clinched a deal with Lincoln City of League Two for the rest of the season. The Red Imps are, of course chasing a promotion play off place in League Two. It's not clear whether Trinity will receive any fee if he clinches a deal to stay at Sincil Bank next season.

Two Leave 'Boro: Two players have left promotion chasing Nuneaton Borough although they could return at the end of the season. The first to move out on loan is former Birmingham City, Peterborough United and Kettering Town defender Simon Rea. He joined the Manor Park club last summer but has had injuries problems. He has joined Kidderminster Harriers of the Nationwide Conference for the rest of the campaign. Also on the move for the rest of the term is striker Mike Frew. He has made the journey across the Midlands to join fellow Conference North side Hucknall Town on loan.

Buxton Moves: In what seems to be a strange move, Stalybridge Celtic reserve goalkeeper Nick Buxton is on the move. He has signed forms for UniBond Premier Division strugglers Bradford Park Avenue who are battling against a second successive relegation. Whilst Buxton's chances have been restricted at the Bower Fold, the move is stranger because the Yorkshire side have also signed John Lamb from Leigh RMI as a number one. Presumably, Buxton is going to act as cover.

Green Net Anderson: As they seek to defy the odds and clinch a Nationwide North play off place, Moor Green boss Bob Faulkner looks to have pulled off a shrewd piece of business by taking the vastly experience Dale Anderson on loan from Burton Albion of the Nationwide Conference. Anderson has been a regular in the Brewers side until this season where he has fallen out of favour. He has also spent a spell on loan with Northwich Victoria earlier in the season.

Williams Signs: In the last few weeks, the form of Northwich Victoria has picked up significantly and they now seem to have a real chance of catching Stafford rangers in the race for the Nationwide North title. Boss Steve Burr has increased his squad with the signing of midfielder Chris Williams from Stockport County of League Two. He has just completed a spell on loan with Vics.

Railwaymen Hope: Leigh RMI have slipped back into the relegation zone and boss Andy Nelson has brought a new face into the squads for the rest of the season. He is youngster Mark Carrington who has been a trainee with Crewe Alexandra in the Championship.

Tigers Take Another Kiwi: Having taken former Bluebird Leo Bertos to Sandy Lane, Worksop Town manager Ronnie Glavin has signed another New Zealand international to boost his squad. He is 23 year old striker Allan Pearce who has previous experience in English football with Barnsley, Lincoln City and Bradford Park Avenue. He has joined from New Zealand outfit side Waitakere United.

Other Moves: Finnish striker Patrick Peter's spell with Kettering Town has not worked out and he has been allowed to join Stamford who are chasing promotion in the Southern League Eastern Division.

Hucknall Town youngster Paul Robinson has been allowed to leave Watnall Road to gain experience. He has joined Bradford Park Avenue in the UniBond Premier Division. Also leaving Town is Mark Todd whilst experienced skipper Chris Timons has been told he will not be needed next season and is free to talk to other clubs.

Another youngster on the move is Sean Pearson of Hyde United. He has joined Rossendale United in the UniBond First Division who get yet mount a challenge for a promotion play off spot.

Finally a veteran player on the move is Altrincham winger Lutel James who has hardly featured for the Robins since joining last summer from Accrington Stanley. He has signed for Bradford Park Avenue of the UniBond Premier Division.