NEWS ARCHIVE
November, 2021
30 November 2021
NEIL SORVEL, POST-MATCH
Following the home defeat by Southend United, Altrincham assistant manager Neil Sorvel said, "We're giving ourselves too much to do. You can't give teams two-goal leads every week and expect to get something.
"We were poor, first half, too slow and predictable, and a lack of concentration has cost us for the goals.
"We were better in the second half but we've not done enough".
Right: Neil Sorvel and (foreground) Connor Hampson.
The NL Paper statistics for the game showed that Altrincham won twelve corners to zero for the visitors. As for shots, Alty had ten (four on target) whilst the Shrimpers managed just two shots on target and two more, off target. Southend had three players booked and Alty none.
HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Altrincham FC in the Community announces that "In the build-up to Xmas, directors and staff will be completing a Charity Walk on 5th December in order to raise funds to help buy gifts for the children at The Christie (hospital) and the Children's Adventure Farm Trust!The walk is open to the public and we would really appreciate anyone who chooses to join us. If you can contribute, donations to the cause will really make a difference! All details are on our Just Giving Page".
If the target £1,000 is reached, £500 will be given to each good cause to buy Christmas presents for the children.
NEXT: ALDERSHOT TOWN
Altrincham travel to Hampshire to face Aldershot Town on Saturday.
Last time out, The Shots beat King's Lynn Town, in Norfolk. It was Aldershot's third successive win after a poor start to the season and the result lifted them up to eighteenth in the National League. They are eight points behind 12th-placed Altrincham.
The Shots reported on their last game telling us that "A late Alfy Whittingham header ensured Aldershot Town would pick up their third win in a row in the Vanarama National League...
The Shots made just one change to the starting XI from the side that beat Torquay United at home in midweek, with new signing Joe Gubbins coming in for Kodi Lyons-Foster in the back three of defence...
The first-half was heavily influenced by the torrential weather conditions...
A set-play that has proved fruitful for The Shots in recent weeks is full-back Alfie Saunders’s long throw-ins... King’s Lynn continued to threaten from set-pieces, but the Aldershot Town defence in the first-half saw out any danger that came into the penalty area...
However, the second-half started in much better fashion for Aldershot Town... Midway through the second-half, the level seemed to raise [sic] another step for Aldershot Town...
Just over 10 minutes later, Whittingham found himself in the penalty area again but, this time, opened the scoring with a well-timed header that gave The Shots a deserved lead in the 81st minute.
Brilliant build-up play allowed the ball to be crossed in by recent substitute Mikael Ndjoli on the right-hand side before the forward picked out Whittingham who rose highest to score his second in three games...
Aldershot Town FC: 37 L Walker (G/K), 3 L Kinsella (C), 7 A Whittingham, 11 C Andrews (Vennings 90′), 12 C Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 R Glover, 16 C Jordan, 18 M Sylla, 26 A Saunders (Ndjoli 72′), 27 T Willard, 36 J Gubbins. Unused Subs: 1 M Walker (G/K), 10 J Berkeley-Agyepong, 39 J Gorman."
WALKER RETURNS TO COUNTY
Signed along with Fleetwood Town midfielder Barry Baggley at the end of last month to counter the impact of severe injury and illness problems in the Alty squad, the 25-year old went straight into the starting line-up for the BT Sport live televised match against Solihull Moors.
A cultured left-sided midfielder, he helped lay on an early goal... He started again in the Vanarama National League fixture at Woking and was on the bench against Boreham Wood and in both Emirates FA Cup games with Gateshead".
ALTY OLD BOYS
Joe Bunney, who played at full-back for Alty earlier this season, scored a hat-trick for his new club Warrington Rylands last Saturday. They beat Ramsbottom United 8-0!VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
King's Lynn Town "confirm that following a number of meetings and discussions over the past few days between club chairman Stephen Cleeve and the manager Ian Culverhouse, a mutual agreement has been reached for Ian Culverhouse to leave his role as manager of the club. Club Chairman Stephen Cleeve and Ian Culverhouse both agreed this action is in the best interest of the club going forward.
Stephen Cleeve said “'There is no doubting that Ian played an important and integral part in our recent history, not least in gaining back to back promotions. However, football is a results driven business and, given this season’s results and our home form, it was simply not fair to allow the situation to drift any longer for the club or for Ian".
In the Derbyshire Times we learn that "Kabongo Tshimanga has written his name into the Spireites' history books for his superb goalscoring record.
The 24 year-old has bagged 17 goals in 17 league games and 18 in all competitions this season since signing from Boreham Wood in the summer...
The Congo-born man has found the net in the last seven matches in a row, notching an incredible nine goals in those games.
That record means he is right up there with Spireites strikers who have scored in consecutive matches down the years.
Ebenezer Owers tops the chart with 13 goals in 10 games in 1909/10... The most recent striker to make it into the record books was Kristian Dennis who scored six in six in 2017/2018.
Tshimanga is likely to be attracting attention but manager James Rowe is confident of keeping hold of him in the January transfer window".
The Southend Echo reports that "Southend United head coach Kevin Maher is frustrated the Shrimpers will have to wait so long to build on their win at Altrincham.
Blues triumphed 2-1 at Moss Lane on Saturday but are now not back in action until they host Maidenhead at Roots Hall on Tuesday December 7...
'It’s a but frustrating because, when you win a game, you can’t wait for the next one but we have to get on with it,' said Maher.
'It gives us time on the training ground and we’ll be ready for Tuesday week now.'
Blues had been due to host Yeovil Town in the National League this weekend but the match has been postponed due to the Glovers’ involvement in the FA Cup".
Wales's Leader Live, reports that "Wrexham went into Saturday's clash against Bromley unbeaten at home but Parkinson's men drew their previous three games at their iconic north Wales stadium and failed to score more than once in a game all season.
But that all changed as goals in each half from Reece Hall-Johnson and Paul Mullin secured a 2-0 victory over high-flying Bromley who played the majority of the game with 10 men after midfielder Liam Trotter was shown a straight red card in the eighth minute following a late challenge on Dan Jarvis....
'We spoke to the lads about sustaining performances at home, just concentrating on what we need to do and sticking to the game-plan,' said Parkinson. 'I felt we did that today. At half-time we said to the lads we owe it to ourselves to make sure we keep doing the right things right to the end; not 75 minutes and then start doing something different'...
Wrexham could have won by a bigger margin as Jordan Davies and Bryce Hosannah both hit the woodwork in the second half while Jake Hyde and Mullin had goals disallowed for offside...
Said Parkinson, 'I thought it was a good example of how to play against 10 men in difficult conditions. Very blustery and windy but we kept the ball moving, we were patient when we had to be patient and we had other opportunities to score'...
The one disappointment was seeing Jarvis stretchered off following Trotter's lunge and Parkinson gave an update on the midfielder. 'Dan has got ankle ligament damage,' said Parkinson".
The Grimsby Telegraph tells us that "Grimsby Town have confirmed the signing of Jordan Maguire-Drew on a free transfer after he was released by Woking.
The 24 year-old trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Monday morning... after penning terms on an 18-month contract.
Maguire-Drew joined The Cardinals in the summer after leaving Leyton Orient but only made seven appearances for the club, scoring once. He picked up a knee ligament injury which ruled him out for six weeks but he is back in full training...
The signing adds another body to Paul Hurst's squad following the acquisition of Sam Bell last week on loan from Bristol City... He spent the 2016/17 season on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion and has also enjoyed spells with Wrexham and Leyton Orient in the National League, helping the latter to promotion.
He left the Seagulls permanently in 2019 to join Orient, where he made 59 appearances".
29 November 2021
ALTY AWAY IN FA TROPHY
Altrincham have been drawn away at Notts County in the draw for the Third Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy, which took place today.Matches should take place on Saturday, December 18th, with the prize money at this stage being £4500 with the losing clubs earning £1250.
There are no replays at this stage, so if a match is drawn after 90 minutes, the winner shall be determined by a penalty shootout.
If a match is postponed, this must be rescheduled and played within the postponement window, on or before Thursday 23 December.
- 1 Boston United v Kidderminster Harriers
- 2 Matlock Town or Marske United v York City
- 3 Stockport County v Grimsby Town
- 4 Stourbridge v AFC Telford United
- 5 Morpeth Town v Liversedge or Lancaster City
- 6 Chesterfield v Ashton United or Guiseley
- 7 King’s Lynn Town v Whitby Town or Nantwich Town
- 8 Notts County v Altrincham
- 9 Farsley Celtic or Stalybridge Celtic v Southport or Darlington
- 10 Wrexham v Gloucester City
- 11 Bradford (Park Avenue) or Marine v FC Halifax Town
- 12 AFC Fylde v Solihull Moors
- 13 Curzon Ashton v Alfreton Town
- 14 Radcliffe v Spennymoor Town or Chorley
- 15 Eastleigh v Enfield Town
- 16 Cheshunt v Bishop’s Stortford
- 17 Aldershot Town v Kingstonian
- 18 Cray Wanderers v Dartford
- 19 Southend United v Dorking Wanderers
- 20 Larkhall Athletic v AFC Totton
- 21 St Albans City v Braintree Town
- 22 Dover Athletic v Bromley
- 23 Yeovil Town v Woking
- 24 Truro City v Dagenham & Redbridge
- 25 Slough Town v Eastbourne Borough
- 26 Barnet v Boreham Wood
- 27 Tonbridge Angels v Torquay United
- 28 Hungerford Town v Weymouth
- 29 Needham Market v Wealdstone
- 30 Folkestone Invicta v Uxbridge
- 31 Plymouth Parkway v Dulwich Hamlet
- 32 Maidenhead United v Maidstone United
ALTY MANAGER'S VERDICT ON DEFEAT
Interviewed by Laurence Howarth after the home defeat by Southend United, manager Phil Parkisnon expressed his unhappiness with the team conceding cheap goals. He put that down to "a mentality issue, a concentration issue". The Alty TV interview is viewable on the Altrincham FC website.Play was "too slow" in the first half which prompted the double change at the interval. "We've got to do far better" he stated.
Alty TV highlights of the match are now available.
RESERVES LOSE ALTRINCHAM DERBY
On Saturday, Altrincham FC Reserves lost at home to local rivals Broadheath Central, 1-2, in a League match. Alty Reserves currently lie fourteenth in the eighteen-strong Cheshire Football League Premier Division, with three wins and five draws from their sixteen league fixtures to date.SOUTHEND MANAGER'S VERDICT
Southend Echo, "Southend United head coach Kevin Maher heaped praise on goalkeeper Steve Arnold following Saturday's 2-1 win at Altrincham.
Arnold saved a second half spot-kick from Ryan Colclough during an impressive performance between the sticks...
'I thought he was brilliant,' said Maher. 'Reece (Ottley) will watch the footage of the penalty takers and they work on it so it’s no accident he’s gone the right way to save it. When corners are coming in at the end there and he comes and gets it it’s massive for the team.
'He punched a few well too and I’m delighted for him. It was a massive, massive penalty save and his overall performance was excellent.'"
Also from the Southend Echo we learn that "head coach Kevin Maher was delighted to finally give the Shrimpers supporters something to cheer with a 2-1 win at Altrincham.
Blues’ away following was cut to 256 fans after Altrincham had their capacity reduced for the game due to safety concerns.
But Maher was pleased those in attendance could see the Shrimpers pick up their first away win since... the opening day of the season.
'I’m delighted we’ve given them something to cheer at long last,' said Maher... 'I’m sure we would taken double [the number of supporters] if we could.'"
NEXT OPPONENTS: ALDERSHOT TOWN
Altrincham are away at Aldershot Town next Saturday, from where the club announces that "Queen's Park Rangers defender Joe Gubbins has signed for the club on loan!
The young defender started out his career with Premier League side Southampton, before moving onto QPR where he progressed through their youth system...
Gubbins signed a new three-year deal last season, as he joins The Shots in the search for more experience of first-team football.
The left-footed defender has previously had a temporary spell within the Vanarama National League system, spending a short time on loan with... side Oxford City back in October 2020, playing 4 times...
Gubbins impressed enough to be given his first-team opportunity with QPR, making his senior debut in QPR’s 5-1 victory over Swansea City in the FA Cup in January 2020... [and] he made his Championship debut on the final day game of the 2019/20 season against West Bromwich Albion.
The 6’3″ defender now comes in to fight for a place in our starting XI".
KOSYLO'S "FIFTY"
Although officially it was only Matty Kosylo's 49th appearance for Altrincham last Saturday, the expunged game last season against Dover Athletic means it is really fifty times that he has played a competitive match for The Robins
The 29 year-old has made five appearances from the bench in the above total and scored eight goals, seven in the league. In fact, three of them have come in the last week or so.
As well as a better goals per game ratio this season, his disciplinary record has also improved in 2021-22. This season the forward has picked up just two yellows from the 16 games in which he has played, after amassing twelve yellows in just 34 matches last season.
In August 2020, he signed a two-year contract after leaving AFC Fylde. He had joined The Coasters in summer 2019 following a three-year spell at FC Halifax Town.
Earlier in his career, wingman Kosylo had played previously under Alty manager Phil Parkinson. That was back in 2014-16 at Nantwich Town, with Matty having begun his career at Stockport County before spells with Salford City, Ashton United, Hyde United and Vauxhall Motors (2013/14).
He left Nantwich for FC Halifax Town, for an undisclosed fee, in July 2016. At the time he was the Evo Stik NPL Young Player of the Year. He scored 24 league goals in 74(+5) league appearances for The Shaymen.
Kosylo then joined AFC Fylde in 2019 but relegation in 2020 meant that The Coasters were prepared to release him from his contract to sign for Altrincham.
WILL HALL'S SUCCESSFUL LOAN
Recently Altrincham announced that young defender Will Hall was going out on loan to Ashton United, having completed his loan period at Ramsbottom United.Last week, Ramsbottom United confirmed that "The Rams were hit with the news at the weekend that Ramsbottom-born defender Will Hall’s loan spell from National League outfit Altrincham was not to be further extended.
20 year-old Will, who was named Ramsbottom United Supporters' Club Player of the Month for September, following several excellent performances, was recalled by his parent club and immediately sent out to NPL Premier side Ashton United – a third loan spell for the him having played at Whitchurch Alport in the NWCFL previously.
It was a significant dent to manager Lee Donafee plans.
'It is a massive blow for us losing Will but it is one of them things when you get a lad in on loan from a club higher up the league scale. We are really sad to see him go as we became quite close personally over the four months he was with us and he was enjoying being a part of what we have been doing.
'It is a natural progression for him to take a step up although I did think we would keep him with us until January. Ashton United have got themselves a great signing and I do want to go on record to say a huge thank you to Altrincham for letting Will get some playing time with us.
'He has been outstanding for us, really solid at the back and was becoming a fans favourite in the team because of his performances and that is a Rammy lad too.'
'Will played 16 games for the Rams, starting 14 and having two appearances off the substitutes bench and scored one goal, our opener in the 3-0 away win at Mossley.
'Thank you Will, for your efforts in your hometown club colours. We wish you every success at Ashton United and in your future career with Altrincham and beyond'".
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
Duncan Watmore scored both of Middlesbrough's goals on Saturday as they won at Huddersfield Town in The Championship.When Sutton United overcame Barrow yesterday in League Two on Saturday, two of Alty's former players were potentially pitted against each other. But, whereas James Jones played the full game for the Barrovians, Alistair Smith was not in the home squad for Sutton.
Sean Williams netted in a penalty shoot out but his Warrington Town side lost 5-3 on penalties at home to Morpeth Town in the FA Trophy. Jamie McDonald had scored Warrington's goal in a 1-1 draw before the shoot-out.
Striker Fisayo Adarabioyo is now at Ashton United along with former Alty reserve Stavros Tsperpes. Their recent game against Mossley saw them face Mason Fawns playing for the Lilywhites.
James Berry, on loan at Macclesfield, scored on Saturday against Northwich Victoria.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Nottingham Post reports that "The Magpies returned to winning ways as they overcame Dagenham 2-1 at Meadow Lane...
After losing to Eastleigh and then drawing against Boreham Wood, Notts were made to dig in for their win... Frank Vincent opened the scoring when he turned in from close range after Kyle Cameron had headed into the six-yard box from Matt Palmer's corner.
Angelo Balanta then equalised for the visitors... before Ruben Rodrigues missed a sitter in the second half.
But Kyle Wootton's 10th goal of the season gave Notts the win...
Kyle Wootton... continues to lead the line with a great deal of quality... There has been a lot of talk about his future in the last week, which you would expect given he is out of contract next summer.
He has a list of growing admirers, with Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley remaining tight-lipped when asked about the forward on Saturday... Notts would surely love him to commit to a new deal and the player is very happy with life at Meadow Lane...
If Notts do not achieve promotion to the Football League it's going to be very difficult if a club further up the pyramid comes in for him...
[And] Matt Palmer is just a delight... Have Notts recruited a better central midfielder in recent years than the former Rotherham man?... Palmer very rarely wastes a pass. He's blessed with terrific vision and accuracy, but he can also do the dirty side of the game too".
Hampshire's Daily Echo confirms that "Adverse weather conditions meant that Eastleigh’s National League fixture with Solihull Moors at the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday was postponed.
The meeting was postponed on safety grounds due to a serious power outage caused by the extreme weather.
Ben Strevens’s side were going into the match with confidence off the back of two consecutive big wins against playoff-chasers Notts County and Dagenham & Redbridge...
Inaction means the Spitfires are now six points behind seventh-placed Wrexham in the playoff hunt after 16 games played, but with a game in hand on all but Yeovil above them".
According to Devon Live, "Despite a late fight back today, Torquay United's season is in danger of unravelling and manager Gary Johnson's hopes of the team being just underneath the National League play-off places by Christmas now seem forlorn after the 3-2 home defeat by FC Halifax Town.
After two horrid away defeats the hope was that Torquay would return home, where they had won four games on the trot, and put things right.
But, despite the Gulls having much of the possession, once Halifax got their second goal just after half-time, it never really looked like they would give it up, even though goals in the last five minutes from Klaidi Lolos and Armani Little made it a closer-run thing than it had felt all game.
After saying on Thursday that Asa Hall was only just ready to do some serious training, the midfielder and club captain was back in the team after almost two months out, and Jake Andrews dropped to the bench.
Starting up front again was on-loan striker Sinclair Armstrong, the 18 year-old having had two goals disallowed in his last two games".
28 November, 2021
ALTRINCHAM 1-2 SOUTHEND UNITED
A lacklustre first half from Altrincham allowed Southend to take a two-goal interval lead and, later, to leave for home with their first away win of the season. Alty were improved by second half substitutions but a missed penalty meant they ended the game empty handed.
Toby Mullarkey and Joel Senior combine to see off a Southend threat.
On a bitter afternoon, Alty fell behind inside 45 seconds when a cross from the left allowed the visitors a shot which deflected to Murphy who scored. Alty's response was undone by repeated cheap losses of possession
The second goal came from a poorly defended freekick. From the left Brunt played a low pass to Dalby who darted, unmarked, in front of the defence and scored with a shot across Thompson (34 mins).
At the interval, a much needed double change was made by a strangely quiet Phil Parkinson, with Mooney and Moult replacing Pringle and Porter. Mooney made a great difference as he ran repeatedly at the defence.
Alty were gifted a way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty for handball but Colclough's spot kick was well saved by Arnold (64 mins).
However, a fine run and shot by Mooney did find the net (68 mins). Despite dominating possession Alty lacked the guile to break down an obdurate defence again and the visitors broke up the game with tactical "injuries" at regular intervals to ensure their lead remained intact.
Altrincham's cause was not helped by the severe restriction on spectator numbers imposed by Trafford Council which put a damper on the volume of the home support but that was no excuse for a below par performance.
Match report here.
AWAY VIEW: SOUTHEND UNITED
After securing their win at the J. Davidson Stadium, Southend United reported that they "returned to winning ways on Saturday...
Goalkeeper Steve Arnold was delighted with the team’s performance at the J. Davidson Stadium. 'It’s a massive relief if I’m honest,' said Arnold... 'I think you can get into a habit of losing too. To win like that, in those circumstances to be 2-1 up with 20 minutes to go and to grind it out, that’s what we needed- a bit of grit. I’m really happy with the win.
'Everyone stuck to the game-plan. We went back to basics; we had a solid shape. Everyone knew their jobs to a tee which is the bare minimum of what you need, and we showed that today. Everyone worked their nuts off!...
'It can be a hindrance scoring early doors away from home,' Arnold added. 'You can end up resting on your laurels with the mindset of defend, defend, defend but full credit to everyone because they gave their all, especially in the conditions. The wind in the first half was horrible so to get two first-half goals, with the momentum is great.
'It wasn’t pretty, but for us, it doesn’t matter how we win at the moment as long as we get points on the board. I like it here. I feel like I’m playing towards my best. In the last two or three years, I’ve had stupid little injuries and touch wood I’ve only had one or two little niggles. I feel like I’m finding my best form'...
Arnold was a commanding presence in the box and superbly saved Ryan Colclough’s effort from the penalty spot after Nathan Ferguson was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
'You want to save it but deep down I fully believe the striker should score. I back myself to always save it [though]'".
NEXT: ALDERSHOT TOWN
Altrincham's next match is on Saturday, 4 December, away to Aldershot Town. After a poor run The Shots have turned around their form whilst Altrincham go into the game with just one league win from their last eight National League matches.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Eastern Daily Press claims that "Ian Culverhouse's reign at King's Lynn Town is hanging by a thread.
The Linnets boss admits he would be 'soul searching' after watching his team lose 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Aldershot Town.
'I think we have to look at all aspects of what is going wrong, because it certainly isn't going right,'
When asked whether that meant he would walk away from the job, he said 'No, it's just a
Having decided to go full-time in the summer, this season has been a disaster, without a home win and one place off the bottom spot.
'We are in a terrible rut, we really are. Is it possible for a new man to come in? A different voice. I've had great success here and did really well, but hold on a minute; it is not going right. It's a results business and we are not getting results. If they are not responding to me and they are not getting results from what I am delivering then the question marks are on my head. I take all the burden, nothing on to the players, it is all to do with me.
'Let's have a good look and assess what we are doing here.'"
Friday, 3 December
Saturday 4 December
Sunday, 5 December
Monday, 6 December
It says "Trafford Council has reduced the capacity at Altrincham FC following serious concerns over crowd safety.
The capacity was reduced after Council officers identified concerns with structural and safety arrangements at Altrincham FC’s Moss Lane stadium.
The reduction was put in place two weeks’ ago and will remain for Saturday’s game versus Southend United. However, the Council is in close contact with the club to ensure improvements to the ground are made before the capacity can go back to normal again.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said 'Trafford Council has taken the difficult decision to reduce the capacity at the stadium following safety concerns which were first raised with the club several weeks ago. The Council took the decision to reduce capacity to protect the safety of supporters.
'Environmental Health Officers visited the ground due to issues that had been raised in relation to the safety of the Fan Zone. A full review of the stadium was undertaken which has identified further significant concerns with current safety arrangements.
'We are working closely with the club to ensure that the required improvements are undertaken to allow the capacity to increase as soon as it is safe to do so. Although these actions have come at a time when spectator numbers have increased at the club, safety must remain our number one priority.'”
Also Southend United have "picked out five talking points...
And Ian Burchnall has acted quickly in securing the services of Connor Parsons until January 28, something the 38-year-old believes to be key ahead of December... He said 'With Aaron Nemane being out for a little while, we've moved quickly to try and replace that attacking threat in the wide area. We've been unfortunate with illness and injury in recent weeks so to get an extra body is massive.'
Burchnall also revealed himself to be a long-time fan of the 21-year-old, who had been part of Norwich City's academy before playing for Norwich United, Lowestoft Town and Icelandic side Dalvik, saying the versatile youngster 'fits the mould' at Notts County... 'Connor has been on our radar'... he added.
'He's played a lot of minutes at wingback for Wycombe, mostly down the left, but as he's right-footed, he can go either side'2.
Hampshire Live reports that "Portsmouth must act fast to secure Kyle Wootton... The striker has been linked with a move to Portsmouth ahead of the January transfer window with his Notts contract set to expire at the end of the season
Notts County plan to soon enter into contract talks with striker Kyle Wootton to avoid losing the striker for free at the end of the season.
The former Scunthorpe United man, 25, has been linked with a move to Portsmouth ahead of the January transfer window after a fine start to the season at Meadow Lane.
Wootton already has nine goals to his name... Despite his contract being up at the end of the season (22), his club are yet to enter into contract negotiations with him, something they will soon do.
'He knows that we really want him here,' said Notts boss Ian Burchnall... 'We'll enter them (contract talks) when we feel the moment is right for both parties... He needs to keep delivering and then we go from there,' he said".
And the Nottingham Post tells us that "The Magpies take on Dagenham & Redbridge at Meadow Lane in front of the live TV cameras this weekend...
Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall says his players need to start taking the next step in seeing off teams... with Burchnall's side looking to extend their grip on play-offs and get back to winning ways after a 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood on Tuesday.
Whilst the Daggers started the season in stunning form and looked unbeatable at the top of the National League before encountering a downhill spiral of seven defeats in eleven games, which has seen them drop out of the top seven...
He said 'I think they are a good team, I think they have dropped off a little bit but that can happen, especially as they were so good at the start and scored so many goals. I think they are very attacking, they flood forwards with a lot of numbers and they play good football so it can be a very open game...
'I think they will be extremely competitive, they'll be wanting to get themselves out of a bad run and it's on TV so everyone gets a little lift from that'...
'I do think we've restricted good teams to very little, I just feel like when we have control of the game, we've got to keep control of the game and take the next step by finishing the team off...
'At the moment, we are not getting the second goal and getting pegged back but I think if we can consistently keep going ahead in games over the course of the season, it’s going to serve us well."
Both the Club and David mutually agreed not to extend his rolling contract.
The defender made six appearances for the Bees during his time at The Hive London".
Charles has signed a deal until June 2023 and will be a welcome addition to a squad which lost striker Junior Morias to Dagenham two weeks ago.
The 21 year-old began his career at non league Erith Town before signing for Colchester United in 2018 , initially joining up with the clubs U23s. He was released by the Us at the end of 2018/19 season, and went on to join Enfield Town, where he made 40 appearances in the 2019/20, scoring 13 times.
He had a short stint at Braintree Town in the 2020/21 season... Charles started the current season at Isthmian League Cheshunt, scoring 13 goals before picking up a shoulder injury".
Jordan joined the Club on a permanent deal in the summer, but has come to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract with the Club.
Kane's loan spell at the Club has come to an end, seeing the youngster return to Birmingham City".
The reduction, which will remain in place for Saturday's (27 November) game versus Southend United, comes as structural and safety concerns were raised at Moss Lane 'several weeks ago'.
Trafford Council say they are in 'close contact with the club' to ensure improvements are made before they allow more fans back into the stadium.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said 'Trafford Council has taken the difficult decision to reduce the capacity at the stadium following safety concerns which were first raised with the club several weeks ago. The Council took the decision to reduce capacity to protect the safety of supporters.
'Environmental Health Officers visited the ground due to issues that had been raised in relation to the safety of the Fan Zone. A full review of the stadium was undertaken which has identified further significant concerns with current safety arrangements'.
The statement continued 'Although these actions have come at a time when spectator numbers have increased at the club, safety must remain our number one priority.'”
Finally, we have an answer, but it is not one we wanted to convey to you, as the confirmation we have received is that capacity for this game will have to remain at 1,400, the same as it was for the Emirates FA Cup replay with Gateshead nine days ago.
Extensive ground repairs have been undertaken, with many repairs completed, and a structural engineer has confirmed that both the Popular Side and the Golf Road are structurally sound.
In addition, we have greatly increased the matchday health and safety processes and the stewarding budget and upgraded many of our procedures by bringing in new operating practices in an attempt to address the concerns.
All to no avail; the ground will be set up exactly as it was for Gateshead, with the Popular Side and the Golf Road closed to spectators. Southend United will occupy the Chequers End and the first bank of seats in the Family Stand.
Altrincham fans will occupy the remainder of the Family Stand, the Community Sports Hall terrace and the Main Stand. We suggest that a section of the Main Stand is set aside for singers.
We had set the capacity of the ground at 1,200 through e-ticketing and paper ticketing, with the hope of being able to announce an increase in capacity late in the week. Southend had actually been issued with 600 tickets many weeks ago, before any ground restrictions were in place, and there had been an expectation that they might sell 400. I must thank The Shrimpers for agreeing to halt ticket sales at 250 as part of our overall capacity management.
Once again, all those who have bought a ticket or sponsors' lounge hospitality, along with all full season tickets holders, are guaranteed admission to the ground. Unfortunately, Alty Junior FC Complimentary Season Ticket holders will not be eligible for admission for this game. There will also be no tickets available for purchase on the day. Please help us by not turning up at the stadium if you do not have a valid ticket for this game.
Further details on specifics around the game and accessing the ground will be published tomorrow.
We are on course to re-establish full capacity for the games over Christmas, and we are confident of an increased capacity for the Bromley game on December 11th. We are being tested more than we thought possible this season, on and off the field. And just like we responded in the best possible way on the pitch in our last two games, so we will off the pitch, too.
Thank you for your marvellous support in a season unlike any other. The end of the tunnel is in sight".
The 19 year-old from Belfast could hardly have made a greater impact... [in] the starting line-up for the live BT Sport home game with Solihull Moors.
The Robins... slipped to a 2-1 defeat, but only after Baggley had given them the perfect start by firing them in front with an unerring finish in the 15th minute.
The Northern Ireland under-19 international went on to start the games at Woking and Gateshead".
Aldershot’s 1-0 win against Torquay United on Tuesday night saw Blues drop into the National League relegation zone...
'There’s no panic but it’s not nice and it’s not anywhere we want to be,' said Maher. 'You trust how we work and how we go about things but with not playing it’s out of your hands'.
The Shrimpers had been due to take on Maidenhead United at Roots Hall on Tuesday, only for the match to be postponed following a positive Covid test in the Magpies squad...
'We were disappointed because we wanted to play in front of our fans,' said Maher. 'It was a home game we were hopeful of picking up points from but it is what it is and we will have to play it a couple of weeks down the line now'".
That is quite some accolade from the Cards’ joint assistant manager who was typically upbeat after a fifth away victory for Woking as they came away 3-2 winners in Dorset, with Rohan Ince also finding the net in between Campbell’s double.
It gives Alan Dowson’s side a remarkable record of being the only team in the top five leagues of English football not to have drawn a game having won and lost eight in their 16 league matches...
'He’s obviously right in among the top scorers in the league and there are some very good ones in there,' enthused Dyer. 'Pound for pound, for me, he is the best player in the league at the moment just because of his all-round contribution. He’s not just a goalscorer he is setting goals up, his all-round play is very good and he just seems to be in a good place at the moment...
'It was certainly a fantastic bit of recruitment from the gaffer [Dowson] in the summer, who saw something in him that we could really develop'...
Dyer added, 'It’s not something we had last year, a regular goalscorer we could rely on. A team that wants to push on towards the top end of the league needs that, and not just one person but goals around the team too. We have that this year.'
Dyer added, 'I don’t think I’ve ever come across a team in the top five leagues to not draw, especially after 16 games, which is an incredible stat. The frustration is I look at the eight wins and I don’t think in any of them we haven’t deserved to win and I look at the eight losses and there’s three, if not four, we should have got something out of...
'We’ve got a game in hand on a few teams up there and there are always teams in the plays-off playing each other so teams are dropping points all the time. The trick is not to lose two or three on the spin. If you can keep picking up wins regularly it stands you in good stead.'
On the Weymouth victory [where Alty won recently], he added, 'It’s a tough place to go, it’s quite a tight little ground and it took us three-and-a-half hours to get there. They are a side who are fully committed and we are pleased with the result...
That’s our fifth away win'...
It’s Barnet at home on Saturday (November 27), and Dyer reckoned... 'Since their new manager [Dean Brennan] came in they have hit play-off form really. Top-seven form. We’ve got to be wary of them. Certainly knowing Dean as we do they will be a hard-working team and they have some talented players in there who they signed over the summer'".
Not many people would have predicted that the Linnets would be talking about the likelihood of relegation come the end of November. But that’s exactly what will be staring Ian Culverhouse’s beleaguered side in the face if they pick up anything less than six points from their next two home games against Aldershot (Saturday) and Dover Athletic (December 11)...
Lynn have already fallen short against Weymouth and Wealdstone, sides expected to battling against the drop... Lynn find themselves marooned in the bottom three...
Aldershot will arrive in Norfolk buoyed by back-to-back wins against Grimsby Town and Torquay United respectively while, at the other end of the scale, Lynn have slumped to seven league defeats on the bounce and gates continue to dwindle".
Rowe’s sharp, bright, imaginative and innovative approach is very much in line with the leadership at the top of the club and you can see why they plucked for him.
Exactly one year on from his appointment Town are top of the same league that they sat 21st in when he took over, which says it all. He has a win percentage of more than 60 and has accumulated a staggering 101 points from 50 National League matches, as well as a play-off finish.
His recruitment for the most part has been excellent, the culture has been turned upside down and the fans are following in great numbers home and away.
There are players now at the club who could be sold for good money and a significant profit, the players who are injured are rallying around those who are not and there is a totally different feel to matchdays now.
He has been well-backed by the board, but so have other previous managers while the club has been in the National League and look at how that worked out...
It is no surprise that he is attracting attention and it seems inevitable there will be more approaches for him in the futuree...
The club could fly in the Football League if it can finally escape the National League high security prison".
Following a midweek draw at league leaders Chesterfield, this Saturday Altrincham host a Southend United side placed close to the other end of the table. It will be the first meeting between the clubs.
The Shrimpers have just appointed the wily John Still as Head of Football and he is likely to assist manager Maher in turning round the fortunes of the Essex club. Still is someone Alty have met several times before, notably when he was manager of Dagenham & Redbridge.
Right: Possible injury doubt, Ryan Colclough.
Southend go into the game in 21st place with fifteen games played and eleven points earned. With just eleven goals scored they are the lowest scorers in the division but they have only conceded 24 times, the same number of goals conceded as Alty, who have played one game more and enjoy a thirteen points' advantage over their guests.
A 4-1 win over troubled Dover is the Shrimpers only win in their last six league matches. On the road they have lost all of their last seven fixtures in the National League, scoring just twice on their travels in that sequence of games.
Southend come to Altrincham after an unexpected eight-day break caused by the postponement on Tuesday of their scheduled game at home to Maidenhead United who, unlike Altrincham recently, were allowed to call off their trip to Essex because of Covid issues. Southend's last game was on Friday 19 November, with Alty having played twice since then.
Whilst Southend are on a poor run, Altrincham themselves have not been in the most impressive of form in recent weeks, winning just once in their last eight matches in all competitions. However, in the National League they are now unbeaten in three games, two of which were draws.
The Robins will be hoping that Ryan Colclough's late injury at Chesterfield on Tuesday proves to be not as serious as it first appeared. That is particularly the case as Colclough went into that match as the only one of Alty's three joint top-scorers in the league to be in action that night, with fellow top scorers for the club in the league, Josh Hancock and Dan Mooney, both sidelined.
The Derbyshire Times informs us that "Chesterfield conceded twice in the last six minutes to draw at home to Altrincham.
First-half strikes from Liam Mandeville and Kabongo Tshimanga had the Spireites in control at half-time.
But Matty Kosylo pulled a goal back late on before A-Jay Leitch-Smith netted beyond the four minutes of added time.
The Blues’ form is even more impressive when you take into account their ridiculously long injury list which meant they could only name four substitutes for this fixture. As many as 12 players were unavailable and a good chunk of them are regular starters and they are missing some leaders as well.
In the end, this game was just a step too far for the current group who have given everything for several weeks now...
In his post-match interview James Rowe revealed that Jeff King is going to be out until at least the middle of January, if not longer, with a medial knee ligament injury, which he picked up in the win against Solihull Moors.
Manny Oyeleke, who has been nursing a calf problem, had to come off at half-time and Luke Croll went down injured towards the end. Both will be assessed ahead of Saturday...
At two-nil up I thought Chesterfield were managing the game really well. The hosts were keeping Altrincham at arm’s length and were seeing the game out professionally. Town were not offering much of a threat at the other end, but they were sticking to the task and seeing the match out nicely.
That was until Kosylo was given too much space to find the bottom corner to halve the deficit with six minutes left. Flashbacks to Bromley and Torquay invaded the mind and unfortunately there is another to add to the list as Leitch-Smith struck with virtually the last kick of the game... When Altrincham scored well beyond the four minutes of added time". [Footnote: That was simply because it is a "minimum of four minutes" and there was a significant stoppage, after it had been announced, for treatment to Ryan Colclough.]
Conor Branson netted for Alfreton Town, for whom Ritchie Sutton also played but they lost 1-4 at home to Ashley Hemmings's Kidderminster Harriers.
Bradford (Park Avenue) had Nicky Clee in their side and Dylan Mottley-Henry was a used substitute. Unused on the bench was Ryan Toulson.
Former Alty boss Neil Young has led his Marine side to the top of the NPL Division One West, in which Ashley Woods scored for 1874 Northwich as they thrashed Trafford 5-2 at Shawe View. Elsewhere, Danny Mitchley scored for Skelmersdale.
The fan-owned ex-EFL club brought in Johnson and Morley in 2018 after their relegation from the National League...But after initial bright hopes, Chester have faltered since the Covid outbreak.
Having finished ninth in their first season in charge, after taking over in May 2018 from the departed Marcus Bignot, Chester were sixth when the Coronavirus pandemic prematurely ended the 2019-20 season, and the 2020-21 campaign was then lost completely.
The club then suffered a Covid outbreak at the start of this season, affecting a lot of the club's players and leaving Johnson hospitalised. After a delayed start to the campaign Chester have won just four of their 15 league games and lie 16th in the table, just six points above the danger zone after losing 1-0 at home to former boss Bignot's Guiseley.
In his final interview with BBC Radio Merseyside following Tuesday night's game, Morley said 'Ultimately it lies with me and Johnno. We believe these players are good enough. But seven losses? Clearly not.'
A club statement issued at noon on Wednesday added 'Unfortunately results and performances this season have not met expectations and we feel now is the right time to make a change'".
'Well, I’m gutted,” Wild said. “I’m gutted for the players as I thought tonight, we were excellent. Both with and without the ball we looked good. They had two chances which they took. That’s what they get for their money. But, across the whole game we were excellent. For a team with all that money and all that jazz, we totally outplayed them from start to finish. So, to lose I am seriously gutted for the players.'
Jordan Slew netted the opening goal of the game after Matty Warburton found the forward in plenty of space inside the box.
'We’ve countered well all night,' Wild told Shaymen TV... 'But unfortunately we just couldn’t finish them off when it counted'.
Wrexham equalised with just nine minutes left on the clock through James Jones before Paul Mullin netted the winner in stoppage time.
'We were trying to get the second to kill them off,' Wild said. 'I thought we had them on the ropes and the first goal was disappointing as we didn’t clear it further. Then with the second we’re trying to win the game. We’re gutted. Absolutely gutted as we have been the better side all evening. Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve so it was disappointing to lose... We’re going to put the wrongs right on Saturday. It’s absolute madness travelling to Dover then a week later you go to Torquay. But it is what it is. We’ve just got to get on with it and we’ll be ready.'"
The wing-back is set to be out until at least January with a medial knee ligament injury which he picked up in the win against Solihull Moors last Saturday...
Manager James Rowe said King will be out for a minimum of six weeks but it could be longer. He will have another scan at the end of this week...
'We literally are down to the bare bones,' Rowe said...
Town are due to be back in action away at Maidenhead United this Saturday but the game could potentially be postponed because of a positive Covid test in the Magpies camp...
Rowe added 'To get four points out of the last two games is still two points per game so we have got to regroup and go again on Saturday. I have got to make sure we are in the best spirits possible and make sure this last minute equaliser [by Altrincham] does not affect us. Hopefully the game does go ahead because we want to play, we always want to play'">
Two goals from full-back Jayden Sweeney and one for Wealdstone top scorer Josh Umerah consigned Whites to a sixth straight loss in all competitions and a record ninth consecutive National League defeat.
They twice fought back at Crabble through goals from defender Harry Ransom and midfielder Henry Woods but they still fell to a 13th loss this season from 16 league games.
Academy striker Noah Carney came on as a second-half substitute and twice went close late on, however he couldn’t find a way through for Andy Hessenthaler’s side.
Southall conceded 'It’s pretty much the story of our season, isn’t it? But I feel really proud of the boys with the way they created a lot of chances. It’s probably the best football we have played in a while. But our Achilles heel, making mistakes at the back, has cost us again. It just keeps happening.
'For some reason, there is a lapse of concentration somewhere within us within the 90 minutes and we just seem to be letting goals in at that stage, especially when we are on top@...
There was a surprise change in goal which saw Adam Parkes replaced by Josh Bexon who made his first competitive appearance since September 14... Whites’ No.2 said 'We just felt as if Adam has looked a little bit tired recently. With the pitch on Saturday being heavy, we felt he wasn’t striking the ball cleanly. So we brought Josh in who could strike it a little bit further and get us up the pitch a little bit more.
'I feel sorry for him. He has come in and he has conceded three goals'.
Defender Danny Collinge was also absent through illness... 'There is this bug going around... and Adam felt really rough at half-time on Saturday. So that was sort of another reason we looked to just give him a rest'...
[Manager, Andy] Hessenthaler said the club had missed out on a striker last week, although Southall says they may have one in the squad in time for their trip to Huish Park.
Southall revealed... 'We are actively looking in other positions as well; obviously centre-back is causing us problems. It seems whoever we put in there is making these mistakes. We need to try and sort that out, and to look to strengthen the squad. You could see on Tuesday the squad was at bare bones again.
'We had two of the Academy boys on there (the bench) again (Carney and Alex Green), even though young Noah came on and was absolutely fantastic. He is on the verge of getting in with England Schoolboys as well. He is on the last selection part with that. He has got his trial in Birmingham coming up. I think we have unearthed a rough diamond, a nice little gem there'...
Dover... now are some 22 points from safety... 'We just get on and do our jobs. We are here, and we are desperate to win a game of football... We just have to keep going and keep believing'".
Torquay lost 1-0 at Aldershot after they were beaten 2-1 by Barnet on Saturday, both games they must have thought they had a chance of winning as the manager targeted getting close to the play-offs before Christmas.. That aim looks a bit too ambitious and any keeping clear of the relegation zone seems more immediate than getting into the mix at the top.
It was the Aldershot captain Lewis Kinsella who struck the killer blow with a well-taken free kick in the 84th minute after Torquay had tried hard but not created anywhere near enough chances at the Recreation Ground.
Johnson said 'I thought the game was quite a tight affair. We had enough of the ball without being able to find the final third combinations that could get us a goal, whether that be from corners, set plays, with quality in the people, or quality in the run and pass.
'We hung on in there and at times we kept the ball but it was always going to be something like a great free kick that they got... We have got to keep going and keep trying to improve, keep working; nobody works harder than us, and we have got to try and get it going and get it right. We have got to keep our home form going because that's keeping us at bay.'
Loan striker Sinclair Armstrong has now had a goal disallowed in both of Torquay's last two games... The busy frontman who was at least physical up front 'won' the ball when there was a coming together of the Aldershot goalkeeper and a defender in the first half. But after the ball had been rolled into the net, there was a flag for Armstrong's involvement in the incident...
Johnson said: "We.., felt there wasn't enough of a shove'...
Halifax come to Plainmoor on Saturday. They have former Torquay striker Billy Waters in their ranks and he has 10 goals in 15 games this season...
Johnson says he is hoping that more players become available in January but 2022 seems far off right now and many fans are calling for action now rather than in the new year... Johnson said before the defeat at Aldershot...'When it gets nearer to January, decisions have to be made on people you have got in the club and people that are waiting. And then clubs will start releasing.
'At the moment clubs need players because of all the tournaments, and they need the players to fill their bench and fixtures over Christmas etc, but there will be a few available in January and the boys know that that's what we are looking for'".
The Reds, held to a disappointing goalless home draw with Wealdstone on Saturday, were backed by more than 1,200 fans for Tuesday's National League clash at the Shay.
The high-flying Shaymen took the lead midway through the second half but Wrexham equalised eight minutes from time through James Jones' first goal for the club and leading scorer Paul Mullin grabbed a stoppage time winner...
'First of all I am humbled by the support we had tonight,' said Parkinson, 'after a draw at home and a bit of a flat performance, for us to come out here and see over a 1,000 fans. But not just that; when we conceded a goal, the way they stuck by the team'...
Added Parkinson, whose side are now up to eighth in the table, 'I know how much is costs to support football teams home and away, and it is great that they are driving back to Wrexham'".
In front of a gate of 5,273, Chesterfield had taken a tenth-minute lead when a Liam Mandeville shot had deflected off Toby Mullarkey and, over Tony Thompson, into the net. And just before the interval Alty conceded a second time as Kabongo Tshimanga got a touch on a team-mate's header from a corner (43 mins). So, at half-time it was 2-0 to the hosts.
Having played five at the back, Alty changed things for the second half as striker/winger Peers replaced centre-back Digie. After early Alty pressure had been seen off, the majority of the second half was a fairly mundane event as the hosts seemed comfortable with their two-goal lead and their solid defence kept Alty at bay till the exciting closing stages.
After 84 minutes, Leitch-Smith set Kosylo in on goal and he netted with a good shot from twenty yards to make it 2-1. Buoyed by their goal, Alty finished the game largely on the front foot and in the fifth added minute A-Jay Leitch-Smith scored a fine equaliser to claim an ultimately deserved point (90+5 mins).
Match report here
Liam Mandeville and Kabongo Tshimanga put the Blues two goals to the good at the break, but Matthew Kosylo and A-Jay Leitch-Smith gave the away side a point.
James Rowe made just the one change as Jeff King, who picked up a knock against Solihull Moors, was replaced by Mandeville in a straight swap.
After a slow start to the first half, Chesterfield started to turn the screw and... the home faithful would soon be celebrating. Mandeville made a strong run to the 18-yard box and saw his left-footed strike loop over Anthony Thompson and into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
It wasn’t all the Spireites’ way though as Altrincham threatened to find a quick equaliser...
Chesterfield found a second goal a couple of minutes before the break. Mandeville’s corner was headed goalwards by Grimes before Tshimanga provided a deft touch past Thompson...
The start of the second period saw the visitors threaten through Colclough and Kosylo.. Mandeville was providing the possibility of good chances with his floated corners. One such set piece with ten minutes to go found Croll, but his header was off target.
With just over five minutes to go, Altrincham pulled a goal back. Kosylo’s 25-yard effort trickled past Loach and found the net via the post.
Despite resolve from the Chesterfield defence, Altrincham found a leveller in added time. As the game ticked over into the fifth minute of added time, substitute Leitch-Smith fired a powerful effort past Loach for a share of the spoils".
In the meantime, there is good and bad news for the Essex club as Southend United report "the appointment of John Still as the Club’s new Head of Football.
He is also known for his talent spotting skills in the lower levels of non-league, with players that he has signed being developed and going on to play higher up the football pyramid.
John brings with him to Blues a network of scouts who will scour all levels of the game.
Tom Lawrence, CEO, said 'The addition of John Still completes the restructure of the Football Department'...
John added 'Kev [Maher, the manager] feels that my knowledge and experience will be an asset for him, and I just couldn’t say no.
'As far as I’m concerned, everything that I know and I believe in will be made available to Kevin, his coaching team and Stan.'"
Less happily, the Southend Echo reports that "The chairman of Southend United may have to wait until 2023 to stand trial after being charged with failing to pay more than £5million in tax following two land deals, a court heard.
Ronald Martin, 68, and former chief executive Geoffrey King, 75, are accused of failing to pay £4,485,000 in Value Added Tax over the sale of land in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The pair are also accused of failing to pay £921,260 of VAT in relation to the sale of land in Thundersley, Essex, to the same firm, Redrow Homes PLC... Both men sat in the public gallery rather than the dock during the plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court.
King, of Ponds Road, Chelmsford, Essex, and Martin, of Benfleet Road, Benfleet, Essex, are both charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue. No pleas were taken today and they were released on unconditional bail ahead of a further hearing on May 30 next year.
However, their preliminary trial date was set for January 3, 2023 and is estimated to last between two and a half and four weeks".
A product of Millwall’s development system, the midfielder arrived at Hayes Lane in the summer.
The 21-year-old made his senior debut during a loan spell at Barnet last season and earned praise from Bees supporters ahead of his move to Bromley.
Skeffington now joins a Cray side who currently sit 20th in the Isthmian League Premier Division".
Dowse made no changes to the side that beat Southend 2-0, retaining the back 3 used in that match including Casey in the left centre back position, whilst Annesley, back from international duty with Gibraltar, returned to the squad...
Hopes were high that after a dramatic 120 minutes of [FA Cup] football and a short turnaround, Stockport would be powerless to resist a strong Woking side.
2,753 fans were in attendance for the visit of Stockport, managed by Dave Challinor in only his 4th game in charge after leaving League 2 Hartlepool. Although unbeaten in his first 3 games, Challinor’s Stockport were still looking for their first league win since he joined. Unfortunately for Woking, despite their exertions in mid-week, Stockport came to Kingfield full of energy and ability...
Neither side was able to establish a foothold in the game. It was on the 5 minute mark that The Hatters managed to put together the first meaningful attack of the game. County’s number seven, MacAuley Southam-Hales made quick progress down the right and managed to evade the attention of the Woking defence whipping in an inviting low cross. Paddy Madden was able to tuck the ball away from close range, leaving Ross with no chance.
After finding the net, Stockport immediately found their rhythm and the game started to take on a worrying complexion... Further chances fell to Stockport...
Disaster struck after half an hour. The ball bounced around on the edge of the Woking box and it was that man Madden once again. Stepping on to the loose ball, just outside the area he curled an unstoppable effort from left to right, beating Ross at his far post...
Things hadn’t gone well for Woking in the first half. Southam-Hales had the run of the right flank for Stockport and Madden looked dangerous any time he had a sniff of the ball. Woking’s men will have been relieved to escape the barrage from Stockport.
Dowse hardly has a reputation for changing things up at half time, but he’d clearly seen enough in the first half to make the first two changes of the match. With Annesley on for Loza, Casey made the move to Left Wing-Back. Effiong replaced Johnson providing The Cards with the physical presence up front which had clearly been missing in the first half...
As the [second] half started to take shape, things were looking far more even between the two sides... County still looked dangerous... Woking continued to work hard in the second half and finally, the breakthrough after 66 minutes. Kretzschmar forced his way to the byline and despite the attentions of Ash Palmer, managed to bide his time before crossing perfectly for an onrushing Campbell. The striker has been making headlines for Woking this season, but with the quality of Kretzschmar’s cross, he simply couldn’t miss from 5 yards out.
Woking, with a little over 30 minutes to rescue the game kept pushing. Stockport finally started to tire after their busy night in midweek... The balance of play clearly in Woking’s favour now, with Stockport restricted to a counter attacking gameplan...
Maguire-Drew’s stoppage time effort went wide and with it, Woking’s hopes of taking something from the game.
Following their second half showing, Dowse will have been disappointed not to see his side take something from the game... Dowse kept his team on the pitch for a debrief after the match and with 7 wins and 8 losses in the league this season will be desperate to see his team improve their consistency if there is to be any chance of sneaking into the play-off places by the end of the season".
The Spireites will be aiming to go 10 unbeaten in all competitions when they entertain the Robins at the Technique Stadium...
The manager is wary of the threat Alty, who won 4-1 at Weymouth at the weekend, will pose.
'It is going to take an almighty effort against a really technical team tomorrow with a good manager to overcome them after a Saturday away game so we need to pull together,' he told BBC Radio Sheffield.
'We need to get supporters in again, we need to make it as loud as possible and we need to play with our DNA the best we can and hopefully we can get a result. I am sure they will come and try and influence the game their way because they have got a clear way of playing but so have we.
Chesterfield, who will still be without 10 players for the match, will check on a couple of players ahead of the game.
Manny Oyeleke was a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Solihull Moors with a calf injury but played more than an hour before coming off as a precaution.
[Former Alty man] Jeff King (left) took a knock to his knee in the first-half but managed to continue so he will be monitored. Luke Croll was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Solihull’s Kyle Storer which resulted in a red card and he also will be checked over.
Fraser Kerr missed out on Saturday due to illness. Calvin Miller sits out his last match of his three-game suspension and will be back for Maidenhead United.
'In general it will be the same players who were named in the squad on Saturday,' Rowe added".
Alty have only won one of their last seven in all competitions but thrashed 10-man Weymouth 4-1 away on Saturday.
On Town, Parkinson said, 'They are absolutely getting it spot on, they have got a very good manager who has turned it around massively since he has gone in there. They are a top team, they are top of the league, they are going to make it very difficult for us and it will be a completely different game from today.
'We have won championships [the NPL was won in 2018], we know what it takes, what it smells like, what it tastes like. It is a huge club and it should be up there, they should be a juggernaut in this division but there are a few like that so when you get it right with the resources and everything they will have at their disposal, they should be doing what they are doing'...
He explained 'We certainly know we are going to have to be above and beyond to get anything out of that game and whether we like it or not we might have to change slightly what we do because of how well they are doing at the moment. It is not something we don’t like to do but it is something we might have to consider.
'We are a much better team then when we went there last season but so are they so it will be a really difficult test for us. We are going to have our work cut-out and if we get anything Tuesday night it will be an absolute credit to this football club and the lads but, for me, it is a really good challenge and it is why I wanted to be in this division and why the players wanted to be in this division.'"
Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall has revealed winger Aaron Nemane has been sent for an X-ray amid fears he has fractured his hand.
The former Torquay wide man suffered the injury in Saturday's defeat at Eastleigh and was sent to hospital on Monday...
'Aaron has been sent for an X-ray... It might not need a cast but we will have to check that out and then we'll be able to know later on if he's available or not.'
Burchnall did confirm, however, that Ruben Rodrigues would be fit after suffering a head injury at the weekend.
He trained on Monday but defender Connell Rawlinson sat out the session due to illness...
'Ruben is fine,' he said... 'Connell (Rawlinson) has been feeling under the weather so he didn't train. We'll just see how he is later on.'"
Lynn boss Ian Culverhouse will have a fitness concern over left-sided defender Ross Barrows, who picked up a shoulder injury just after scoring the second goal in the 3-2 defeat at Bromley on Saturday.
Barrows has been covering in recent weeks because Tyler Denton is sidelined with a hamstring injury, so if he doesn’t make it, the manager could be forced into a reshuffle if he wants to play five across the back. Central defender Kyle Callan-McFadden missed the Bromley defeat and another absence would simply exacerbate the problem.
Lynn, second from bottom, are desperate to bring something home from Stockport, who are 10th in the table, as they attempt to move out of the relegation zone.
Aldershot, the team immediately above them, are at home to Torquay tomorrow before a visit to The Walks on Saturday, while bottom side Dover host Wealdstone."
Sendles-White looks set to line up for Maidenhead United at Roots Hall on Tuesday night. But if things had worked out differently he could well have been lining up for the Shrimpers. The defender was training with Blues earlier this season. And Sendles-White believes a deal would have been agreed had Phil Brown not been dismissed.
'It got very close to being sorted and it was probably only a day or two away from happening,' said Sendles-White. 'I only trained one day to see if I was fit and ready to be playing straight away but I’m very confident that if Phil Brown had stayed I would have signed for Southend.'
Sendles-White, who has previously played for Aldershot and Leyton Orient, was eventually forced to look elsewhere... And the 27-year-old centre-back is pleased to have moved to Maidenhead.
'I’ve only played one game so far at Maidenhead but it felt good to be back out there playing again after some bad luck with deals falling through at the last minute and things like that,' said Sendles-White.
'It’s felt like a long time so it’s good to be back training and playing again... It will be my first Tuesday night game this season and it’s a great place to play it.... I know it’s been a hard few months for Southend but I’m sure they will be desperate to turn it around and they have some good players that are capable of that so we need to be wary of that.'”
The Bristol-born forward is likely to come straight into the matchday squad as John-Lewis is still injured. He is eligible for Tuesday night's game at home to Solihull and looks a certainty to at least make the bench.
Bell's dad Micky played over 600 professional games including nearly 300 with Bristol City.
Grimsby have been looking for a striker all year and still have the number 9 jersey unassigned".
The atmosphere has always been special when St Albans City have come to town, but this really does promise to be extra special, as both clubs are now in a ‘winner takes all’ scenario. This game is also the final match to be played in this season’s 2nd Round Proper of the Emirates FA Cup, save for replays, and it means both clubs will know who they’ve pulled out of the hat in the FA Cup 3rd Round proper before stepping on the field of play.
The demand on both sides has meant we could have possibly sold this fixture out twice over, but it is not about just taking people’s money with no care given for the safety and security of the fans of both clubs, as that is our priority.
So, by taking our time in regards to creating a newer, safer and more secure new BWFC ticketing platform and process, we have learnt a lot more about it...
A record LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park capacity crowd could now await".
But it is that mentality Blues head coach Kevin Maher must fight hard to change...
The Shrimpers were beaten 1-0 at high-flying Grimsby Town on Friday as their miserable run of results continued. And Blues have now been beaten five times in their last six outings.
The poor run leaves them sitting just one place and one point above the National League drop zone and the Shrimpers are now at serious risk of suffering a third successive relegation.
The latest setback came against the Mariners who scored the only goal of the game after just three minutes when Ryan Taylor capitalised on some hesitant defending to sweep the ball home.
But, given the recent record, it was somewhat encouraging Southend did not crumble after going behind so early on and were at least able to stay in the game...
This Shrimpers side is simply not good enough and reinforcements are desperately needed if relegation is to be avoided...
Blues are currently hindered in what style of play they can use given the options at their disposal.
With Nathan Ralph sidelined again and Tom Clifford still out, the Shrimpers are short of left-backs with the inexperienced Charlie Sayers the only natural for that role currently available.
Now may not be the best of times to throw in a 17-year-old, even if he does remain a bright prospect for the future.
The right sided Jason Demetriou filled in at left-back on Friday night while John White, who has featured more centrally in recent years, reverted to right-back.
It was certainly far from ideal and again showed the need for new signings. But Blues are also lacking in other areas, including out wide.
The knee injury suffered by Jack Bridge, one of the few bright spots this season, came as a huge blow and left the Shrimpers short of wingers...
The Blues boss shifted to a 4-2-3-1 formation on Friday night, with Louis Walsh starting on the right flank...
Walsh has found opportunities hard to come by this season but the change of shape facilitated his return on Friday and the winger looked lively out wide...
It is glaringly obvious more quality and creativity is needed in the final third. Blues have now scored just 11 goals in 15 league games this season, the joint lowest in the whole division.
Four of those goals also came against rock bottom Dover to further underline the fact new signings are needed...
But there is no magic formular to suddenly turn things around.
Blues look set to add to their backroom team this week but new faces are needed on the pitch if improvements and progress are to be made".
The Magpies had started brightly and were inches away from taking the lead... But it was the hosts who found the breakthrough when Josh Hare's cross was headed in by Tyrone Barnett.
Notts struggled to create clear-cut chances with their best efforts coming from distance as Ruben Rodrigues forced a save from Joe McDonnell.
However, it was Andew Boyce who sealed the win for the hosts when the defender converted at the back post from a corner...
Notts have set such lofty standards in terms of their quality of football that this performance was a real surprise given the brilliance we have witnessed in recent weeks...
Notts started well enough, but for the last 20 minutes of the first half they lacked purpose, intensity and craft which is unlike them.
The attacking players who have been so good this season all endured bad days... There were never consistent periods where Notts looked like they were ever going to get back into the game...
The Notts goalkeeper Sam Slocombe finally made his return from a long-standing injury which came at the right time given the fact Sunderland recalled Anthony Patterson on Friday... Nobody should forget just how good Slocombe is...
He turned down the opportunity of playing in the Football League last summer as he put pen to paper on a two-year deal on a contract at Meadow Lane...
Ever since Notts dropped into the National League, their biggest Achilles heel has been conceding goals from crosses... and it was the same at the weekend... Notts had gone through a period when they had stopped conceding soft goals so the last thing they need is for this to rear its head again...
Both managers Luke Garrard [of next opponents, Boreham Wood] and Burchnall play 3-5-2 so it is set up for a fascinating encounter on Tuesday night".
After two comprehensive wins on the road against Aldershot Town and Kings Lynn Town respectively, many Dragons fans arrived at a sunny Racecourse in good spirits...
They were to be disappointed however as another disjointed display was greeted by a smattering of boos at the full-time whistle and the majority of supporters inside the famous old ground were left wondering when this Wrexham side will start to fulfil their clear potential...
Phil Parkinson's men started brightly enough with the usual diagonal passes nearly coming off for the hosts...
Wrexham were playing reasonably well, although Wealdstone were more than happy to sit back and soak up the pressure and the half time whistle came with both sides relatively content with their displays.
The second half saw the 8,300 home supporters trying to rally their side but again Wealdstone held firm and as the second half wore on it was clear that Wrexham were running out of ideas against their London opponents...
The final whistle was blown and met with a few disgruntled shouts from sections of the crowd with many unhappy with another tame home display after some good recent away performances...
When asked if he was hoping to bring in some new signings in the January transfer window, Parkinson said, 'We're looking to strengthen, the work is ongoing and you can't wait until January to put those wheels into motion because it'll be too late.
'There's a couple of areas we need to strengthen but I'm going to keep those areas to myself at the moment'".
Barnet took the lead at the Hive just before half time, but a superb free kick by Armani Little made it 1-1 in the second half. However, just minutes after the equaliser, Barnet struck from the penalty spot and, despite a few more chances, the Gulls were unable to get back on level terms, let alone reverse the fortunes.
After three National League games unbeaten, and wins in their last four league games at home, the defeat is a blow to the team's aim of reaching the outskirts of the play-offs by Christmas.
Johnson said there were some 'home truths' at the end of the game with all eyes now firmly fixed on the trip to Aldershot Town on Saturday.
'We don't seem to be playing away like we are playing at home at the moment, with runs and attacks and decent combinations sometimes,' said Johnson.
'Today you had to compete with them, because that's how they are trying to get away from the bottom of the table. And they have been doing it quite well over the last five or six games...
'Somehow we have got to change our away form around and that probably is down to individuals who might be able to play at home, but can't play away, for some reason. And that's confidence really'".
Weymouth suffered a red card midway through the first half, for the second game running, as Tom Bearwish saw red.
Alty took advantage as Colclough put his side ahead (34 mins). Two goals in three minutes just before the hour mark settled the game. First Kosylo netted after Peers had been denied and then Colclough netted his second (60 mins).
But almost immediately Olomowwewe pulled a goal back as Alty failed to keep a clean sheet for the sixth successive league game.
Altrincham wound up the game in the 89th minute when Kosylo completed his brace (89 mins).
Match report here
Having competed well in the opening exchanges, Weymouth's afternoon deteriorated when Tom Bearwish was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity for Matty Kosylo.
Ryan Colclough curled the visitors in front and grabbed his brace with a superb strike in the second half after Kosylo bundled home.
Taofiq Olomowewe's maiden goal for Weymouth proved in vain as Kosylo made it four a minute from time".
However, with only one defeat in their previous four league matches, The Terras will be fully confident that they can come away with three points this weekend. Following the Chesterfield game, Stock said on this weekend’s clash 'It’s important that we build on our home form, we have a good squad with competition for places…we need to stick together'...
'It was good news for centre back Ben Morgan who made the starting lineup against Chesterfield as he returns from injury and could make his first home start since September. New signing Tom Blair could also be in line to make his first appearance for the Terras this weekend.
'With two goals in our previous four matches, Ben Thomson will be eyeing to further his tally, with The Terras likely to look to Thommo to provide some of his magic in front of goal to get back to winning ways in the league.
'Altrincham will be looking for their first league win since October when they make the long trip south to the Bob Lucas Stadium this weekend... In recent matches, Altrincham have picked up only two points from their last six league matches which will give the Robins extra motivation to try and claim some points this weekend, something that Brian Stock’s side will be prepared for, given Altrincham’s wins against top sides so far this season...
Josh Hancock may prove to be the main dangerman in front of goal this weekend against the Terras. With goals against Gateshead, Boreham Wood and Woking recently and a goal against Dagenham and Redbridge in October, The Robins will look to Hancock to provide creativity and some clinical attacking play as Altrincham search for a first league win since a 2-0 win over Maidenhead United on the 9th of October."
This note is an attempt to put that right...
Trafford Borough Council undertook an inspection of The J.Davidson Stadium in the run up to the Boreham Wood game and found a number of areas of concern around ground safety in the Golf Road End, The Fan Zone, The Popular Side and the Chequers End. As a consequence, each of these areas saw a reduction in capacity or complete closure. We very quickly performed some more straightforward repair works to allow the front section of the Golf Road immediately behind the goal to be open against Boreham Wood, and started the process of scoping the remaining improvement works. As a consequence of this, our capacity for the game was set to 3019.
The formula to set the capacity of sports grounds uses two parameters, the “P factor” and the “S factor”; with the latter being applied to all regulated stands, which in our case is The Pop Side, the Golf Road and the Main Stand. The S Factor for Boreham Wood was set at 0.3.
We attracted an attendance of over 2200 for Boreham Wood, continuing the superb support you have given us all season...
However, it is clear that there were issues on the day, particularly with the stewarding. Trafford Borough Council were at the game to review how our processes and matchday operations worked in practice and they correctly identified our shortcomings.
Above: Only the centre section of the Popular Side could be used last Saturday against Boreham Wood
As a consequence of this, on Monday, further discussions took place between the club and the council. At one point the club erroneously reported a reduction in capacity to 2200. This was due to our misunderstanding from a conversation earlier in the day. Later in the day, Trafford BC held a call with the Altrincham FC board to outline the level of their concerns and the severity of the actions that were needed to be taken to ensure supporter safety at the Gateshead game on the following night.
At that time we took tickets off sale, having sold 1390 to that point. The concerns about the stewarding had reached such a level that there was a serious discussion about having to play the game behind closed doors. Strict guidelines were laid down by Trafford BC which we had to meet in order to ensure the game could be played in front of any fans at all.
We took immediate action. We replaced the company who had been providing stewarding and brought in two highly-regarded organisations to replace them whilst also appointing a new Chief Steward reporting into the Safety Officer. This action, plus the addressing of a couple of other issues allowed us to announce late on Tuesday that the game could go ahead in front of spectators.
Our S Factor was reduced to 0.1, and this meant that all those who had already acquired tickets would be able to attend the game. The way the capacity was divided between the stands on the safety certificate, issued late on Tuesday took the Golf Road and Popular Side out of the equation but did allow a greater capacity in the Main Stand. The majority of Altrincham fans were housed on the Chequers End, with another group in front of the Community Sports Hall.
Several hundred Alty fans were unable to attend the game, and those that did were unable to enjoy the game as normal, including all the fans on The Chequers End not being able to use the Community Sports Hall bar before the game and at half time. This is unacceptable and on behalf of the board, I would like to apologise to all of you who were affected by these restrictions...
There was not enough time to resolve the issues raised from the Boreham Wood game in time for the Gateshead match...
Above: The Golf Road was well populated last Saturday
As I said, we have brought in a new stewarding structure for match days... In addition to this, we are reviewing our operations manual and our procedures more generally to ensure they conform with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority “Green Guide” and are fit for purpose for a club that now attracts over 2000 on a regular basis...
On the ground improvements side, we have been working with structural engineers in defining a programme of work to address the issues on the ground. Trafford Borough Council have issued a further report to us today. Our first target is to bring the Golf Road end of the Popular Side back into use, as the works needed there are less extensive than the other parts of the ground. There is a possibility this will be done in time for the Southend United game.
The work at the back of the Golf Road end will follow, and this will help us scope the replacement of the Golf Road exterior wall. Work will also commence on the Popular Side stand nearest the Chequers End as this does require some more substantial work. At this time we will repair the closed off section at the end of the Chequers End. Work on the Fan Zone will see the provision of running water to the area and further construction works to move us forward.
Our aim remains to have all essential ground works completed before the Christmas fixtures.
One last issue needs addressing – the investigation into Altrincham Football Club was indeed triggered by an anonymous email to Trafford BC. The board have discussed this at length and are very disappointed that the individual didn’t feel they could talk directly to one of us. This has led us to review our governance and our operating model. It needs to be easier for our staff, volunteers, fans and in fact any stakeholder to raise issues with the board, as we take ultimate responsibility for the running of the club. We will continue to hold the Q&A sessions we have over the last couple of years and there is an opportunity next Friday night to meet and ask members of the board questions. We must prevent a recurrence of this situation and we will make the necessary changes to avoid a repeat.
Let me be completely clear however. The issues raised to the Council that triggered this process and the further issues that have since been identified are ones that need to be addressed – and need to be resolved. Your board takes safety very seriously and this programme of work is our highest priority".
Will, who is in his second season at Altrincham, having had a loan spell with Whitchurch Alport, then in the North West Counties League, celebrated his 20th birthday on Wednesday and has been at The Pitching In Northern Premier League-West side since the start of the season, having featured during a number of pre-season games for the Robins...
The Ramsbottom based central defender has impressed at his home town club and continues his development by moving from Step 4 to Step 3 in the non-league football pyramid, having attracted the attention of Ashton United manager, Michael Clegg".
It will surprise no one who marvelled at his sustained level of excellence throughout the 2020/21 campaign that appreciative Alty fans voted him into the final, where he finds himself up against Stockport County's John Rooney for the NL Player of the Season award.
All will be revealed at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday evening when the footballing elite of the North-West gather to hear broadcaster Dan Walker announce the winners of the many varied categories".
Having played the majority of their fixtures away from home so far this season, the Wrexham will play four out of their next six fixtures in front of their own fans at the Racecourse.
The Reds have reacted tremendously well to the disappointment of exiting the FA Cup at Harrogate, with two crushing victories on their travels- 5-0 away at Aldershot and then a fine 6-2 win at Kings Lynn.
Wealdstone arrive in North Wales in decent form themselves, having not tasted defeat in the league since their 2-1 defeat against Eastleigh on the 9th of October and the Londoners will take heart from the fact that Wrexham have been relatively inconsistent in their performances at home, although the Dragons are yet to taste defeat on their own patch...
After being without several injured players throughout most of the season so far, Wrexham are returning slowly to a clean bill of health with Jake Hyde and Ryan Austin the only players still not fit for selection."
It means Harfield will miss Saturday's home clash with Altrincham (3pm).
Manager Brian Stock said 'The fact it's only one game is a little reassuring. We did think about appealing, however, we had some advice on that and we felt it was unnecessary. We do still feel it was a very harsh decision but there wasn't enough concrete evidence to say it was definitely not a handball.
'We got advice from other officials and contacts in the game. I spent probably 30 minutes after the game speaking to the ref, giving his opinions, views and the rules. If he deems it a handball, regardless of whether it's intentional or not, he has to brandish a red card.
'It's more the fact he felt it was handball and had no alternative but to send him off given the rules of the game'".
Also "Weymouth are conducting interviews for a new physio after the exit of Charlie Kirby. Kirby had been with the Terras since pre-season... However, Stock has confirmed Kirby's exit... 'We're trying to put an infrastructure in place so it doesn't keep happening. Physios keep coming and going. We're trying to get a specialist in to oversee everything. When you look at the players we're playing and the money we're paying them, we've got to look after them.'
On Kirby, Stock adde 'It was a mixture of everything. We have asked a lot of him. He's decided to move on for financial, logistical reasons. It was quite an ask for him to manage a whole squad of players'...
Weymouth will be one of 23 National League clubs to obtain a share of £2m in extra funding dished out by the Premier League. Half of the £2m will go to the 23 clubs in Step 1, with the other £1m split between 43 clubs at Step 2.
It means Weymouth stand to receive nearly £43,500 from the Premier League in the wake of revenue lost by the pandemic.
An additional £1m will be handed out by the Premier League in each of the next three seasons to further soften the blow".
Altrincham were up against it right from the start when referee McLaughlin awarded Crawley a penalty when a shot was deflected against Robbie Lawton's hand; Tubbs converted the early spot kick (2 mins). Six minutes later Neilson headed home a Torres cross from left after an Alty clearance had been charged down.
After 35 minutes it was 3-0 as Tubbs converted a loose ball after Coburn beat out a free kick by Howell. The referee gave a second penalty, again for a shot driven against an Alty player (Somner); again Tubbs converted to make it 4-0 at half time, and four bookings to Alty.
Five minutes into the second half, Alty had a chance to get into the game but Densmore's penalty, awarded for a foul on Reeves, was saved and Clee lifted the rebound over the bar. But Alty then competed reasonably well till the closing stages.
Right: Shaun Densmore's penalty was saved at Crawley in 2010 but Nicky Clee could only put the rebound over the bar.
After 88 minute Torres slid in a goal to make it 5-0; one minute into added time it was 6-0 as Brodie, who had spent his short spell on the pitch mostly writhing on the deck after imaginary fouls which the ref did not give, scored. Then three minutes into added time Brodie dribbled through the goalmouth to slide in a seventh
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 27. Andrew MILNE, 4. Marc JOSEPH, 5. Robbie WILLIAMS, 15. Ryan BROWN, 6. Shaun DENSMORE, 25. Matt SOMNER, 7. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 17. Wes BAYNES, 9. Michael TWISS, 10. Chris DENHAM, Subs: 11. Nicky CLEE, 21. James COATES, 8. Damian REEVES, 20. Sam HEWSON, 16. Anthony DANYLYK.
Paul Hurst believes Grimsby Town's summer recruitment and change of ownership prevented a hangover from League Two relegation... The Mariners host[ed] the Shrimpers at Blundell Park on Friday night with the opportunity to move level on points with Chesterfield at the top of the National League...
Southend have struggled at the wrong end of the table... whilst off-the-field disputes with the owners haven't helped the atmosphere around Roots Hall...
'I'm not getting caught up in what Southend's record is, whether they have been good or bad away from home,' Hurst told Grimsby Live... 'We made a lot of changes in terms of playing personnel, a new squad. That clears a lot of the baggage. Although I was here in January, the relegation hurt, of course, it did, but it didn't carry the same weight as if I'd been there at the start of the season. A lot of managers would have lost their job if that was the end result.
'I don't think I quite had the weight of that and the new ownership gave the fans fresh hope if you like. There are a few contributing factors that have allowed us to turn a corner. Positive results always help. If we'd lost the first four, I'm sure the feeling would have been very different. That clearly helps.
'For Southend, they've had a change of manager. I know the manager that has gone in now a little bit and he will be desperate to do well at his football club. There has been more unrest off the pitch there. When you talk about it, people are entitled to opinions but when it's on game day and things are still occurring, that's not going to be a positive environment...
'We've benefitted on the opposite side of that, with a lot of goodwill around the place... If you turn up [and say] "Oh, we're at home, I'd rather be away, I don't want to play there", straight away, with some players, they will be on the back foot.'"
The funds will be made available over the next four campaigns with £2m allocated this season. The league's board have decided 50% will be given to clubs in the National League and the other half to National League North and South sides.
The remaining £3m will be distributed over the next three seasons.
The 2020-21 National League North and South campaigns were declared null and void in February... The National League season continued despite seven of the 23 clubs voting against it. Many had only been in a position to start last season after a £10m grant was secured from the government's £300m emergency funding package for sports across England.
Any further funding was only made available through loans with grants in exceptional circumstances.
The £5m forms part of the exclusion order agreement with the government relating to the three-year renewal of the Premier League's UK live and non-live broadcast rights... National League chairman Jack Pearce said 'The impact of Covid-19 was particularly severe at our level of the game and this new commitment is a timely boost which will aid clubs in their recovery and enable them to plan for the future.'"
The club has thanked North Wales Police and all supporters who have assisted in efforts to identify anybody engaged in 'unacceptable behaviour' at the home game vs Torquay... Banning orders have been issued to those found to have engaged in disorder, with season tickets being revoked where necessary.
The club said...'We are pleased to have been able to take swift and decisive action against the individuals who tarnished the club’s name. Moving forward, we have made some amendments to our seating policy at the Racecourse Ground...
For matches where opposition support is more than can be accommodated in the lower tier of the Wrexham Lager Stand for example, Saturday’s fixture against Wealdstone, the club will operate as follows:
For matches where opposition supporters can be accommodated in the lower tier of the Wrexham Lager Stand only, as per the fixture against Torquay, and forthcoming matches against Bromley and Yeovil Town:
Season ticket holders in Block U7 of the WREXRENT Stand have been emailed, and offered the chance to move to a different permanent seat for the remainder of the season. There is no suggestion that any remaining season ticket holders in this block were responsible for any of the incidents against Torquay.
The club said 'Given our recent fantastic attendances at the Racecourse Ground, we are keen to ensure we can welcome as many supporters as possible to each game, and this approach allows us to do that but this is only possible if all attendees behave appropriately. The new arrangements already mean a reduction in capacity compared to the match against Torquay United and we ask all supporters to help ensure we do not need to reduce this further'".
The 29 year-old has scored five goals in eight games for the North West club so far... and has said, as per The Sun 'The lads know we have the backing and the infrastructure here is ridiculous for a tier five team. I may have dropped down a league but in my eyes, I’ve moved up a club.
'Stockport’s far superior off the field compared to Barrow. No disrespect to them and I loved my time there but there’s a difference between getting 2,000 at home and 6,000 week in, week out'...
He scored 20 goals in all competitions for Barrow a couple of seasons ago to fire them into League Two against the odds. The Hatters have also managed to lure the likes of Paddy Madden, John Rooney, Ben Barclay, Oli Crankshaw and Antoni Sarcevic away from the Football League over recent times".
The Magpies fell to a late 2-1 defeat at the hands of League Two side Rochdale at Meadow Lane.
Notts head coach Ian Burchnall admitted being 'hugely disappointed...I saw Plymouth got through so it would have been really exciting to go and see where we're at and I think we've gone toe-to-toe with a League Two club there over two games and shown our qualities...
'Naturally the players will be flat. That's natural after the game but we've talked in there and said, listen, the result is one thing, we have to take so many things from the performance there and we can't spend too long on it really.
We play two really big games away to Eastleigh and Boreham Wood next, I think we just focus on the league, we know what it's like. We'd rather be in the cup but now that's done, we just turn all our focus on to the league and we put all our energies into that'...
Heading into the away clash to Eastleigh, Burchnall could be left without some key players... '[Alex] Lacey felt something on his back in the middle of last game which is why he came out, although I thought he played really well. We'll see how he is during the week, maybe he's available. Kyle Cameron should be available at the weekend, I think he's much better now and possibly Jim O'Brien, we'll have to see'".
18 November 2021
The warning signs were there last Saturday when the Council required the closure of both ends of the Popular Side as well as the imposition of restrictions on the capacity of the main stand, Golf Road terrace and the away end.
Then a cut to 2,344 was announced by the Club on Monday, followed by a further announcement just three hours or so before kick off that only 1,390 could be admitted to the stadium. The entire Golf Road end and the length of the Popular Side had to be completely left vacant leaving a two-sided ground. The final reduction seems to have been a reflection of the Council's dissatisfaction with the club's arrangements at the Boreham Wood game.
In the Robins' Review for the Gateshead game, Altrincham FC co-chairman Bill Waterson wrote (before the reduction to 1,390 had been announced) that "The ground restrictions fall into a number of areas; exterior walls need replacing or repairing with special emphasis on the Golf Road wall, there is one end of the Chequers End that needs replacing, there is work that needs doing on the central section of the Golf Road stand, there is widespread remedial work needed on the Popular Side and we need to erect the roof to the Fan Zone, carry out some other work and tidy up that area before it can reopen.
"We hope to have some remedial work already completed by tonight's game [v Gateshead] and we are working to get as much of the stadium [as possible] back in use for [the visit of] Southend United [on 27 November]... and of course for the big two of Wrexham and Stockport County [on 28 December and 3 January respectively]...
"Remedial work will now take place to get us to the end of the season and we will look at a fuller programme of works over the summer".
"The best team has gone through" said the Robins' boss. He added that "The desire to win the game was well below par".
Last season the two clubs returned to the National League with Altrincham finishing seventeenth and Weymouth eighteenth, albeit there was an eight-point gap between their tallies.
In 2020-21 the season opened at a sodden Moss Lane with a drab goalless draw between the two newly promoted clubs; in May 2021, Weymouth won the return fixture 2-1.
Three of Altrincham's six league victories this season have been against clubs in the bottom five; Weymouth are sixth from bottom!
Grimsby Town owner Jason Stockwood has called for tighter financial restraints in the National League to protect against 'inequality' outside of the Football League.
Whilst there are stringent rules surrounding spending limits in the Football League, those do not follow into the fifth-tier of English football and below.
AFC Wrexham have invested huge sums of money this season in the quest for promotion, following the high-profile takeover that saw Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney assume control in Wales.
Likewise, Stockport County are spending big to try and navigate a return to the Football League. They recently managed to poach Hartlepool United boss Dave Challinor, despite leading his side into League Two last term, and lured Bolton Wanderers captain Antoni Sarcevic to the club.
After Salford City spent their way out of Non-League, Stockwood has aired his concerns about the competitive balance outside the Football League, with a rising number of clubs gambling in their pursuit of promotion.
'I’m personally delighted about the competitive nature of the National League this year, with a number of 'big' clubs vying for promotion out of what is the fifth tier of English football,' The Town co-owner wrote in his latest Guardian column.
'The gamble which the Deadpool and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars are taking in the National League, asking fans to “dream big” and think of the Premier League as a target, is not dissimilar to what is happening with the 24 teams in the Championship. A number of clubs are looking to benefactors to sustain financial losses while helping them win promotion, all the while knowing that only three clubs can be successful.
'The analogy with the Championship breaks down quickly though. No one buys into a club in the National League motivated by financial returns: it has to be about taking the club and community on a journey, and for that, I admire what is happening at clubs like Wrexham and Stockport County.
'Both clubs have owners who are taking significant financial and reputational risks to awaken 'sleeping giants': in Stockport’s case, they were bought by property entrepreneur Mark Stott in January 2020. I believe they want the best for the clubs and communities; these are not the kind of opaque international investors who use brokers to get them through the owners’ and directors’ test on moral and financial suitability.
'What worries me is the growing financial inequality that is becoming embedded in English football. Grimsby Town will make a significant loss this year. While budgets at our level are not officially declared, we know we are 'competitive' and we know that four or five of our peers are spending significantly more than us to get into the Football League.
'While we can boast nearly full-house attendances and improved performances at Grimsby, we are investing in the long-term infrastructure and culture of the club and, as a result, it’s likely our financial losses will be worse next year. The second-year after you drop out of the League, you lose all support payments from the EFL. For most owners at this level, there is an acceptance that the payoffs lie somewhere other than the balance sheet; most are more interested in helping our community redefine its future.
'That inequality should exist in football or society at large is neither controversial nor problematic in itself. Natural endowments and capabilities mean advantages play out in all walks of life. The issue I and many others have with inequality is when it is patently unfair.
'While I love the excitement that glamorous owners bring to football, there needs to be strong financial parameters enforced around lower-league clubs, particularly around the pay structures and bonuses for each division. Clubs being able to underwrite big losses is a gamble that often does not pay off over time.
'It also creates unrealistic expectations among fans of clubs about the kinds of players they can attract, and leads to wage inflation for the whole league. This kind of market distortion is bad for the football pyramid as a whole.'"
Lincoln's head of football Jez George and Rotherham's head of recruitment Rob Scott were both in the stands for the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Rochdale at Meadow Lane.
Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley and Mansfield boss Nigel Clough were also in attendance for the first-round replay at Meadow Lane where Jake Beesley's last-minute goal sealed victory for Dale.
Lincoln and Rotherham have been linked with a move for Rodrigues who has been in excellent form this season having scored seven goals already this term.
Championship sides Blackpool and Blackburn have also watched the 25 year-old whose stock continues to rise as the result of some impressive performances...
Callum Roberts and Kyle Wootton [are] also garnering plenty of attention following their moves to Meadow Lane... Head coach Ian Burchnall said... 'They're our players. We don't have to do anything with them. Everybody is happy in there...
'I only think about trying to get stronger'...
Rodrigues has continued where he left off after Burchnall deployed him as a second striker to partner Wootton in what has proven to be a masterstroke... Burchnall said 'We are playing great stuff and I think people recognise that... so it doesn't surprise me at all that the box full of scouts have lots of familiar faces in there. That means we are doing something right. We should be pleased with that. It's a credit to the players. Maybe we can shut the doors next time.'"
And while Martin has been up before countless beaks for the club’s non-payment of taxes, they were comparatively routine procedurals. Westminster’s magistrates have sent the case to a 'plea and trial preparation hearing' at South London’s Southwark Crown Court on 23rd November. But they also had to release the duo on bail.
The way the joy of the [news of planning approval for a new Southend FC] stadium announcement was cut short could not have been any swifter or more brutal had it been planned (news of the two events was parted by only 15 minutes on the Southend thread on TheFootballForum.net)...
'What a dream it would be to have a normal owner,' a frustrated fan continued. Alas, one of English club football’s tragedies is just how little removed from 'normal owner' Ron Martin is".
We learn from the Derbyshire Times that "Chesterfield are expected to still have as many as 10 players unavailable when they travel to Solihull Moors on Saturday.
The Spireites have welcomed back Curtis Weston and Saidou Khan in recent weeks but they are still light on numbers.
Goalkeeper Melvin Minter was the only available player not in the matchday squad for the win against Weymouth last time out. Haydn Hollis, Laurence Maguire, Gavin Gunning, George Carline, Joe Rowley and Tom Denton are on the long-term injury list.
Manny Oyeleke came off with a tight calf against Weymouth on Saturday. Danny Rowe has an ongoing health issue and Calvin Miller is suspended for two more matches.
Akwasi Asante is at England’s St George’s Park base this week and will resume full training next week if he gets the green light. Jack Clarke is back kicking a ball but is not quite ready just yet.
Manny Oyeleke was forced off with a tight calf against Weymouth but it is not thought to be serious and should be in contention.
Tyrone Williams could face his former club in just his second match for the Blues after signing from the Moors last week.
When asked if anybody could return for the Solihull clash, Rowe said last Saturday 'No, we are where we are but I am really happy where we are'".
It was a very strange night at the J. Davidson Stadium as Trafford Council reduced an already restricted attendance cap to just 1,390 spectators amidst their Health & Safety concerns. The entire home end (Golf Road) and all of the Popular Side terraces were closed, so home fans used the away end and Main Stand side only.
Above. In front of an empty Popular Side, the teams took to the field on Tuesday night at the J. Davidson Stadium.
The Heed were good value for their win against an Alty side which barely troubled the visitors' keeper, Chapman.
Ironically, however, it took a dreadful error from the Gateshead keeper to gift Altrincham an equaliser after an abject opening half-hour from the hosts in which they had fallen behind and had barely strung together a meaningful series of passes. The visitors had deservedly taken a 22nd minute lead when former York man Langstaff scored after a looping cross from the left had not been dealt with by the Alty defence.
But Alty were then gifted a way back into the game when Chapman was attempting to kick the ball clear but mis-kicked it to Tom Peers. He fed Josh Hancock who scored into the unguarded net to make it 1-1.
Gateshead restored their lead in the 56th minute when Ward scored a fine goal from a Jacob feed. Alty again laboured to trouble the Gateshead goal and after two exceptionally poor efforts from substitute Mooney, the winger finally got things right and grabbed a close range equaliser with eleven minutes remaining.
But the visitors seized their place in the Second Round in the first added minute at the end of the game. A misheader by Tom Hannigan, who had had an excellent game, saw the ball drop behind him to Langstaff who finished superbly with a rising shot into the top corner of the net past Thompson's left hand.
It was the sixth time Alty had been involved in a 3-2 or 2-3 game this season. They now travel to Weymouth this weekend hoping to end a run of seven games out of eight without a win.
Match report here.
Tuesday, 16 November
Wednesday, 17 November
The Terras lie eighteenth in the table, five points behind Altrincham but having played one more fixture than the twelfth-placed Robins.
Brooks scored 29 goals and produced 30 assists in a stunning career at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
The former Yeovil and Dorchester right-back is understood to have decided against continuing at Weymouth due to the travel demands of Vanarama National League football.
Brooks has also struggled for game time this season due to the form of Josh Leslie-Smith at right-back, Brooks starting just seven times in the current campaign.
Salisbury has been mooted as a possible destination for Brooks, who would potentially link up with brother Marvin and former Weymouth player-boss Steve Claridge.
Stock told uptheterras.co.uk 'Calvin will deserve all the plaudits he gets for what has been a fantastic and memorable time with Weymouth Football Club. He always gave 110 per cent in his performances and will always be remembered for his contributions both on and off the pitch.
"With the demands of the National League increasing all the time, it’s understandable for Calvin to make this decision to want to leave and a decision we have supported given the respect we have for him'...
'When Calvin approached us with his decision, he showed great honesty and integrity in doing so which typifies his time here.'
Speaking to Echosport, manager Brian Stock said 'He came to me and suggested that he's finding it quite tough with the travelling time away. He has his priorities with work and where he hasn't played as much as well... It's a player we wouldn't be kicking out of the door, by any means.
'When he hasn't played, he's trained hard and worked hard... Although game time has been limited this year, partly due to injury, it's one of those decision that he's come to me with. He's not a bad egg and you don't stay at a club that long if you are.'"
The club is also asking for information on how fans travelled to home games... One of the stated promises in the Club's Mission Statement was to 'explore the renovation of the Racecourse Ground and improve the venue for the Club, for International Matches and perhaps, the occasional Tom Jones gig' and it is this promise they wish to fulfill.
The Club have engaged with the Gateway Partnership, which includes Wrexham CBC, Welsh Government and Glyndwr University, to consider how working together we could deliver a new Kop at the Racecourse Ground, as part of a wider development in the area.
One of the conditions of the Club's significant financial contribution is that on completion, the freehold of the Racecourse Ground must transfer to the Club's ownership which the Gateway Partnership is comfortable with.
The club is also looking into the possible re-introduction of standing rather than the current all-seating ... They want to understand if fans having the choice to sit or stand should be an important consideration at this time. There are potential consequences with regard to staging International Football matches depending on fan decision".
'The song they sing is "Steve Cleeve only has one eye" on Wrexham’s official coaches where drinking is allowed,' Cleeve wrote on this Twitter account. 'The FA are taking no action. This kind of abuse needs to stop now.'
The post... has now been deleted, as has the account.
'Not surprised that the tweet was deleted,' posted Cleeve. 'Luckily I saved it to expose the kind of songs sang [sic] on Wrexham FC official coaches. I hope that Wrexham issue another statement condemning this behaviour.'
There is little love lost between Wrexham fans and Cleeve, who attempted to buy the Welsh club a decade ago.
Wrexham were 6-2 winners at King’s Lynn Town on Saturday and Cleeve was the subject of a number of chants before and during the game".
Tshimanga has scored 16 goals in 17 appearances since signing from Boreham Wood in the summer on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The 24 year-old is the National League’s top scorer with 15 goals in 15 games, a strike-rate which has helped Town to the top of the table...
'He is happy here, his future is here, don’t worry about that,' Rowe told the DT... 'It is not just the goals he is scoring, it is his overall movement, his hold-up play, he is giving the ball off quicker and spinning in so there are a lot of things Danny Webb (first-team coach) and me are working on with him. It is not just on the pitch, it is from video clips as well, he is getting a lot of development tools.
'He has got the talent, he is a great human being, he wants to learn and if you want to learn and you have an open mindset and you don’t get carried away and you are humble every day, you have got a chance. I can’t speak highly enough of him as a human being, he is very humble.
'I know his form will continue because he is the first on the training pitch and normally he is the last off it which shows an intent of where he wants to go'".
By and large, Hurst has stuck with a similar core group throughout the National League season, which had led them to the top of the division prior to this dip in form.
After another defeat, 'I think a few have had opportunities now and haven't taken them,' Hurst told Grimsby Live... 'That's not good enough. Very few teams are when you drop off that much and you're carrying players'...
Evan Khouri was handed his first league start of the season against Aldershot Town. The Mariners' academy graduate... played a role in the equalising goal...
'If we're low on confidence, it's easier to pass the ball backwards or square, but we have to be stronger than that.'2
Last Saturday for the league visit of Boreham Wood, capacity at the JDS was reduced to 3,019 following the identification of Health & Safety concerns by Trafford Council.
Capacity for tonight's game has been reduced further, to 2,344, for the match with Gateshead following Trafford MBC's review of the Club's arrangements for last Saturday's game against Boreham Wood.
Altrincham FC now reports that the game is now an all-ticket fixture.
Explaining the position, Altrincham Co-Chairman Bill Waterson states that "Following Saturday’s game against Boreham Wood and a meeting held with Trafford Borough Council this morning (Monday), there are some changes to our procedures for the Emirates FA Cup first round replay with Gateshead.
We have been advised that our capacity is further reduced to 2,344, with lower numbers allowed in each of the three regulated stands, those being the Main Stand, the Popular Side and the Golf Road end.
As a consequence of this, we are immediately making tomorrow's game all-ticket, with no option of paying on the gate. Gateshead have been informed of this change, which will help us manage crowd numbers. Tickets will remain on sale until 5pm on Tuesday or until we reach capacity.
Away fans will be allocated the Family Stand, and the Sponsors' Lounge will be closed for the evening. This will allow home fans to have the Chequers End in its entirety, as well as the Golf Road, the Main Stand, the Pop Side and in front of the Community Sports Hall.
The turnstile arrangements will be as follows:
Gateshead fans to use the turnstiles at the Chequers End to access the Family Stand, as well as the away end snack bar and toilets.
Supporters with tickets for the Main Stand will enter through turnstiles 5 and 6, to the right of the stand on Moss Lane.
Supporters located in the area in front of the CSH or the Golf Road to enter by the turnstiles at the Moss Lane end of the Golf Road.
Supporters requiring the Pop Side or the Chequers End to enter by the turnstile block at the bottom of the Golf Road, which will be back in use for the game.
To reiterate, there will be no “pay on the gate” for this game – tickets must be purchased in advance. If you are not able to purchase online, please ring the club and we will process your tickets for you, and they will be available for collection before the game".
Above: Amongst the limitations imposed by the Council on Saturday was the requirement not to use each end of the Popular Side, as the above image shows.
"Weymouth manager Brian Stock was frustrated by the decision to send Ollie Harfield off for handball in a 4-0 loss at Chesterfield, claiming 'There’s no way that was a handball'. Stock’s comment comes after the Terras watched back video footage of the incident.
Harfield, stationed on the line, was adjudged to have deliberately handballed Saidou Khan’s shot, leading to a penalty and his dismissal. Kabongo Tshimanga netted the spot-kick and added a second before half-time, completing his hat-trick just before the hour mark after rounding keeper Ross Fitzsimons.
Khan then grabbed a deserved goal to make it 4-0, compounding the Terras’ afternoon.
Weymouth drop to 18th following the result, but Stock was adamant the punishment of Harfield, whose 100th Weymouth game ended miserably, was unwarranted...
'I’ve spoken to the referee after the game. He’s sticking with his decision. We’ve managed to have the pleasure of seeing the handball back and there’s no way it was handball whatsoever... For us, we’ll look back on it and maybe look to appeal it. From our angle and what we’ve seen it’s almost impossible for Ollie not to get out of the way. His arm’s by his side.'
Quizzed on what Harfield had said post-match, Stock added 'Similar, really. It’s not deliberate, he’s kept his arms by his side. The force with which it’s hit him, it’s the top part of his chest, slash arm... I need to confirm one or two things with the rules and regulations in how we appeal,' he said. 'It’s definitely a good case. It’s just the consequences if there isn’t.'
Analysing the goals, Stock said 'The first one, we worked all week on their movement and directness. As a back four we were very disjointed which led to the goal. Second one we’ve given away a free-kick. They’ve delivered it into a great area and we’ve not followed up the rebound.
'The third goal, a poor clearance from Tom Bearwish who, by the way, worked extremely hard and never gave up. It’s gone straight into the path of Tshimanga who’s basically rolled it into the net.
'The fourth you have to give them credit. They peppered our goal for the second half and although it was 4-0 it could’ve been more. We never gave up, stood strong and did reduce them to chances outside the box. We defended well but we need to move on quickly.'
Weymouth host Altrincham on Saturday (3pm)".
Armani Little scored both of the goals with Torquay having to fight back from going 1-0 down in three minutes against the National League's bottom side.
Little's winning goal came in the 90th minute, shortly after the announcement that he was the sponsors' Man of the Match was booed by some home fans.
As delighted with the win he will have been, there will be concerns for Torquay manager Gary Johnson over the performance - which wasn't the best and the fact that another two players picked up injuries. He was already missing Danny Wright and Asa Hall.
Johnson said 'I am pleased for Armani because he has got another two goals and he is our top goalscorer by the way. And just because it is Dover doesn't mean you are going to beat them 5-0.
'Unfortunately, we have got a few lads coming back from injury that wouldn't necessarily be ready to be out there if everybody was fit. It's managing it at the moment because we haven't got a big squad; it's managing their fitness. You have to give them some time because we haven't got reserve games, so we have to play them in the first team. So that's why you get the 2-1ers instead of the 5-0ers'...
Midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was missing from the squad of 16, for personal reasons, while Keelan O'Connell came into the team with Johnson dropping to the bench. There was a full debut for Byron Moore.
Travis Gregory apparently got his head to an early Junior Tiensia but there were thoughts Dover's third-minute goal might have been scored by Dean Moxey.
Little made it 1-1 with a shot from 25 yards in the 32nd minute; but the goalkeeper did well to keep at least four decent Klaidi Lolos chances before Little's 90th minute winner. With the game just entering six minutes of time-added-on, the midfielder was clinical with his strike for his seventh goal of the season.
Johnson said 'Three points are massive in this league. You will find teams that have got nothing to lose that start picking up points.
It is much of a muchness and you have got to hang in there. If you are not going well, you have got to have the lads with a bit of heart - and we had a lot of heart at the back there'".
The Mariners were beaten 2-1 at The EBB Stadium, subsequently ending Aldershot's horrific run of form in front of their own supporters.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Town, who are now looking for their first win in four matches when they host Southend United on Friday night...
'It was a really special moment, a big moment for our football club,' Molesley told ShotsTV. 'We knew it would be a special weekend with the remembrance service and it was important that we showed the characteristics that people want to see especially on a day like today.
'We had to be willing to suffer, fight and scrap for everything we got. It was a proper Aldershot performance when the chips are down and things are against you.
'Against all odds. I'm so proud of the boys today, with the game went. We got pegged back so quickly after getting in front. We had to show that fighting spirit, the attitude and then we get to celebrate and enjoy what we did today'">
The relationship between chairman Stephen Cleeve and manager Ian Culverhouse is clearly strained as the club look for the right answers on the pitch.
Callan-McFadden, who went off injured against the Red Dragons, pulled no punches after seeing his side humiliated 6-2 by Wrexham at The Walks.
'We put it up to them in the first half but we didn't come out in the second half,' he said. 'That's been the story of our season so far. One half we're flying but, the next, individual errors are costing us.
'We've got to learn and need to learn quickly. We've got to cut the mistakes out pretty rapid...
'We’ve got the mentality, we’ve got the players and the gaffer, who has been absolutely brilliant with us,' he said. 'Every player here would run through a brick wall for that man. He is the reason we give our all'...
Lynn have lost seven of their eight games... on home soil with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw against Barnet... And on the evidence of Saturday's second half showing they will be relegated by early March unless they act quickly to stop the rot and bring in reinforcements.
Manager Culverhouse says... 'As manager of the football club I take the blame. I am the one at the forefront and it is down to me. Today (Saturday) it was like a catalogue of errors and that's not good enough.
'We were excellent in the first half but obviously I'm not coaching the players well enough for them to get over their errors. It is nothing to do with the players at all. All right, individually they made mistakes, but that is because of the way I am asking them to play. So that is mine'".
And things got worse for the club when the Eastern Daily Press confirmed that "Peterborough United have signed King’s Lynn Town youngster Joe Taylor for an undisclosed fee.
Taylor, who made his debut for the Linnets earlier this season, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at London Road and will initially link-up with the under 23 squad with the deal set to be completed when the transfer window opens at the start of January.
The 18-year-old was on dual registration with Wroxham earlier this season, scoring 12 goals in 13 games".
New signing Tyrone Williams ‘ticks all the boxes’, says boss James Rowe.
The 27 year-old signed for an undisclosed fee from National League rivals Solihull Moors last week and made his debut against Weymouth on Saturday. The versatile defender, who can play right-back and centre-half, made a solid start to life at Town... Williams has been playing regularly for play-off chasing Solihull this season and was voted their player of the year in the last campaign,,,#
Rowe said 'He is a great age and brings experience. He is at his peak age and we have brought the average age down to about 27 and he fits into that mould. He brings a will to win and that ticks the boxes on the culture we are trying to build...
'He has played over a hundred games at this level now, that is why he came straight in, I can trust him,' Rowe explained. 'It is probably the only position where I did not have two players within the budget so it is pleasing that we have managed to secure Tyrone. We will have a lot of competition for places when everyone is back.'”
John McAtee missed Grimsby Town's match against Notts County with a knee injury.
Lenell John-Lewis has insisted that Grimsby Town are not over-reliant on John McAtee despite losing every match since his knee injury.
The Mariners fell to a fourth-straight defeat on Saturday against Aldershot Town, losing 2-1 at The EBB Stadium.
Harry Clifton's equaliser was Town's first goal in three matches, having failed to score since McAtee's second against Yeovil Town.
The influential forward is back on the grass but remains a couple of weeks away from a first-team return... John-Lewis reiterated... 'We're not a one-man team, a one-man squad, we have some very good players. We haven't got to where we are just because of John McAtee. We do miss him, he's a very good player for anyone in this league or the league above, to be honest... Tere are opportunities to have shots but we're playing the extra pass... We need to work the goalkeeper more'".
'We looked stronger but these lads haven't been playing because of the two Covid breaks. I've said all I need to say on that.
'But having extra game time will be a massive positive ahead of the replay...
It's our fault why we haven't progressed yet."
Alty won the replay 2-0.
Right: James Walshaw and Damian Reeves in action in "the game that never was" at Colwyn Bay.
In the original match Altrincham gained a 24th minute lead when James Walshaw converted a low cross from the left. But in the build up to the goal Bay felt Simon Richman had committed a foul, which was not given. Richman had been lucky only to see yellow for an earlier challenge which ended in Bay's on loan marksman Royle leaving the game on a stretcher.
The referee left the field at half time to a chorus of home supporters' booing.
Alty had the better of the second half and went 2-0 up through Greg Wilkinson's shot from the edge of the box after 66 minutes.
Inside the final ten minutes play halted as referee Ackerman suffered a leg injury. Chaos ensued as arguments went on on the pitch. The match was then abandoned at a time which was 17 minutes beyond the expected 90.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 4. Jake MOULT, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Scott LEATHER, 7. Greg WILKINSON, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. James WALSHAW, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Carl RODGERS, 14. Junior SMIKLE, 15. James LAWRIE, 16. Kyle PERRY, 18. Adam REID.
Had substitute Tom Walker, on loan from Stockport County, got onto the pitch he would have been a fourth player to have made a home debut on Saturday after appearing previously only in away games, at Solihull, Woking and Gateshead.
Ashley Woods scored for 1874 Northwich and Sefton Gonzales hit a brace for Clitheroe.
According to the NL Paper, ex-Alty loanee Tim Ryan is now youth manager at York City and he has been stepping up to assist first-team manager Steve Watson in the enforced absence of deputy manager Micky Cummins.
But it was an outstanding victory for Altrincham of the Gola League away to top-flight Birmingham who had future England star David Seaman in goal.
Alty were managed by John King, who looked like Popey the Sailor Man's nemesis Bluto".
A crowd of 12,843 set a National League record for a league game, beating the 11,085 who attended Bristol Rovers v Alfreton Town at The Memorial Stadium in April 2015.
Emotions were running high before a game which not only saw the return of former manager Ardley but was also preceded by a moving tribute to those who lost their lives serving their country, so there was always a chance Notts would fail to rise to the occasion, especially with captain Kyle Cameron and midfielder Jim O’Brien ruled out due to illness.
But with Alex Lacey and Frank Vincent proving worthy replacements, Notts coped magnificently, with goals from Kyle Wootton and substitute Kairo Mitchell extending their impressive unbeaten run to eight games.
They also inflicted a first defeat since the end of September on Moors and Ardley, who became a popular figure during his time at Notts, despite being in charge when the Magpies were relegated from the Football League for the first time in their history. He made way for Ian Burchnall last season, before taking over the reins at Solihull...
The Magpies were quicker out of the blocks... with Notts well on top without being able to make the breakthrough.... Neither side could find the net in one minute of [first-half] added time...
The second half began with a mass brawl,... and frustration among home supporters grew when Palmer was booked for a foul despite clearly winning the ball.
However, that was all forgotten seconds later as Taylor escaped down the left and his cross was smashed into the roof of the net by Wootton to send the home fans wild...
Moors were throwing caution to the wind... Notts counter-attacked well... before Mitchell replaced Roberts in the 80th minute. And with one of his first touches the substitute put Notts 2-0 up, side footing home from close range... Notts looked to see the game out, which they did with ease to send the majority of the record crowd home happy".
Harfield was shown a straight red by referee Paul Marsden for a deliberate handball midway through the first-half with the game goalless.
A penalty was awarded and Kabongo Tshimanga tucked it away for the first of his three goals in the four-nil win.
'It is disappointing to lose the game,' Stock said. 'I thought the game plan for the first 15-20 minutes was spot on, I thought we frustrated them, we knew that they start games extremely well. I thought it was a harsh sending off and penalty, one we will look back on and maybe appeal. It has changed the game...
'Going one-nil down, down to 10-men and then conceding right before half-time really did knock the stuffing out of us and gave us an uphill battle,' Stock explained. 'My message at half-time was simply to make sure we did not chuck the towel in and I can honestly say every single player worked extremely hard and we ran right to the end. Tactically we wanted to come in at half-time at one-nil, change one or two things. At one-nil that would have given us a glimmer of hope to maybe hit Chesterfield on the break or with a set-piece but we knew a two-nil it was going to be an uphill battle from then on'...
He added 'You sometimes have to give the opposition credit and when you look at the players they have got, some not even on the pitch, they are geared up to really challenge for top spot and they have got a good thing going on here... They have dominated the majority, if not all, of the game.'”
With International call ups (Annesley), unavailability (McNerney) and recent strong performances (Loza, Johnson) causing extra selection decisions, the line-up and formation was shaken up with Effiong dropping to the bench and starting with the favourable back 3, with Casey slotting in on the left of the line...
For the majority of the half, chances were hard to come by for both teams, leading for a quiet half for Ross, in particular. We saw glimpses of the forthcoming threat as the Cards pushing on. There being the back three, permitted Moussa Diarra to push on at set pieces...
The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute with Loza making gains again on the left, crossing into the box, which looped nicely, being met by Tahvon Campbell. He brought it onto his left, then placed it perfectly in the bottom left corner, to claim his 10th goal this term.
Play then reverted back to that of the even affair with few chances that it started as... [At half-time], the whistle blew, prompting the home support to boo off the Shrimpers...
The hour mark brought the Blues’ most gilt-edged chance... a through ball found Rhys Murphy in space 6 yards out, yet he blazed it over the bar and almost the stand too... To counter the waves of Southend pressure, on came Effiong for the sedulous Loza...
Another sojourn just inside the area led to Kretzschmar shooting with promise and the ball struck [a] Southend arm. Penalty. Kretzschmar convincingly slotted it in...
The final whistle brought joy to the 300-strong away fans but further boos from the suffering Blues fans".
And Maher was disappointed the Shrimpers were not able to pose more problems for the visitors. 'We knew physically it was going to be a tough one', said Maher. 'We knew we had to match that and then hope we had enough quality on the pitch for when we had the ball but I don’t think we showed enough of that, especially in the final third.
'In the first half it was a little bit too slow with no real threat in behind and going a goal behind obviously made it even more difficult.'
Blues rarely threatened in reply...
Said Maher, 'The first goal is soft from our point of view but that was nothing to do with physicality and the other one was a penalty... but we were disappointing when we had the ball.,,
'I feel for the players because they’ve given us everything and they’re a good bunch but and it’s a big but we’ve got to start winning matches,' said the 44 year-old... 'If we have to change things we will because we can’t keep losing matches... I know where we’ve got to be better.'”
Harry Pritchard struck with 20 minutes to play, clawing back an earlier deficit imposed by Tom Knowles late in the first-half, but Adi Yussuf blasted the home side back in front.
An official total of 253 away supporters made the 140 mile round-trip to Somerset, with coaches put on by the Hampshire side as part of their ‘Big Away Day’.
Eastleigh’s players greeted fans on their arrival at the Silverlake Stadium and handed out free branded scarves as a token of appreciation for their support.
But they couldn’t pay them back completely on the pitch, despite a fast start... Ben Strevens’s line-up saw centre-back Tom Broadbent and right-back Josh Hare return to the starting XI, while popular summer signing Vince Harper was dropped to the bench after a week of reduced training due to a knock...
Eastleigh were unable to test Grant Smith in the closing stages and saw the away day coaches leaving with no points. The result means Strevens’ side have lost two of their last five fixtures, with three wins, and now sit 15th in the table".
"You'd like to bounce back with three points but a draw against the league leaders, and a good peformance, definitely feels like we've bounced back".
And the Altrincham FC site has Brian FDlynn's post-match interview with manager Phil PArkinsin.
Opposition manager Luke Garrard was full of praise for Altrincham too. He said, "I've been in this game long enough to know when you've taken a good point and I'm over the moon to take a point away from home
"They're a very good outfit and I'm a big fan of Phil Parkinson. He gets them set up to stretch you and they've beaten some big teams here.
"They should've been out of sight at half-time, we were twenty yards off the pace in the first half.
"For 15 minutes in the second half we looked good and, yes, we could have won it late on but I feel it would [have been] very unfair".
NL Paper match statistics support the view that Alty had the better of the game, with the hosts recording eleven shots, six on target to Boreham Wood's single shot on target from a total of six efforts on goal. The foul count revealed 20 offences by the visitors against 11 by Altrincham.
Above: Josh Hancock (foreground), here pictured during the game, ensured that Alty got a deserved point against Boreham Wood. Also seen, left to right, are Adam Porter, Tom Hannigan and Jake Moult.
Match report here.
The one minutes silence before kick-off to commemorate Remembrance Day was followed by a first half that wasn’t much louder. It was devoid of any real activity and Wood played the half very much in their shell. Their Greater Manchester host were the better side and controlled the opening period. It wasn’t until the twenty-fifth minute that they created a meaningful chance...
Luke Garrard’s men were much better after the break and started the half on the front foot... Scott Boden then headed into the side netting. At this stage, with Altrincham defence at sixes and sevens, Boreham Wood smelt blood. Tyrone Marsh volleyed just over when well placed and on fifty-eight minutes they got their reward. A positive run out of defence by Jamal Fyfield and a one two, seemingly off a Altrincham defender, left him one on one with goalkeeper Tony Thompson before [he] slotted coolly past him.
The goal, flicked a switch in the Altrincham side and they started to control the game again. The dangerous Josh Hancock forced an excellent save from Ashby-Hammond on sixty-eight minutes. However, the Fulham loanee wasn’t so lucky eight minutes later when Hancock equalised when he struck a fantastic long range shot past Ashby-Hammond to equalise. The hosts then piled the pressure on and caused problems for the Wood defence. However, marshalled by the outstanding Jamal Fyfield, they held on for the point.
It wasn’t pretty and despite being in front at a later period of the game, It was a point gained in the end".
This follows a 2-2 draw at the International Stadium last weekend.
They lie twelfth in the eighteen-team Premier Division just three points above the second-bottom club. Four of the six teams below them have games in hand, in some cases as many as five matches.
Grimsby Town fell to their fourth consecutive defeat as goals from Tommy Willard and Alfy Whittingham helped Aldershot Town with a shock 2-1 victory at The EBB Stadium.
The Mariners fell behind early on when Willard pounced at the back post to turn the ball in after a knock-down from Liam Kinsella's free-kick.
Town responded quickly, though, and levelled when Harry Clifton redirected Ben Fox's shot into the net to restore parity, their first goal for three games.
However, their frailties from set-pieces proved costly and Whittingham punished them by finishing inside the area to inflict another reverse on Paul Hurst's side.
In the process, it helped Aldershot to their first points at home this season at the eighth attempt, securing a first [win] in seven matches for the National League's second-bottom side.
The Mariners made four changes to the team that were beaten at Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup, with Evan Khouri handed his first start of the National League season.
Erico Sousa, Alex Hunt and James McKeown returned from injury but they were unable to spark a positive start from the Mariners as they fell behind early.
Aldershot, licking their wounds after a 5-0 drubbing against Wrexham in midweek, grabbed the lead they had hoped for as Willard tucked home at the back post...
Despite [Grimsby] pulling level, the hosts continued to probe, looking far superior to a side residing second bottom in the division. In particular, their threat from set-pieces was a concern with Town struggling to match the physicality of their opponents...
The Mariners started the second half better, controlling possession and trying to fashion an opening. They continued to look vulnerable to balls into their box, however, and that allowed Aldershot to recover their lead...
Despite the Mariners' pressure, it was far from a backs-to-the-walls performance from Aldershot and they nearly doubled their lead as Christian Oxlade-Chamberlian clattered the crossbar from the edge of the area".
After the game, the Grimsby Telegraph stated that manager "Paul Hurst lamented Grimsby Town's inability to deal with balls into their box after conceding two goals from set-piece scenarios in their 2-1 defeat to Aldershot Town...
That condemned Town to a fourth-consecutive defeat and left Hurst with plenty of concerns about the character of some of his players...
Hurst told the media post-match, "I heard before the game 'they're not the biggest of teams', yet when it went in our box, too many times we didn't win the first header or we didn't head it properly. I think it was a reality check for some lads that it is part of the game. You learn a lot more when things aren't going well, as I've said before...
'Now some of them are finding out to play in front of fans that are unhappy with the performance, can they deal with that? I felt looking on the touchline today, it was hard work watching some of them. That's for me to try and help those players and also consider if they are going to be able to deal with that.
'I won't name players but conversations will be had with one or two next week.'"
The hosts had the better of the early chances with Paddy Madden nearly bagging a brace before the 15 minute mark....
Both sides continued to pile on the pressure and Ryan Rydel forced the Bromley number one into another save before the ball eventually found the net, though it was ruled out for offside.
It wasn’t long into the second half when Stockport opened the scoring, Quigley buried an effort into the back of the net on 49 minutes...
On 76 minutes, it was Bromley’s turn to attack as Luke Coulson floated in a brilliant ball which was flicked on by Michael Cheek towards Alabi, but the number 10 couldn’t convert the final touch...
Rydel then drilled a shot just wide of the post in what proved to be Stockport’s final chance to seal the points.
Their misses proved costly as Bromley nicked a draw just before stoppage time after a bundle in the box eventually saw the ball in the back of the net through an own goal".
Skipper Michael Clunan's early goal was cancelled Aaron Hayden going into the break before second half efforts from Jordan Davies, Paul Mullin and Jordan Ponticelli put the visitors firmly in control.
Malachi Linton reduced the arrears late on but further efforts from Daniel Jarvis and Cameron Green left luckless Lynn, who lost two of their centre-halves to injury, deep in trouble towards the bottom of the National League standings.
The Linnets made three changes to their starting line-up from the team defeated by Walsall in the FA Cup last Saturday.
Midfielder Joshua Barrett was handed his first start since his arrival from Bristol Rovers last month while there were also recalls for striker Gold Omotayo and fit-again defender Pierce Bird. New defender Baris Altintop, signed from Bury Town in the week, was named among the substitutes alongside Brett McGavin and Jayden Davis".
After their 4-1 defeat, the
Angelo Balanta was the bane of the Magpies’ existence in this clash with the skipper scoring a hat-trick before Ibrahim Akanbi got himself involved to help lift the Daggers into seventh place.
Josh Kelly snatched the home side’s solitary goal but that did not stop them slipping into 19th with a minus eight goal difference, having not kept a clean sheet since the start of October.
After the match, captain Massey was rightly dejected, saying 'It’s really disappointing. They were a sloppy couple of goals to concede today. Our forward players have been brilliant... We just really need to tighten up at the back.'
The Magpies were the better team within the opening 20 minutes... Against the run of play, Akanbi skilfully skipped past Parry before sending in a superb ball for Balanta to direct into the back of the net in the 27th minute.
Thereafter, Daryl McMahon’s men started to take control of the game... Eventually, the second goal arrived when Balanta got in the right place at the right time to tap in a finish after Akanbi’s initial strike was parried away dangerously by Rhys Lovett in the 39th minute...
The Magpies started the second half how they began the first, with plenty of possession, but were in dire need of testing the Daggers’ goalkeeper more... Kelly [was]... able to halve the deficit in the 57th minute.
The Daggers scored their third goal under 10 minutes later, however, as Balanta scored a carbon copy of his previous goal... Akanbi, who was involved with all of the first three goals, finally got one for himself...
That wrapped up the game, leaving boss Alan Devonshire plenty to ponder on the pitch with his coaching staff for long after the final whistle blew".
Right: Adam Porter, on loan from Stole City, made his home debut for Altrincham against Boreham Wood.
A goalless first half left many wondering how the visitors were the league leaders but after the break The Wood snatched a 57th minute lead when Fyfield was allowed to advance forty yards or more up the middle. As he got into the box he took advantage of a fortunate rebound to score (57 mins).
Altrincham levelled in the 76th minute with a superb strike by Hancock from outside the box after a Peers effort had been blocked.
Match report here.
Saturday 13 November
Above: Action at the J Davidson Stadium when Dover Athletic were the visitors in September.
Our overall capacity for each game will be restricted to 3,019, and, furthermore, certain parts of the ground will also be capacity constrained.
In particular, on Saturday, the footyaccumulators.com Main Stand will be limited to 270, the Venditan Golf Road to 516 and the Catax Popular Side to 669. This may change somewhat for the Gateshead game, but if it does, we will advise in advance.
Saturday's fixture will not be segregated, but we will be controlling movement of spectators within the stadium. Boreham Wood fans will be restricted in their movements within the capacity constrained areas to ensure sufficient space is made available throughout the ground for Alty supporters.
We will be controlling crowd numbers in each affected part of the ground through the issuing of coloured wristbands and by counting fans in and out of each section. The idea is to ask people on entry where they intend sitting or standing and then assign them the appropriate wrist band...
Parts of the ground will be closed on Saturday;specifically, both ends of the Popular Side (the walkway in front of the terracing will be open to allow access to the middle area), a small section of the Chequers End, a small section of the Golf Road and the Fan Zone.
We have already carried out repairs on sections of the Golf Road this week, which has alleviated the problem to some extent... Standing against the perimeter pitch side fence cannot be permitted on any side of the ground until necessary remedial works have been undertaken.
All affected areas have been sealed off, and we ask our fans to please adhere to these closures... Failure to do so may lead to further capacity reductions at a time when the club can least afford such restrictions.
We are actively working with Trafford BC to come up with a plan of action that returns the ground, in a much safer condition, back to full capacity, with the ambition to have it all completed ahead of the Christmas fixtures and to have made substantial progress towards this goal by the end of November...
We apologise for the undoubted inconvenience this will cause, and we assure you that we are doing all in our power to get the stadium back fully operational as soon as possible".
Despite three of those winless games being defeats, a mid-table spot remains a positive opening to the campaign for a side that finished down in 17th in 2020-21...
Meanwhile, since falling to just their second defeat of the season at Chesterfield three weeks prior to Saturday's fixture, Boreham Wood have responded with three-straight victories across league and cup action... However, despite possessing the third-best away record in the division heading into the trip to Altrincham, eight of Luke Garrard's side's 12 dropped points have arrived on their travels, so although it is a record not to be alarmed about at present, the boss will be aware of the different challenges faced away from their own supporters.
Although, Garrard knows his side will always stand a chance in picking up points from every game they compete in due to the stubborn defensive unit they have created in the early stages of the season.
Altrincham may hand a full debut to midfielder Adam Porter on Saturday, with the youngster arriving on a one-month loan deal from Stoke City... One player definitely returning on Saturday is fellow midfielder Ben Pringle though, who served a one-match suspension in the draw at Gateshead. Matthew Kosylo and Dinanga (left) may come into the starting lineup as a result of their impacts off the bench in that tie.
Meanwhile, the visitors have a new arrival of their own in the squad on Saturday, with Dennon Lewis being thrust into the matchday squad after signing from Wealdstone in midweek...
Although Altrincham's recent games have seen plenty of goals, there may be a shortage on Saturday due to the stubbornness of the visitors' defence. Boreham Wood do not concede many so one goal may be enough to see them nick another win at Moss Lane here".
Right: Joel Senior has played every minute of Altrincham's season so far.
The club have been drumming up interest in the game all week as they attempt to set a new crowd record for the fifth tier. Bristol Rovers achieved the current landmark, when a crowd of 11,085 attended a fixture against Alfreton in 2015...
The club hope that a generous ticket pricing scheme, couple with the international break, will result in that being the case. The club, who are now in their third season outside the Football League, have slashed tickets to just £5 for adults for the game whilst under-16s can watch the game for just £1...
Manager Ian Burchnall arrived in March and is hoping that a big crowd on Saturday can spur his side on as they aim to extend their unbeaten run, which currently stands at seven games in all competitions.
He said... 'It will be a massive boost for us. The big crowds are brilliant... There’s always something extra with that level of atmosphere. When I came in last year, when we had no crowds allowed, it was quite stagnant, and the games sometimes felt a bit stale. But when the supporters come in, and they come in in such numbers, it totally changes the dynamic of the game. It gives us something extra.'"
Blair, 22, who played over 150 games for the Magpies, scoring 30 goals, joins the Terras after signing his first pro-deal with rival National League club Eastleigh. The ex-Bridport wide man played 22 times for the Spitfires before joining Salisbury on loan earlier this season...
[Manager Brian] Stock told Echosport... 'When you look at the squad, the depth and quality we have, going into a very busy Christmas period, it's looking good. We're delighted to sign Tom. He was one that has been on the radar almost before I joined the club. Eastleigh beat us; we couldn't afford the transfer fee paid. Things have not necessarily worked out at Eastleigh...
'When he became available it was one we wanted to act on quick. He's going to complement the side and bring a lot of pace, directness, goals'...
On Blair's time at Salisbury, Stock added 'He scored on his debut and unfortunately got sent off so was suspended for a few games... We know what he can do attacking wise but defensively it's a part of the game we know we need to work on with him...
'He fits the mould of player we like, ticks a lot of boxes. He's a local lad, desperate to do well and the formation we play will suit him as well'".
The Mariners enjoyed a fruitful summer recruitment drive, bringing 15 new faces to Blundell Park. Four of those deals were loans, and of the 11 players permanently signed by Paul Hurst, only three signed a deal longer than one year.
Such is the balance of finances in the National League, is totally understandable for both the club and the players to keep their options open. Town seemingly do not want to commit to long-term contracts in case they do not get promoted and, likewise, some of the players will have Football League aspirations.
Nonetheless, there are several players in the Town squad that, as we approach January, the club may want to tie to longer deals, if possible.
John McAtee, Shaun Pearson and David Longe-King have deals until 2023 and that gives Town plenty of time to assess their futures. Of those that will see their terms end in June, Ben Fox, Michee Efete and Harry Clifton are three of the first deals that Town should look to extend.
Fox and Clifton have established themselves as mainstays in the Mariners' XI. When either doesn't play, it is hugely noticeable. The improvement in Clifton's performance under Hurst, in particular, have been impressive... It makes sense to try and tie them down.
Equally, both players are 23 and therefore would hold a decent sell-on value, if Town were forced to sell for whatever reason. Whilst his season has been disrupted by suspension and illness, Efete is worth tying down for his market value alone.
In the Football League, attack-minded full-backs are particularly sought-after and if he can showcase his early-season form consistently, Town would be in a win-win situation.
Adam Crookes, James McKeown and Luke Waterfall would probably be the next batch of players on the priority list but it's a long season and there is no need to rush any decisions".
"Wrong. Just because Dover haven't won a game all season, are on minus-nine points, and have the leakiest defence in the division, that doesn't mean they will be coming to Plainmoor with all three points gift-wrapped and tied with a bow. How many times have Torquay gone into games as overwhelming favourites, only to end up with egg on their faces?
"Manager Andy Hessenthaler is a wily manager and will be planning for a 'giant killing' - if that is the right word. But if the players do the right things at the right times, and use the information that Gary Johnson has drilled into them, they really should be OK to make it four games unbeaten in the league - and kick on for Christmas.
With Sinclair Armstrong, Danny Wright and Asa Hall all missing, and Dan Martin unavailable because of his red card at Havant, and with Alex Addai having left the club, the squad is a little stretched. There are also four players out on loan. But there should be 18 players (including three goalkeepers) available to Johnson.
Winger Addai left by mutual consent last week after playing four games for Torquay, all from the bench.... Armstrong... is missing because he is on Republic of Ireland under-19s duty, and the 18-year-old Queens Park Rangers striker scored twice in their 3-2 win against Montenegro last week...
Johnson said 'We do a lot of work on the opposition and so by the time the game comes around we know what we are up against. They have obviously had their points taken away so that doesn't help but they start games lively, and we have got to be aware of that'
Johnson said he has used the FA Cup break... to 'reiterate principles' with the manager setting a new aim for Christmas. He said 'We had a practice game which was very competitive, without being silly, and we are now into the realms of looking ahead rather than looking back'...
The next three games - Dover, Barnet and Aldershot Town away are all against teams who have similarly struggled to get going this season, which means a chance for Torquay to win a good amount of points before games against FC Halifax Town and Stockport County up the ante again... Johnson now wants to be at least within striking distance of the play-off places by December 25...
'You have got to try and be up there by Christmas. Last year we had a great start, this year we haven't had such a good start but I think our squad is good enough, and will be good enough, once we get all of that squad together, and everybody fit and flying'".
The captain has extended his stay at the Spireites until summer 2024. The centre-back joined Town in January and he has played a massive part in their success since.
'He is the linchpin of what we are trying to do here, he represents a lot of the team values that we have got and he shows that on the pitch with his performances,' Rowe said...
'It is probably the best bit of business I have done here to tie him down for the future. I am only a custodian of this club, I need to make sure that this club is in a better position than what it was when I picked it up last year. I want to be here and finish out my contract, of course, but come the time that I part ways, people like Gavin Gunning still being in the building is massive to this club going forward and that is what we want to do.'
Gunning goes under the knife today on a broken nose and a fractured eye socket suffered in the win against Eastleigh last month and he will be out until the start of 2022 at the earliest.
Rowe told the DT 'There was a delay on the surgery because they were not sure on the eye socket, whether that was cracked or not and there was a problem with the nerve so there was a little bit of a complication on it. It is pretty crazy that a yellow card was not even given for it.'"
12 November, 2021
As for Altrincham FC, press and media officer John Edwards relays the news that the winner of next Tuesday's FA Cup replay between Altrincham and Gateshead will play Charlton Athletic in Round Two on Friday, 3 December, in front of the ITV4 cameras.
"Confirmation came in the form of an FA press release... announcing that Altrincham or Gateshead versus Charlton will be screened live on ITV4 on Friday, December 3rd, with a 7.45pm kick-off".
As for the replay against Gateshead "The hope is that the prize on offer, with a £60,000 second-round broadcasting fee awaiting the winners, will ensure another bumper crowd and an all-effort from players and fans to succeed at the second attempt and make it another memorable night at The J.Davidson".
[And Alty's league guests on Saturday, Boreham Wood, also feature in the televised games from Round Two:]
In addition to the above, there will be up to 10 further fixtures with other broadcast arrangements. Two of these fixtures will be moved to Sunday 5 December and the remaining fixtures with other broadcast arrangements will remain on Saturday 4 December."
The only previous visit game on 21 November 2015 season when Alty won 1-0 thanks to a Nicky Clee goal.
Above: Above: Alty were on the back foot for much of the first half in the 2015 match at Moss Lane; here all eleven men defend a Boreham Wood freekick.
In the 2021 match, Altrincham endured a disastrous first half, of their own making, in their match at Broadhurst Park against Boreham Wood. In just the second minute Ryan Colclough committed a foul and injured himself in the process. He resumed briefly after treatment but had to go off in the fifth minute with Tom Peers being his replacement.
Altrincham then gifted the visitors a seventh-minute goal as, near the Alty right corner, Peers poked the ball past team-mate Senior and this allowed Boreham Wood's Fyfield to get to the byline. His low cross from the left was easily converted by Kane Smith from close range.
After a fairly even but relatively uneventful period, Hampson got himself booked for a foul on Smith (25 mins). Three minutes later Hampson and Smith clashed again with the Alty left-back penalised and after, picking himself up after staying down injured, Hampson was shown a second yellow and then a red card (30 mins).
From the resulting freekick on the right, the ball came out to a Boreham Wood man whose miscued shot found Tshimanga unmarked near the back post. He flicked the ball into the net to make it 2-0 (30 mins).
Immediately the unlucky Byron Harrison was withdrawn as Phil Parkinson adjusted his ten-man formation with Andy White coming on to take up the left-back role (30 mins).
Alty re-grouped but created no threat to Ashmore's goal despite more than five added minutes being played at the end of a half in which Alty had conceded far more fouls than usual and had inflicted their own pain with a poorly conceded first goal and the sending off.
Trailing 0-2 at the interval, the second half began with the visitors scoring a third goal. A Boreham Wood corner from the right was headed clear by Hannigan but fell for Whiteley to fire home from the edge of the box (48 mins).
Altrincham finally got some impetus around the hour mark and were rewarded when Smith fed Kosylo, whose shot from right of goal made it 1-3 in the 59th minute.
Alty than had their best spell of the game with a Ceesay effort rolling narrowly wide across the goalmouth. But the Altrincham pressure was then broken up as Ashmore, not for the first time this season, sat down with a supposed injury. An off the ball trip on Alistair Smith then further halted Alty's momentum shortly afterwards.
However, Altrincham gave Boreham Wood a scare by scoring again when Senior and Peers combined for the latter to toe-end the ball past Ashmore (86 mins). But the worldly-wise Boreham Wood saw the game out to leave Alty facing a third successive defeat.
Altrincham had made four changes. They were without leading scorer, Josh Hancock, who had picked up a back injury in training. White, Peers and Mullarkey were all moved to the bench as Hampson, Ceesay, Sutton and Harrison came into the starting line-up. Daniel Mooney remained sidelined through injury.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. Ritchie SUTTON, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 24. Joel SENIOR, 29. Alistair SMITH, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 15. Matty KOSYLO, 34. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 11. Yusifu CEESAY, 28. Byron HARRISON. Subs: 2. Andy WHITE, 9. Joe PIGGOTT, 23. Tom PEERS, 20. Shaun DENSMORE, 25. Toby MULLARKEY.
Congratulations to all the winners!
It is accepted that the pull of home and being closer to his family and friends was a big factor in Morias's decision to join Lynn's National League rivals.
The 26 year-old, who scored two goals in eight appearances in a Linnets shirt, underwent a medical for the Daggers earlier today.
A statement from the club read 'King's Lynn Town can confirm that they have accepted an offer from Dagenham and Redbridge for Junior Morias subject to satisfactory completion of a medical and FA approval. The fee will remain undisclosed. The club respects that Junior wishes to be nearer to family and friends in London and wish him well for the future'.
Morias's departure is likely to see Lynn step up their search for a new frontman ahead of Saturday's visit from big-spending Wrexham to The Walks.
Lynn, who haven't found the back of the net in more than 500 minutes of league football, only have two fit strikers on their books in Malachi Linton, who is on loan from League One Wycombe, and Gold Omotayo.
Jamaican Morias arrived in a blaze of glory over the summer, but the no-nonsense frontman has been unable to find any kind of form in front of goal with injury and suspension hampering his progress at The Walks.... Joining Boreham Wood in October 2014, he also played for Whitehawk and St Albans City before joining Peterborough in January 2017, scoring 10 goals in 45 games before moving on to Northampton and St Mirren.
He was on loan to National League Boreham Wood in the second half of last season, scoring once in 11 starts".
With stories circulating regarding a move to Hartlepool United gathering at a pace, both the Club and Andy Woodman can confirm that no official approach has been made.
Chairman Robin Stanton-Gleaves commented 'Although it remains unclear where this disappointing and unsubstantiated speculation has come from, I wish to clarify our position and keep supporters informed. I am extremely pleased with the progress made under Andy’s leadership and he remains fully committed, with my continued support, to his role as manager of Bromley Football Club'".
The United boss was forced to make five changes to the side for the first-round tie, with midfielder Jay Mingi playing in an unfamiliar right-back back position due to the absence of a string of defenders including Ryheem Sheckleford, Remy Clerima and Shaun Donnellan.
Goalkeeper James Holden was also recalled to the first team for the injured Rhys Lovett while central defender Will De Havilland is set to miss the next few weeks after straining his hamstring.
The changes were contributory factors to the side conceding seven goals at the Shay, and bowing out of the competition in ignominious circumstances...
United aren't in dreadful league form, having picked up a couple of encouraging wins over Woking and Wrexham prior to their narrow 1-0 defeat at Eastleigh the week before last, however, they remain towards the bottom of the National League table...
Devonshire said 'Yeah, listen, at the end of the day we gave some poor goals away. We just had a weird performance. If you score four goals away from home you expect to win a game of football, but we just defended so poorly. We had to put a midfielder (Mingi) at right back which probably didn't help, but listen, it is what it is, and we have to move on... Rhys Lovett, the goalkeeper, was injured and only fit enough to be on the bench... Will De Havilland was injured, Remy (Clerima) was injured, Ryheem (Sheckleford) was injured, Shaun Donnellan was injured, so, it wasn’t through choice.'
Devonshire hopes to have a few of his injured players back for Saturday's visit of the Daggers...
'Will De Havilland has done his hamstring, so that’s going to be a few weeks. That’s just the way it’s working out now. I’m hoping to get players back, yes, but we’ll just have to wait and see who’s fit and available'...
Dagenham also exited the FA Cup on Monday evening after losing 1-0 to Salford...
'When you let in seven it's going to affect your confidence', he said. 'It doesn't matter who you are, and we've got some young players. Against Wrexham we had six players who were under 22 starting that game...
'We know we’re a long way off where we need to be. We’ve had a couple of good performances, against Wrexham and Woking, but we know it’s going to be tough the next 10 games and we’ll see how we go. We always take batches of 10 games at a time and see where we’re at'".
"There were a number of gratifying moments in Tuesday's fixture, but none more so, from my perspective, than our fourth goal. A sumptuous flowing move that saw James Jones turn defence into attack with some quick feet before a beautiful ball into Jordan Ponticelli to score a very classy finish into the top corner of Aldershot's goal.
Jordan has impressed so many of us over the last few games with his endless hard work...
As ever, I can't pass up the opportunity to praise the 250-odd Wrexham fans who made the trip to Hampshire for a rescheduled Tuesday night game... The support that we have received this season has been phenomenal both home and away...
I know there were some sound issues with the commentary for Tuesday night's game and we are looking into the means to resolve this. Essentially, we are slightly beholden to the facilities we find at away games and sometimes there are no ISDN lines for our media team to jack into.
When this happens they have to dial-in and effectively deliver their commentary over the phone".
Paul Hurst has confirmed positive news on the injury front with only John McAtee and Max Wright ruled out of Saturday's tirp to Aldershot Town.
The Mariners were without Erico Sousa, Alex Hunt, Adam Crookes and James McKeown, in addition to McAtee and Wright, last weekend at Kidderminster Harriers....
'The two that are definitely missing are John McAtee and Max Wright,' Hurst told Grimsby Live. 'The rest, to some degree, are back in training, some more than others. One player has trained this morning, seems okay and we will check that before we travel. They're the two that are definitely out. Sean Scannell and Joel Grant have continued to train this week but in reality, it's too soon for them to be considered now others are back fit'...
Wright has been ruled out for three to four weeks after a scan on his injury, which is similar to the thigh problem that kept him out earlier in the season... Hurst explained, 'The scan suggests it could be three or four weeks but he's been out running today and feels better than you'd have thought he would'...
Grant is not available for this selection this weekend despite his return to first-team action as a substitute at the Aggborough Stadium. Hurst feels that, with other attacking players available again, he needs more time to rebuild his fitness after a lengthy lay-off".
11 November, 2021
That solitary defeat was a 2-1 reverse at Chesterfield.
One area where Alty have the edge, however, is that the Robins have netted 23 goals to the Wood's twenty.
Boreham Wood is a relatively new club, only founded in 1948 when Boreham Wood Rovers and Royal Retournez merged. They have been managed since 2015 by Luke Garrard, a former Swindon Town and AFC Wimbledon player who also played for The Wood.
Since reaching National League level for the first time in 2015, Boreham Wood's finishes have been varied, as shown below.
The line up was Ryan Forde, Lucas Aldcroft, Angus Bailey, Liam Evans, Dylan Giblin, Amaar Hussain, Ben Lawson, Louis Morrison
Harlan Rodgers-Morris, Michael Vale, Yusuf Adeniyi. The subs were Aidan Kelly, Ryan Morton and Joel Trevor.
Hussain, Rodgers-Morris (2), Adeniyi and Morton were the Alty scorers.
And last Sunday, they beat Burscough 2-0 in a home fixture at Manchester Health Academy. This closed the gap between second placed Alty and their table-topping opponents to two points.
Angus Bailey and Harlan Rodgers-Morris scored the goals, the latter from the penalty spot.
The line up against Burscough comprised 1 Michael Vale, 2 Archie Benton, 3 Aiden Kelly, 4 Yusef Adeniyi, 5 Louis Morrison, 6 Dylan Giblin, 7 Louie Williams, 8 Harlan Rodgers-Morris, 9 Angus Bailey, 10 Liam Evans, 11 Lucas Aldcroft and tyhe bench was made up of 12 Ryan Morton, 13 Joel Trevor, 14 Amaar Hussain, 15 Ewan McGeady, 16 Danny Watson
The plan is for Bar 1866 to open on matchdays and from 4.30pm to 12am on other days. Fully accessible, it would be used by Chesterfield FC Community Trust as an educational space during the day.
Featuring an open kitchen and a 10m video screen, with a capacity of around 320, the design shows fully-glazed doors at the front of the building with doors opening to an amphitheatre facing south-west.
Spireites' chairman Mike Goodwin said, 'We feel that this venue, behind the Motan Colortronic (South) Stand, would be a welcome addition to the current facilities at the stadium.
'A privately-financed initiative has been devised for this project and others and the financial projections for Bar 1866 Sport are very encouraging'...
It is hoped that Bar 1866 will open during the summer".
The original fixture on October 2 was abandoned after 52 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch at The Recreation Ground.
Wrexham were in control and leading 2-0 when the game was halted, with Parkinson stating afterwards that he felt more could have been done by Shots groundstaff to clear standing water off the playing surface and give the game a chance of continuing.
The Reds... once again rose to the occasion, registering a 5-0 win...
'It was important we did our talking on the pitch and we stressed that to the lads', said Parkinson...
Reece Hall-Johnson, making his first start since the opening day draw at Solihull Moors after recovering from a groin injury, scored the third goal... 'When something like that happens (the first game being abandoned), it is good to come back and get the win,' said the wing-back.
Nearly 250 supporters made the 425 mile round trip for the second time in six weeks and Parkinson applauded their efforts."
At the beginning of 1914; Aldershot was the largest army camp in the country... The impact on the civilian town was profound. ..
Aldershot’s role was vital; it provided the nucleus of the 1914 army, treated the wounded from the fighting, and ensured a constant supply of trained men for the fighting....
Chairman Shahid Azeem [said]... 'We are so proud of the links and relationship with the Army and in particular, the Garrison, where Aldershot Town is the home of the British Army.
'We were the first football club to sign up for the Military Corporate Covenant and the first Football club in the country to be awarded the MOD Silver Employer Recognition scheme'".
With only 23 teams in the National League, this weekend it is Town's turn to be the odd-team out, providing a useful chance to rest ahead of three games in eight days from next Saturday, which sees a home clash with big-spenders Wrexham sandwiched in-between long trips to Dover and Torquay...
Said Wild, 'As staff and players we've put a lot of effort into the first 17 games and I think it just gives us a week to rest some tired legs, tired bodies and tired minds.
'It gives everybody a great time to relax, recover and be ready for the run-up to Christmas...
'It will be about working on things in training to make them more robust physically, in the gym, stuff we may ordinarily neglect a little bit,' he said... 'And we'll play an in-house game on Thursday to keep the minutes up and the mileage up.
'Then next week, there'll be some work on stuff we need to be tactically better at...
'There's stuff that... I don't normally get time to do, the recruitment and admin side of things, and it's a great time to evaluate where we're up to, what's gone well, what needs to be better etc, so there's a lot of that going on this week,' he said."
Last Saturday they overcame Eastleigh in Round One of the FA Cup, after which Boreham Wood reported that "One change for Luke Garrard’s side saw Mark Ricketts replace Frankie Raymond in the middle of the park, and the skipper’s bite and tenacity in midfield would play an important part in what would prove to be a successful afternoon at the LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park.
Boreham Wood looked to heat up the game from the off amongst the cold afternoon wind, with a fast start for the hosts...
Eastleigh would grow into the game in the early stages... This opened the floodgates for the visitors to enjoy a period of dominance...
The Spitfires were rampant and would be disappointed to not take the lead... Despite their dominance, Eastleigh had seemingly left their shooting boots back in Hampshire and were unable to make the breakthrough, something they would soon pay the price for.
Eastleigh struggled to replicate their first half performance... and the home side took advantage when they doubled their lead on the hour mark. Some neat interplay between Marsh and Smith saw the former find Rees in the penalty area, who flicked it to Boden who fired home from close range for his second of the afternoon.
From here on out, Wood never really looked back. Chances dried up a little, but they remained solid at the back and refused Eastleigh a way through...
Boden was a standout, and along with Rees pulling the strings in midfield and Will Evans being a rock at the back once again, they were rarely troubled and were comfortable enough to see out the game...
Boreham Wood: Ashby-Hammond, K Smith, Ilesanmi, Fyfield, Evans, Mendy Mendy, Rees, Mafuta, Ricketts, Boden, Marsh (Clifton 85). Subs not used: Green, Stephens, Raymond, Smith, Oluwabori."
Altrincham's previous encounters with Boreham Wood produced the following statistics. All three of Alty's wins were by a 1-0
margin but The Wood wn 3-2 at Moss Lane last season.
The games between the clubs can be summarised as follows:
'We have been working with our friends at Trafford Borough Council to evaluate the overall safety of the ground, particularly in the light of the significant increase in support this season.
We hosted a meeting of the Trafford BC SAG (Safety Advisory Group) yesterday to look at The J. Davidson Stadium in detail, particularly in light of our fixtures over the Christmas period.
We have identified some areas of the ground that need work doing to meet the safety standards expected by our supporters and required by Trafford BC.
As a consequence, this unfortunately means that our capacity will be reduced from this weekend onwards, with a large part of the Popular Side, a section of the Golf Road end and part of the Chequers End having to be closed.
The Fan Zone will also remain closed for this weekend. In addition, the exterior Golf Road wall has been fenced off until such time as we can replace it.
We are pulling together a programme of work to bring the stadium up to scratch, with an immediate focus on the Golf Road and the Popular Side.
We will be working hard to minimise inconvenience and open as much of the ground as possible for Boreham Wood on Saturday, with further sections reopening for the Emirates FA Cup replay against Gateshead and the visit of Southend United.
Some of the more extensive remedial work will take a little while longer, but the intent is to be back at our previous levels before the home games with Wrexham and Stockport County.
We apologise for the inconvenience that this will cause, but our primary concern is always ensuring the safety and comfort of our supporters.
Further details on ground capacity will be announced during the week after finalisation of plans with Trafford BC, when the picture should be clearer, and we will continue to update you as work progresses.'"
Tuesday, 9th November
Wrexham's win took them above Altrincham in the table, leaving the Robins in eleventh place.
The non-league sides played out a 2-2 draw on Saturday, and will replay to determine who faces the Addicks in the next stage of the competition.
The South London club beat Havant & Waterlooville 4-0 in the first round. A brace from Jayden Stockley and goals from Josh Davison and Mason Burstow mean they have advanced to round two.
Charlton have never faced Altrincham or Gateshead in a competitive fixture before."
'It's an interesting draw,' Wild said, 'Obviously away from home is more difficult, but it's against a team that's had a good scalp in the last round and a team that's a decent footballing team, so it should be a really good football match.
'We will be approaching it like any other football match at any other point of the season. It's just another game in my eyes'...
The winners will receive £34,000 in prize money and a place in the third round".
The 25-year-old was booked in the second-half of the FA Cup win against Southend United.
Five yellow cards normally triggers a one-match ban but bookings in cup competitions are treated separately so the wing-back remains on four.
His availability is a relief for Town given they could be without as many as ten players again for this weekend.
Haydn Hollis, Laurence Maguire, Gavin Gunning, George Carline, Joe Rowley, Jack Clarke, Akwasi Asante and Tom Denton are all out injured.
Danny Rowe has an ongoing health issue and Calvin Miller starts his three-match suspension for getting sent off against Southend. Jamie Grimes is available after completing his one-match suspension.
A one-match ban is likely for King at some stage because the cut-off point is 23 matches so he would need to avoid being booked in his next nine league games".
The sides will meet at Stockport's Edgeley Park on Wednesday, 17 November (19:45 GMT kick-off) after Sunday's 2-2 draw...
Stockport's fellow fifth-tier side Solihull Moors are also in a replay against a League One side, with their return match against Wigan on Tuesday, 16 November (19:45 GMT kick-off) to be show on ITV4.
The winner of Stockport and Bolton will visit Rotherham in the second round, while Solihull or Wigan will be away to Colchester".
Ties are to be played over the weekend of 3-6 December 2021. If Alty beat Gateshead, the away trip to Aldershot Town scheduled for 4 December, would have to be postponed.
Chalrton sacked manager Nigel Adkins on 21 October with Johnnie Jackson currently their caretaker manager. They currently lie eighteenth in League One.
One of the four used subs at Gateshead was Matty Kosylo (right).
The 21 year-old arrived as cover during a torrid run of defensive injuries with Kyle Cameron, Connell Rawlinson and Alex Lacey all sidelined.
And head coach Ian Burchnall is grateful to Brennan... 'Ciaran was really unfortunate to be on the wrong end of some difficult results during the early part of his loan spell...
'Despite being thrown in at the deep end he put in some very strong, composed performances which highlight his huge potential.'"
The Reds exited the FA Cup after losing 2-1 in Saturday's first round tie at Wetherby Road.
Jordan Parkinson [Ponticello] put Wrexham ahead in the 38th minute but... two goals in six minutes during the second half condemned Phil Parkinson's side to defeat, and it was tough to take for right-hand man Parkin...
'We were in a good position in the game, with a little bit of calmness and a little bit of savvy or just being switched on for 5-10 minutes I felt we would have seen the game through.
'Even though they brought some quality substitutes on, I never really felt that we were in a position where we were going to concede two goals.
'It just shows how football is. Really small moments, really small bits of detail can catch you out and I am a bit disappointed with that.'"
8 November, 2021
Press and media officer, John Edwards, adds that "It was felt the experienced defender could be allowed to rejoin Alfreton after spending a month there in September.
The 35 year-old has had his share of injury problems and been restricted to five appearances this season, including two as substitute, and 23 overall, including four from the bench, since joining the club after leaving Morecambe in June last year".
A handful of home supporters were ejected from the ground during the FA Cup clash against Walsall which attracted a crowd of just under 2,000.
It is alleged that a female steward was assaulted during the cup tie while rival supporters were involved in a number of coin-throwing incidents.
The Linnets lost the game, which was featured on BBC One's Football Focus, 1-0 to their League Two visitors with Brendan Kiernan netting the winning goal after 15 minutes."
The right-back was brought on as a second-half substitute at the New York Stadium in the first-round tie but lasted just five minutes on the pitch.
It was Mnoga's seventh appearance for Bromley, who play in the National League, since he moved there on a temporary basis until January to try and gain further first team experience and in turn, boost his prospects at Fratton Park.
However, the loan has not gone to plan, though, and of those seven appearances, only one of those has come as a start.
His latest display against Rotherham will have done him no favours either as he looks to establish himself at the Kent outfit.
And Bromley boss Andy Woodman did not try to defend the Portsmouth loanee as he gave his verdict on the dismissal.
'It was a red, wasn't it. I never want to publicly have a go at any player, but I was just relieved the [Rotherham] guy got up to be honest, because it was looking bad at one point,' he told Bromley TV.
'In fairness to the Rotherham player, he actually said when he came past that he thought Haji was trying to stop but couldn't, which I thought was kind of him really, because he could have had the hump. It was a red, no doubts about that and then it became a mountain for us.'"
Scott Quigley gave County and early lead in a thrilling first half as Eoin Doyle levelled before Elias Kachunga put the hosts in front.
But Ben Whitfield's goal in first-half stoppage time restored parity.
The second half lacked the drama of the first period with Stockport holding on as they ensured Wanderers would visit Edgeley Park next week.
Stockport, ninth in the National League, were cheered on by 5,110 fans who had made the 25-mile journey to League One side Bolton for their first clash with Wanderers in almost 20 years...
Newly-appointed County boss Dave Challinor had everything to cheer for when Quigley pounced on a poor George Thomason backpass to slot home from close range...
Bolton boss Ian Evatt said, 'We controlled the game from start to finish, but it was two mistakes and two sloppy goals that gave them some hope and belief.
'Before the first one, I don't think they had any possession. We completely controlled it and looked like we were going to score at any point. But, just as we have been doing lately, we blew a big hole in our foot. Then we regathered ourselves and scored two excellent goals.
'They had amazing support with 5,000 fans, a new manager, their tails were up and they had nothing to lose. For large parts, it was quite good and we are still in the hat'...
Stockport manager Dave Challinor said, 'It's a good start. It wasn't massively about what we could see tactically, it was about the players showing the ingredients required to help us in the league...
'The bigger game for us is against Bromley next Saturday under the lights in front of the TV cameras... The welcome I have had has been unbelievable'".
The Magpies had fallen behind on the stroke of half-time to Corey O'Keeffe's strike having created two great chances to take the lead themselves.
But Notts were excellent in the second half and deservedly levelled when Kyle Wootton headed in Matt Palmer's corner.
Both sides looked for a winner in what was an enthralling contest at the Crown Oil Arena but they must now face each other again in a replay a week on Tuesday."
The magic of the cup returned for the Glovers as their netted five against the Southern League Premier South side to seal passage into the next round of the world oldest domestic cup competition.
A debut goal from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, along with strikes from Jack Robinson, Charlie Wakefield, Dale Gorman and Adi Yussuf sealed a resounding victory for the Yeovil in South Gloucestershire...
Sarll said,'I think it was probably a little bit more than just professionalism for their performance today, I thought their levels were very high throughout.
'Their training this week has been on like a whole new level really and I think we’re starting to find a little bit of momentum now'...
Town now find themselves one win away from round three in the competition, something that the club haven’t achieved since 2018...
'The most important thing with this team and I keep saying it over and over again is process, progress and time, and I just feel like we’re starting to really hit some form,'“ concluded Sarll.
Two late goals from an Alty side still much weakened by injuries and illness snatched an FA Cup replay for an Altrincham side which looked down and out with just eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Match report here.
It was Gateshead that had the better of the chances in a surprisingly low-key first-half...
Altrincham slowly warmed to the task... However, the half-time whistle signalled the end of a goalless opening 45 minutes where neither side managed to make the most of their clear attacking threat.
If the first-half was a famine, its successor proved to be a feast as Gateshead took the lead within five minutes of the restart with a low, driven finish from the edge of the area by former Newcastle striker Adam Campbell.
Cedwyn Scott could and should have doubled the hosts’ lead just before the hour-mark but that task was left to captain Greg Olley as his free-kick beat everyone to put Mike Williamson’s side in control with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Robins substitute Marcus Dinanga gave the visitors some hope of mounting a comeback when he slotted home in the closing stages and they earned a second crack at the Tynesiders as captain Jake Moult bundled home a scrappy equaliser in the fifth minute of injury-time."
Friday, 5 November
Saturday, 6 November
Sunday, 7 November
Simon Richman scored for Bradford (Park Avenue) as they defeated AFC Telford United, whilst Jack Redshaw netted for Chester FC.
James Jones featured for Barrow in the televised FA Cup tie which the Barrovians won 4-0 at Banbury United.
Halifax were 4-3 up at half-time after a remarkable first 45 minutes, before another four goals arrived after the interval.
'I think it was the sublime to the ridiculous, for a team that's kept eight out of ten clean sheets, you wouldn't have known,' Wild said.
'I think we defended poorly, I don't think we defended well at all against strong, aggressive centre-forwards, and we know what Maidenhead bring, we've worked on that, and we just didn't deliver in that department today.
'On the flip side of that, tactically how we worked to try and beat Maidenhead, get round them, pull their full-backs out, get into the box, whip balls across the box, we scored some of the best goals we've seen all season.
'So it's a fantastic in-possession display, but a horrendous out of possession display. And I don't use the word horrendous lightly, I thought we were horrendous out of possession'...
'We just made it hard for ourselves, it could have been so much easier, but you get days like that. There were a few choice words at half-time that is out of character for me, but that needed saying.
'It takes a lot for me to lose my head but I felt I had to today because we can't defend like that.'
Wild felt that every Maidenhead goal was avoidable... 'Yeah, rubbish out of possession. But don't get me wrong, we're great to watch aren't we. I'd pay to watch us. We play some great stuff'...
'We'd targeted a cup run this year and to be still in the cup in December, I'm over the moon'...
The second-half saw the return of midfielder Luke Summerfield from his injury lay-off...
On winger Jamie Allen's knee injury, Wild said... 'Probably another couple of weeks and hopefully he'll be back'.
On midfielder Martin Wood, Wild said... 'Hopefully we see him back over the next couple of weeks'.
And on the absence of midfielder Harvey Gilmour, the Town boss said 'Harvey was ill this morning so he had to drop out'".
The left-sided centre-back joins on a free transfer.
The 26 year-old made 51 appearances for the Daggers between 2019 and 2021 before being let go in the summer.
His last season at Dagenham was hampered by injuries but he was highly thought of. In total he has made more than 100 appearances in the National League and League Two.
Croll’s arrival will help boost Chesterfield’s defensive ranks with Gavin Gunning, Laurence Maguire, George Carline and Haydn Hollis all out injured. Hollis and Carline are not expected to return until the latter part of the season.
Gunning (broken nose and fractured eye socket) and Maguire (calf) will be out for between six and eight weeks, according to manager James Rowe."
Blues had got off to a flyer as birthday-boy Rhys Murphy put the visitors in front after just four minutes, but the hosts immediately responded with an equaliser from Saidou Khan before debutante Luke Croll squeezed the Spireites in front.
Kabongo Tshimanga then came off the bench in the second-half to put Chesterfield into the hat for the second round draw as Southend exited at the first round stage.
'It’s disappointing to lose,' said Maher... 'We started brilliantly and got a great goal, but then we concede too easily... It’s not good enough really...
'In a cup game we were going for it and if you take a chance, you run the risk of being caught on the break. The second-half I thought we were the better team and on the front foot'...
Sam Dalby had a penalty late on which he blazed a high over the crossbar to all but end Southend’s hopes of staying in the competition. And in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Zak Brunt and Chesterfield’s Calvin Miller were sent off for a scuffle...
Maher said... 'The lads have given us everything again and we’ve been just a bit short'...
Blues have got themselves a clear week ahead of the visit of Woking to Roots Hall next weekend as Southend look to pick up a second successive league victory".
The Heed head into the tie looking to preserve a perfect home record this season after claiming wins in all six of their league and cup fixtures at the International Stadium.
Their bid for a top seven place has been hampered by three consecutive defeats with illness and injury decimating Phil Parkinson’s squad...
He told The NLP, 'All focus is on our performance and process for the game but we know, if we apply ourselves and hit the levels we have in previous home games, we have a massive chance...
. Kennedy DIGIE
'Altrincham are an established National League club now and we’ve had a couple of really enjoyable battles with them when they were in our league. They have changed a bit since then and they play very good football.
'They have some very experienced players, but also some younger players that bring a lot of energy to their play. It’s a big challenge, they’re a good side, and we will have to be fully focused to beat them'...
Williamson’s side go into the game on the back of a defeat after they were beaten by National League North leaders AFC Fylde last weekend.
The Heed boss revealed... 'I was disappointed with the result and pleased with some aspects of the performance... But there were areas we could improve, and we have worked on that on the training ground this week'".
Stoke manager Michael O'Neill "has given Alty permission to include him in their squad at the Gateshead International Stadium...
O'Neill monitored the way he captained Stoke’s under-18s to a place in the Premier League Cup final and shone for Kevin Russell’s under-23s and decided he was ready for a... place in the senior starting line-up this August, against Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup...
Not surprisingly, his emergence has been noted by other clubs, with Leyton Orient reportedly trying to take him on loan earlier this year but failing".
The 22 year-old, equally capable in defence and midfield, arrived at Adams Park last October and made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup first round tie at Exeter in August, going on to feature against Stevenage and MK Dons in subsequent cup games.
Maidenhead sit 18th in the National League and take on Halifax Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.
That’s the message in the Grimsby Telegraph from "Paul Hurst as he plots a safe passage past Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup first round...
'We want to win the game and be part of the draw on Monday,' said Hurst. 'At the same time we will be coming up against a team that have had some very good wins, they’re sixth in their table and will be looking to get promoted into the National League...
'Against Bromsgrove it was about having the right attitude individually and more importantly as a team, and not under-estimating the opposition. That’s been the same message. Kidderminster are a different outfit, only the league below and at the top end of it.
'They have got players who have played in the league before, so we know it will be a tough test. They will be full of confidence and looking to cause what I would call a minor upset. But we do not want to be the victims of that.'
Hurst has a couple of injury absentees, who he won’t name before the team sheets come out on Saturday afternoon but he insists it will be a strong line-up.
'We have a couple of lads missing through injury. I have got the team in my mind now and there will be some changes', he said.
'But realistically we are a football club where, barring maybe a couple , everyone is a first team player so it will not be an under-strength team and it won’t be a team that I would be afraid of putting out in a National League game'...
'Also, we want to get back to winning ways, albeit to my mind we haven’t been out-played all season in my honest opinion.'”
The Robins go into the match without a win in their last five league games, whilst the hosts are unbeaten at home this season.
Since the arrival of Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel as the management duo at Altrincham, the club's FA Cup record has been as follows...
2017-18 Altrincham entered the competition at the First Qualifying Round and, after a 3-3 draw at Abbey Hey, they won the replay 2-1. That earned them another away tie at Shildon where they lost 1-0.
2018-19 produced more North-East opposition in the Second Qualifying Round with a home tie against Whitley Bay, which Alty won 5-0 before a 4-2 win was secured in the next round at home to Bradford (Park Avenue).
But then a sequence of nine successive away FA Cup ties was drawn out of "the hat". The travelling started in the Fourth Qualifying Round as Alty journeyed to Edgeley Park and lost 2-0 to Stockport County.
2019-20 assigned Altrincham Cheshire opponents once more as they now made their way to Chester FC in the Second Qualifying Round. They secured a 1-1 draw before winning 1-0 at the J. Davidson Stadium.
Alty then won at Halesowen Town 2-0, and Southport 3-1.
A one-nil away win at York City in Round One led to a big match at Fratton Park against Portsmouth who squeezed past the Robins 2-1 with a very late goal.
Above: Alty celebrate their win at York in 2019.
2020-21 was disappointing as Alty travelled to Mill Farm in the Fourth Qualifying Round and lost 2-1 to AFC Fylde, behind closed doors.
2021-22 saw Alty on the road yet again as they visited Southport in the Fourth Qualifying Round and won 3-2 to earn this weekend's tie at Gateshead.
And Blues' boss Kevin Maher confirmed Akinola may need surgery to regain full fitness...
Said Maher, 'The actual length of time, I’m not sure yet but he’s going to have a period out'.
Akinola joined the Shrimpers in the summer of 2020 and has scored two goals in 25 games. The forward was frozen out by former Blues' boss Phil Brown before he was handed a shock recall against Eastleigh at the start of October.
However, Akinola picked up an injury during his only appearance of the season".
Meanwhile, the Southend Echo advises that "Kevin Maher is still waiting to find out if he will face any further punishment after being sent from the dug-out at Boreham Wood.
Maher was red carded after showing dissent towards referee Aaron Jackson during the 1-0 defeat on Saturday...
'I have to check with the secretary and see where we’re at with that,' said Maher.//
Maher was sent off five times as a player for the Shrimpers and now sits second in the club’s record books for number of red cards".
After taking in two matches, against Maidenhead and Torquay, the owners also attended a training session and McElhenney even joined in...
Reynolds admits to having a few nerves prior to meeting the playing staff. He said, 'As quickly as was humanly possible we wanted to dissolve whatever weird barrier there was between us and them.
'And that goes two ways. I'm in awe when I sit there and go "There's Paul Mullin, there's Aaron Hayden, there's Jamie Reckord".
'So I'm a little geeked out as well because I've been watching these guys from a Youtube feed from afar. For me, I was stuttering a little with them once I met them face-to-face!'
McElhenney added, 'That is a dream come true. I tried out for every single team you could possibly try for. I was always small and under-sized. I never had that natural ability. I had the tenacity but I just found I was never good enough to compete in sport'".
Tom Bradbury has certainly played his part in Town's outstanding defensive record, helping The Shaymen to six of those clean sheets in his 13 appearances this season.
'I'm very pleased, obviously having the joint best defensive record in the league looks good on us defenders, and we've got quite a lot of clean sheets as well, which shows we're doing well,' he said...
Bradbury said, 'I think the main thing is the security behind the ball, the coaches at the club work on it a lot and it's making sure that, for example, when our strikers have the ball, previously we might ball watch and hope they score, but now I'm not even watching the ball, I'm looking at the people I'm marking, the space they could potentially run into, where's the right winger, where's the left winger, where's the number ten, are we two v two at the back or are we three v two with a man in our favour.
'That's playing a huge part because as soon as the ball gets kicked out and comes back to us, we're three against two, we've got an extra man on the cover and we're sniffing out attacks before they even start...
'With a few of the people that went out of the door this year I've got more of a senior role in the dressing room and on the pitch so I've had to step into those shoes...
'I do think we've got a really good squad. Unfortunately young Jay Benn has been injured but he'll be a great addition when he comes back, obviously Jesse Debrah is pushing me and Niall all the way, so we've got good strength-in-depth...
'The work rate up-front is brilliant, if they're pressing defenders and then they're maybe going long, their defenders have got less time on the ball and their passes are less accurate, so they might not play such a good pass into their strikers' feet, or they might kick it out of play or something, so that's easier for us, and we have easier balls to defend,' Bradbury said...
'We've shown a few times that we can dig in and defend this year when maybe last year we might have shipped a goal or two and not got the three points...
'This year we're not getting counter-attacked on because I'm sorting out men in-front of me and making sure we've got enough numbers in the right areas to stop that...
'You've got the keeper, the two centre-halves and the two midfielders who were all here last year, so we've kept the core and we've added brilliance around it...
'I think we've already played four or five out of the top seven, so if we can beat them, bring it on...
'Every player wants a big fish in the latter rounds of the FA Cup,' he said... If you can't beat Maidenhead, no disrespect to them, then you don't deserve to get a big fish.'"
A seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions for The Heed ended last time out when they lost 2-0 at league leaders AFC Fylde.
At home they have been formidable. They have played six times at the International Stadium this season and have won every time, scoring an impressive twenty goals in the process...
Meanwhile Gateshead report that they are "raising funds and awareness this Movember for all the dads, brothers, sons and mates in our lives".
The players who have joined Movember are Adam Campbell, Alex Nicholson, Greg Olley and Robbie Tinkler. They have joined a number of the club's staff in the fundraising movement for men's health.
The draw is as follows, with matches to be played in w/c 8 January 2022, except where shown...
Newby has made six sub appearances for far during his time with the Club".
An attacking right-sided midfielder, he was on Bolton Wanderers' books as an Academy youngster before returning to Barrow, his hometown club. He made an impressive debut for Alty at FC United on New Year's Day, 2017.
Elliot continued to impress and scored five times in 16 appearances for the Club before a questionable red card marked his final game, away at Bradford PA on 25 March 2017.
In all, his Altrincham appearances comprised 14 starts and two more appearances from the bench, games in which he netted five times.
A former County captain, Challinor played for the Club between 2002-2004 as a centre-half, and had successful spells at Tranmere and Bury as a player. Since stepping into management, Challinor has forged a successful career throughout the lower divisions, with five previous promotions to his name.
Most recently, he led Hartlepool back to the English Football League in his first full season at Victoria Park, adding to promotions with Colwyn Bay and AFC Fylde, as well as an FA Trophy win with the Coasters in 2019.
Challinor joins the Club in time for Sunday’s big first round Emirates FA Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers, with 5,000 County fans travelling to the University of Bolton stadium...
Director of Football Simon Wilson said, 'A friend of the Club, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and determination. With a proven track record for achieving promotion, Dave was a firm favourite for the job, and we’re delighted to welcome him back to Edgeley Park'.
First-Team Manager Dave Challinor said 'The chance to return to County and help make Club history was too good an opportunity to miss.
'The excitement surrounding the Club and the investment that has been put into it, on and off the pitch, makes County an incredibly attractive proposition for any manager. This can be seen by the influx of new talent the Club has recruited over the last month, with the likes of Robert Elstone and Bolton Wanderers' Antoni Sarcevic joining.
'Now is the time to capitalise on this and take the fans on the journey they deserve, making Stockport County a force to be reckoned with and getting back to the Football League'".
Nine-goal leading marksmen Paul Mullin was handed a three-game ban after the authorities decided that there had been a case of mistaken identity and Bryce Hosannah would not serve any punishment for the red card he was shown following an off the ball incident during last Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat against Maidenhead, with the ban being handed out to the striker...
Jake Hyde, who has struck three times, is currently out of action with a groin injury and Jordan Ponticelli started in attack against the Gulls with Dior Angus coming off the substitutes' bench...
Said Parkinson, 'While he and Mulls are out, it is an opportunity for other people to step forward'".
Skipper Josh McQuoid, usually so reliable from the spot, had the chance to add to Omar Mussa’s 50th-minute opener.
However, the former Northern Ireland international dragged his spot-kick wide of the near post.
His miss was Weymouth’s sixth in seven penalties after a nightmare shootout loss to rivals Yeovil Town in their scintillating FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay last month.
Asked whether his side had been practising penalties since that game, Stock told Echosport, 'Obviously not!...
'It might be one of those where we just change it up for the benefit of the team, for himself [McQuaid]...
'I’m not too bothered that we’ve not converted the penalty. Fortunately it hasn’t led to us dropping points'...
Stock was unequivocal after a late tackle on Weymouth’s Tom Bearwish by Michael Gyasi, the midfielder sent off 75 seconds after coming on...
'I don’t like to comment, but it looked bad from where I was. Even still, before the sending off, we were quite comfortable. Ross (Fitzsimons, goalkeeper) was very rarely tested'".
Murphy scored twice as Blues got back to winning ways in Kevin Maher’s first home game in charge...
'Since the new management team have come in we’ve seen a reaction and improvements week by week. We haven’t had the results but it’s going to take time...
'It’s a big relief to win and it’s pleasing to get some goals, especially at home in front of our fans who have stuck with us and been fantastic'...
Murphy now has six goals for the season and his latest efforts helped Blues bag an important win against a Dover side sitting bottom of the table".
3 November, 2021
And just as on their last visit in January 2020, which ended in a 2-0 defeat, Altrincham will arrive with a weakened team despite the assumed avaiability of the self-isolating players.
In 2020 Alty were without the suspended Max Harrop and the injured trio of Simon Richman, Tom Peers and Sean Williams. Williams was named on the bench but it was never intended that he would play any part. In addition, Lewis Walters was unable to take part as his re-registration after his loan spell at Trafford had not been completed by the league.
Josh Lundstram, signed on loan from Crewe Alexandra, started the game and youth graduate Curtis Miller was named on the bench.
After the match, Altrincham could have no complaints at the outcome against a well organized Gateshead.
Alty were unable to convert their possession into a clear opening after they had had a goal disallowed for offside early on.
Above: Andy White cleared this 40th minute effort off the line, following a corner, and an Altrincham freekick was given for a foul, in any case. But, just three minutes later, from their next corner, Gateshead scored.
Gateshead had not created a lot themselves before they took a fortuitous 43rd minute lead. The goal came direct from an inswinging right-wing corner by former Dover man Deverdics. As the ball dropped in the goalmouth goalkeeper Thompson failed to deal with it before it crossed the line.
Gateshead doubled their lead in the 67th minute when a cross from Nicholson from the right was hit against the near post by debutant Middlesbrough loanee Curry before rebounding back off him and into the net.
Alty never looked like recovering and scarcely troubled keeper James in the home net. Alty dropped to tenth as a result of this defeat which ended their seven-game unbeaten run.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Andy WHITE, 4. Toby MULLARKEY, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. John JOHNSTON, 8. Josh LUNDSTRAM, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Luke WALL. Subs: 12. Curtis MILLER, 14. Sean WILLIAMS, 15. Connor HAMPSON, 16. James JONES, 17. Joel TORRANCE.
The late Mike Garnett's records reveal the history of previous games between the clubs:
Three teams will be relegated from the National League this season and four teams promoted into it to bring it back up to 24 teams.
From the 2022-23 season, both of those divisions will increase to 24 rather than 22 teams.
The National League has run with just 23 teams in for the past two seasons after Macclesfield Town were expelled in 2020.
Last season was declared null and void in the sixth tier and below because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning no teams were relegated from the National League in 2020-21.
Dover Athletic had their results expunged in March of last season's National League after they decided they were financially unable to continue playing behind closed doors.
As a result they were deducted 12 points for this season and sit bottom of the table, on minus nine points, after 12 matches played".
Tuesday, 2 November
The Hartlepool Mail confirms that "Just 38 days after signing a new three-year deal at Pools, Challinor asked to leave the club following an approach from National League side Stockport County.
Just like that, all the positivity and momentum building up at the club has come crashing back down. The 46 year-old’s departure isn’t likely to be an amicable one either with the Hartlepool confirming the news by stating their disappointment at how events unfolded following Stockport’s approach.
The club claim Stockport contacted Challinor via his agent first before being informed on Friday. The approach was declined only for Challinor to state his intention to leave on Monday.
Technically speaking, Challinor remains Hartlepool’s manager at the time of writing, but he will not manage the club again. It appears bridges have been burnt as Pools consider their legal options.
On face value, Challinor stepping away from a top-half League Two outfit so soon after signing a new contract to join a well-backed non-league club smells of financial motivation.
In football, there is not a lot of loyalty unless the Queen’s face is on it.
Understandably, supporters haven’t taken the news well. Challinor was adored in Hartlepool and had formed a connection between the club and the fans that had never seemed so good...
The move feels almost like a betrayal, an abandonment... But damage limitation tweets from Challinor’s friend and former colleague [and ex-Alty striker] Alex Hay and wife Kate have suggested that there was more to the move than just the money.
The implication that things weren’t quite right behind the scenes raises more questions than answers but Challinor’s frustrations have been evident ever since pre-season. The prolonged contract saga, a difficult transfer window and thinly-veiled comments are all pieces of a jigsaw that we can’t quite put together just yet...
Challinor has supposedly been living his career-long dream of being a Football League manager. Apparently it wasn’t all it was hyped up to be given his swift drop back into non-league football...
Challinor has left Pools when his stock was at its highest following promotion and a solid start to life in League Two on a modest budget. He was a manager who always seemed destined for bigger and better things higher up the pyramid, which is why this move leaves a particularly sour taste.
Stockport County are a big National League club that Challinor knows well... but the fact remains they are a non-league club in a brutal division that is incredibly difficult to get out of the right way...
Make no mistake, Challinor is a huge loss and replacing him properly will prove a real challenge...
For now, club legend Antony Sweeney will take charge, as he did two years prior".
Summer signing Lennon gave the Reds the perfect start as the centre-back scored his first goal for the club after just four minutes in Saturday’s home clash with Torquay United...
But Phil Parkinson’s side failed to build on the quickfire start and the Gulls equalised with six minutes remaining.
The stalemate leaves Wrexham 13th in the National League, 13 points behind leaders Boreham Wood...
'It is a point but it has happened too many times already this season, dropping silly points in games we should be winning,' said Lennon...
'We can’t keep going on like that, otherwise the season is just going to go and we are going to be too far off the play-offs and leave ourselves with too much to do'...
Despite Lennon’s early strike in front of more than 9,800 supporters, Wrexham created few chances during the contest and didn’t look like extending their lead...
Said Lennon, 'It was a game of few chances; they didn’t really look like scoring, we did on a couple of set-pieces and throw-ins but other than that we did not create enough.
'There wasn’t much football played at all and the game was all about second balls... I don’t think we have been good enough in the second half of games at home'".
The Spireites host the Shrimpers in the first round of the competition at the Technique Stadium aiming to extend their six-match unbeaten run.
However, manager James Rowe could be forced to pick a makeshift defence following injuries to Gavin Gunning and Laurence Maguire. They will also be without Jamie Grimes who is suspended.
Captain Gunning broke his nose and fractured his eye socket in the win against Eastleigh last week.
Maguire was stretchered off with a calf problem early on in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Dagenham and Redbridge, while Grimes was sent off later in that match after receiving two yellow cards.
As it stands, Fraser Kerr is the Blues’ only available recognised centre-back.
'We are waiting on Gavin Gunning whether he needs an operation,' Rowe told the DT...
Chesterfield are down to the bare bones at the moment with as many as nine players injured and striker Danny Rowe unavailable due to a health issue...
The Shrimpers made a formal approach to speak to Spireites boss Rowe last month but it was rejected and they have since appointed Kevin Maher."
Mussa, 21, slotted home for the Terras in the 50th minute against King’s Lynn Town on Saturday, helping his side secure a 1-0 victory over the Linnets.
Former Belgium under-18 man Mussa won a penalty eight minutes later, tripped by King’s Lynn’s Daniel Bowry in the box.
However, Josh McQuoid could not hit the target with his spot-kick...
Ex-Dover midfielder Mussa... has made 15 appearances this term...
'It feels amazing. If I had to describe it, I couldn’t. I tried to celebrate (with) the fans but I started crying. The emotions were super high' [he said]...
Weymouth fans have quickly taken to his silky skills on the ball and high work rate, popping up all over the pitch to disrupt opposition moves and win tackles... He was voted as the supporters’ player of the month for September".
The Whites' manager believes the pressure is on the Essex club...
'Listen, every game is, obviously, a different challenge for us. But our aim is to win a game, try and get some confidence back, and get some belief. One win might just give us that.
'I don’t think we are looking any further than our next game, really.
'I’ve had conversations with the chairman, Jim Parmenter, and he will be disappointed (with the result as they lost to Stockport), and with the crowd as well. But fair play to the ones that were here. My hat goes off to them....
'The pressure is on Southend. They’re a club that are just coming out of League 2. We should go there with nothing to lose to try and get this win that we are really craving for.'
Midfielder TJ Bramble will be available after serving a one-match ban, while on-loan Gillingham midfielder Henry Woods (abductor) may also be back from injury.
But there are fitness concerns over player-coach Reda Johnson (groin), midfielder Yannis Drais (who came off against Stockport) and defender Jake Goodman (ankle). Striker Ricky Miller, who has been suffering with Covid, is also a doubt.
Hessenthaler said 'I doubt Ricky will be available against Southend'...
On Bramble’s return, the Dover boss added 'He has been burnt out a little bit. He’s only a young lad. It might have done him good (missing a match) but he is available for Southend which is good news.'”
Last time out, Gateshead played a National League North match at AFC Fylde where they lost 2-0. The result left Gateshead ninth but they have at least two games in hand on all but one of the teams above them so are well placed to secure a play-off position.
The visitors started on the front foot at Mill Farm, with Coasters captain, Alex Whitmore, blocking on two consecutive occasions to prevent Chris Neal from being called into action early on...
Fylde grew into the game as it went on and their pressure eventually paid dividends twice in quick succession... [A] corner was met by David Perkins’ stunning left-footed volley from the edge of the area to open the scoring.
Lloyd impressed in his debut against Spennymoor Town on Tuesday and was pivotal in Fylde’s second goal. The Wigan Athletic loanee’s cross found Joe Piggott inside the penalty area before the striker expertly turned and struck his low effort past the goalkeeper to put Bentley’s side in control.
It was an initial cagey start to the second half at Mill Farm, with the visitors responding well in their efforts to find a route back into the game...
Despite Gateshead having the majority of the possession in the second half, Bentley’s side stayed resolute to thwart the visitors and pick up another important three points.
Gateshead: Chapman, Nicholson, Storey, Williamson, Jacob (61’ Wombwell), Bailey (65’ Hunter), Olley ©, Ward, Campbell, Scott, Langstaff. Unused subs: Forbes, Pani".
Challinor emerged as the clear favourite to replace Simon Rusk at Edgeley Park with betting suspended at one stage on Sunday afternoon.
The Pools' boss added fuel to the fire following his side’s 5-0 defeat at Leyton Orientby suggesting there was more news to come rather than playing the speculation down.
According to reports in Stockport, The Hatters are growing ‘increasingly confident’ of securing Challinor’s services and hope to make an appointment in the coming days.
But Hartlepool chairman Raj Singh has since confirmed via BBC Radio Tees Sport that the club have refused Stockport’s approach after they requested permission to speak with Challinor.
This stance puts the onus on Challinor and whether he wants to drop back down to the National League. He remains under contract at Victoria Park until 2024 after agreeing a new deal in September".
The 22-year-old was stretchered off playing in his last game on loan at King’s Lynn Town. The Spireites had recalled him due to their own injury crisis.
Rowley had been impressing for the Linnets and Town boss James Rowe had been keeping a close eye on him.
But by the time he returns from injury Chesterfield should have a few more players back and he could end up being loaned out again...
Rowe told the DT...'He has severed a ligament in his ankle... Hopefully Joe won’t (need an operation).'
In other news, striker Dany Rowe remains out due to illness. The striker, who has scored five goals this season, has missed the two last matches... 'He had a health problem when he came off last week'" said Rowe.
"Meanwhile, it appears both Akwasi Asante and Jack Clarke are stepping up their bid to return from injury. The pair took part in some running drills before the Dagenham game and Asante was involved in some shooting practice".
Maher, who made 454 appearances as a player for the club, will boss Blues for the first time at home tomorrow evening...
'It will be a massive honour for me on Tuesday but I have to put that to one side because we need to perform and we have to start picking up points,' said Maher...
Blues have been beaten in Maher’s first two matches in charge and sit 21st in the National League standings...
'There’s been improvement since we first came in but we want to improve again on Tuesday night,' said Maher...
'There are areas we want to improve and we want to create more chances going forward,' said Maher...
'We’ve had two tough away games but now we’re back in front of our fans and hopefully we can give them plenty to cheer... Being at home we want to be on the front foot,' said Maher".
The Magpies are looking to reach the second round of the competition for the first time since the 1886/87 season and the club is putting on subsidised coach travel to help fans make it to the Shay Stadium... as they attempt to defeat a team who’ve lost only three times in the league all season.
However, one of those defeats came against the Magpies in the very first match of the campaign".
Woking assistant manager Ian Dyer added, "The only downside really is we made it harder for ourselves than it should have been. We were totally in control of the game for 85 minutes then switched off twice".
The club's first FA Cup campaign was in 1906 when their debut tie was in the Preliminary Round at home to Newton le Willows and the match resulted in a 3-0 home win for The Robins.
Including that inaugural tie, and a void tie at Stalybridge in 1999 when the wonderfully inconsistent FA allowed Stalybridge to replay a tie in which they had fielded an unregistered player, Alty have played 301 FA Cup matches.
They have won just over half of them, 152, drawn 51 and lost 98 times. In terms of goals they have netted 618 times compared with 443 goals conceded.
Since their first tie in 1906 Altrincham have claimed seventeen Football League scalps, the highest number recorded by any club which has always been in non-League.
Those seventeen FA Cup victories against Football League clubs were against the following...
Altrincham's biggest win in the FA Cup to date was a 10-0 triumph in an away tie against Earlestown in 1963, which was switched to Moss Lane. The biggest win in a tie actually played on an away ground came in 1934 at Moulton Verdin when Alty won 9-0.
The biggest defeat was in 1937 at Runcorn where Alty lost 7-0.
Alty are currently going through a record run of nine successive away draws in the competition as they prepare to play at Gateshead on Saturday.
Between 1993 and 1995 they played six consecutive home ties but the first of these matches was a replay after an away match, so only five acutal away draws were involved in that sequence. Nevertheless, that is their longest run of home draws in the competition to date.
On Saturday, Boreham Wood took over at the top after beating Southend United 1-0. Manager Luke Garrard stated, "I'm ecstatic. We're efficient, robust and effective this year and what we're doing is paying off.
"If you ask managers, we're efficient. I support Arsenal. George Grahan was that boring 1-0 man. I'm happy to be that 1-0 man!...
"But I want more", he concluded.
Eye witness accounts tell of several people being hit, one lady was hit on the head by a bottle, another by a coin on the side of the head, a man had a cut below an eye from a coin, while a child was left frightened and bleeding from coins on the back of his head.
Original seating allocation had away fans in the upper tier but they were moved before kick-off to the lower tier stand, with Wrexham supporters sat above them.
The incidents occurred late on in the game after Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ 84th minute equaliser that ruined the Hollywood fairytale for Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney."
Torquay United add that the club "is aware of a number of reports relating to incidents our travelling supporters were subjected to at our game away to Wrexham yesterday...
The Club can confirm they have made an official complaint to the National League, informed the FA and are working with the Police to identify those involved".
We are reviewing footage and working with North Wales Police to identify those responsible.
Such behaviour will not be tolerated at the Racecourse Ground, and those identified will face the strictest punishments available to the Club. You are not welcome at our Football Club...
We would like to thank the 242 Torquay supporters who made the long return trip from Devon to North Wales for the game, and our true fans who supported us in great numbers once again".
The 36 year-old striker opened the scoring seven minutes before the break, following up after Tom Whelan’s effort had rebounded off a post...
Maidenhead, now without a victory in five away, had their best moment early in the game but Jay Mingi’s strike was saved by keeper Joe McDonnell.
Eastleigh are now 12th in the league table, with 18 points accumulated from 13 fixtures".
The defeat leaves Lynn one place above the relegation zone, and struggling to solve a scoring crisis which has seen them four blanks in a row...
Cleeve wrote... 'Understand some of the frustrations and as fans who spend a lot of money and time following the team it is your right. We are all on the same side and I personally will do what I can to fix things.'
Lynn are in FA Cup first round duty this weekend, at home to Walsall, before returning to league action on November 13 against Wrexham at The Walks".
EMIRATES FA CUP FIXTURES
Ties involving non-League clubs are:
27 November 2021
SATURDAY'S FIXTURES
Saturday 27th November, Vanarama National League.
TRAFFORD COUNCIL'S VIEW OF ALTY RESTRICTIONS
Trafford MBC has issued a statement regarding the attendancce restrictions imposed at Altrincham's J. Davidson Stadium (JDS).
BEFORE THE GAME: SOUTHEND UNITED
In advance of their first visit to the J. Davidson Stadium, Southend United report that they "head to Altrincham... hoping to get their first away win of the season since beating King’s Lynn on the opening day.
We've taken a look at the Altrincham squad Blues will be going up against this weekend and picked out three players to look out for.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Nottingham Post reports that "Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall has called the signing of winger Connor Parsons on loan from Wycombe Wanderers 'massive' ahead of a busy schedule of fixtures.
The Magpies have moved to bolster their ranks after Aaron Nemane suffered a hand injury, which will require an X-ray to find out if he has fractured it.
Barnet "confirm that David Sesay has left Barnet Football Club.
According to the Eastern Daily Press "King’s Lynn Town have added some much-needed firepower with the signing of former Colchester United striker Ken Charles.
There are departures at Woking who "confirm that Jordan Maguire-Drew and Kane Thompson-Sommers have left the Club.
26 November 2021
MORE ON SATURDAY'S CROWD LIMITATIONS
The ITV confirms that "The capacity at Altrincham FC's stadium has been reduced following 'significant concerns' over crowd safety.
ATTENDANCE LIMITED AGAIN ON SATURDAY
Altrincham FC "co-Chairman Bill Waterson writes, 'We have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ascertain exactly how many of you we can accommodate for the visit of Southend United on Saturday afternoon.
We are incredibly disappointed to have to report this and tell you all that no further tickets are available, especially given the amount of work that has gone in over the last two weeks.
BAGGLEY ENDS HIS STAY
Altrincham FC reports that "Midfield prospect Barry Baggley has returned to his parent club Fleetwood Town after completing a one-month loan at The J.Davidson Stadium.
NEXT MATCH: SOUTHEND UNITED
As they prepare to visit Altrincham on Saturday, the Southend Echo reports that "Southend United boss Kevin Maher insists he is not panicking over the Shrimpers’ league position.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Get Surrey reports that "Delighted Ian Dyer saw Woking striker Tahvon Campbell make it 13 goals in 16 National League games at Weymouth and announced, 'pound for pound, for me, he is the best player in the league at the moment'.
According to Lynn News "In what should have been a season to savour back in front of the fans [it] is turning out to be one to forget unless King’s Lynn Town can kick-start their National League campaign at home to Aldershot Town on Saturday...
The Derbyshire Times recalls that with Chesterfield "Floundering at the bottom of the fifth tier and staring down the barrel of another relegation battle, the owners made a bold move which was a risk but one which has turned out to be a masterstroke.
25 November 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: SOUTHEND UNITED
AFTER TUESDAY'S GAME
Alty manager Phil Parkinson was interviewed by Brian Flynn after the draw at Chesterfield. The interview can be heard on the Altrincham FC website.
Despite dropping two points here, Town remain top of the league. They are 10 unbeaten in all competitions, have gone 12 without defeat at home and have only lost one in 17 in the league and 19 in all competitions.
Only Solihull Moors in the current top seven won on the night so other results went their way as well.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Former Altrincham players in action last weekend included Joe Piggott (right) whose two goals for AFC Fylde kept The Coasters at the top of the National League North. Jordan Hulme was an unused sub for Fylde.
CHESHIRE NEWS
The BBC confirms that "Chester have parted company with co-managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley following their poor start to the National League North season.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
"Following FC Halifax Town’s narrow 2-1 defeat against Wrexham, Manager Pete Wild spoke...
From the Derbyshire Times we have confirmation that "Chesterfield’s injury crisis shows no sign of slowing down with Jeff King the latest name to be added to the growing list.
According to Kent Online,
Dover Athletic's "assistant manager Nicky Southall admitted defensive mistakes cost Dover once again after their 3-2 defeat against Wealdstone on Tuesday night.
Devon Live states that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson says he has got to 'try and get a tune out of the team' after two away-day defeats has left them sitting in 17th in the National League table and uncomfortably close to the relegation places.
We learn from the Leader Live that "Phil Parkinson was 'humbled' by Wrexham's huge away support for a midweek fixture against Halifax Town and says supporters played their part as his side registered a last gasp 2-1 victory.
24 November 2021
CHESTERFIELD 2-2 ALTRINCHAM
As at Dagenham earlier this season, when the London side were the league leaders, Altrincham once again staged a very late comeback with two goals in the final six minutes, plus added time. On this occasion they earned a point against the current league leaders, Chesterfield, after trailing 2-0.
HOW THE SPIREITES SAW IT
Chesterfield reported that "The Spireites were denied three points by two late goals as they drew 2-2 with Altrincham...
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
ALTY'S NEXT GUESTS: MIXED NEWS FOR SOUTHEND UNITED
An unexpected night off on Tuesday for Southend United, (due to Covid at their opponents Maidenhead United forcing a postponement), means that the Shrimpers will have the benefit of a longer rest than Altrincham when they visit the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday.
Boasting a wealth of experience, having managed over 2,000 games for clubs such as Maidstone United, Peterborough, Barnet, Dagenham & Redbridge and Luton Town, Still’s record in the National League is second to none having won the title a record three times.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Bromley "confirm that Sam Skeffington has joined Cray Wanderers on loan until 20th December 2021.
Woking and Stockport County came into their Saturday afternoon match separated in the table only by Woking’s superior goal difference. However, Stockport’s expensively assembled side contained a number of players with football league experience reflecting the difference in the financial power of the two clubs.
23 November 2021
CHESTERFIELD'S BOSS'S VIEW OF ALTY
Chesterfield may be top of the National League but the Derbyshire Times reports that their manager "James Rowe says it will take an ‘almighty effort’ for Chesterfield to overcome Altrincham on Tuesday night.
'They got a positive result on Saturday after their disappointment in the FA Cup so it shows they have got good character in their squad. It is going to be a tough evening, I have no doubts about that, but one we can overcome I am sure.'
ALTY BOSS'S VIEW OF SPIREITES
The Derbyshire Times reports that "Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson says his team will have to go ‘above and beyond’ if they are to get a positive result against Chesterfield...
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
In the Nottingham Post we learn that Notts County "tackle a Boreham Wood side who are hoping to challenge for promotion
According to the Eastern Daily Press, "Ian Culverhouse has plenty to think about. King’s Lynn Town head north again on Tuesday night when they face Stockport County.
Echo News tells us that "Maidenhead defender Jamie Sendles-White was 'a day or two' away from joining Southend United.
Grimsby's unofficial site, The Fishy confirms that "Grimsby have signed Bristol City striker Sam Bell on loan until the New Year. The 19 year-old has made seven appearances since signing as a professional at Ashton Gate. He has never scored a goal.
22 November, 2021
WEYMOUTH 1-4 ALTRINCHAM
After Altrincham had scored four goals for the second time this season in the National League, press and media officer Brian Flynn interviewed manager Phil Parkinson. In the interview he described it as "a top-drawer performance".
BIG WIN FOR RESERVES
On Saturday, Altrincham Reserves beat Wythenshawe Wanderers 7-3 in their Cheshire League clash.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Boreham Wood report that "After very good onsite meetings with both our safety officers and the local police, Boreham Wood FC are delighted to announce that we are in a position to increase our Stadium capacity for the Emirates FA Cup Hertfordshire derby, scheduled for Monday, 6th December, kick off 7.45pm, and a sell-out crowd is now guaranteed...
According to the Southend Echo, "So far have Southend United fallen in recent seasons that at times even a narrow defeat can be viewed as ‘not that bad’.
We learn from the Nottingham Post that "Notts County were beaten 2-0 at Eastleigh as they produced a leggy performance which ended their run of five games defeat in the National League.
The Daily Post tells us that "Wrexham AFC dropped more points on their own patch once again as another disappointing Racecourse display leaves them with plenty of work to do in the hunt for promotion.
Devon Live reports that "Gary Johnson says he knows the fans don't want to hear he is 'disappointed' after Torquay United were beaten 2-1 at Barnet on Saturday; what they want is for him to "Liven things up, Johnson".
21 November 2021
WEYMOUTH 1-4 ALTRINCHAM
WEYMOUTH VIEW
The Dorset Echo reports that "Ten-man Weymouth suffered another heavy loss in difficult circumstances as Altrincham claimed a 4-1 win at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
20 November 2021
WEEKEND NATIONAL LEAGUE GAMES
Saturday, 20 November 2021
TODAY'S OPPONENTS: WEYMOUTH
Altrincham face Weymouth today at 3pm in a Vanarama National League match as they seek to end a five-match run of games without a league win, against an even more out of form Terras.
Ahead of the game, Weymouth reported that it was "A tough game last weekend for Weymouth as they were defeated 4-0 by now league leaders Chesterfield. Unfortunately, Ollie Harfield was suspended in that game and will be unavailable to play on Saturday as he serves his ban.
ALTRINCHAM FC CLUB STATEMENT
Altrincham FC so-chairman Bill Waterson has issued a club statement "after what has been a very difficult week for Altrincham Football Club. The fact that the Popular Side and the Golf Road were both closed for Tuesday night’s game would have come as a shock to all of you, particularly for such a key game. And the fact that the communication of that situation was not up to our usual standard would have exacerbated your understandable frustration and anger.
WILL HALL MOVES UP A LEVEL
Altrincham FC reports that "Will Hall (left) has completed his loan spell at Ramsbottom United and joined Ashton United in another loan deal.
TONY THOMPSON SHORTLISTED
Altrincham FC press and media officer John Edwards reports that Tony Thompson "was nominated in the National League Player of the Season category for the prestigious 2021 Ladbrokes Northwest Football Awards.
FRIDAY GAME
Friday night's televised clash in the National League lifted Grimsby back towards the top of the National League, leaving them second only on goal difference to Chesterfied.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Daily Post reorts that "Wrexham AFC will be hoping to keep their recent run of good form going when they welcome mid-table Wealdstone to the Racecourse this weekend...
19 November, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: WEYMOUTH
Altrincham are away at Weymouth this weekend and from there the Dorset Echo confirms that "Weymouth have decided against appealing defender Ollie Harfield's controversial red card.
Harfield was deemed to have handballed a shot from Saidou Khan in the Terras' 4-0 loss at Chesterfield on Saturday... Having reviewed footage, Weymouth felt the contact with Harfield's upper arm and chest area was unavoidable as the ball was struck with such pace. However, after mulling over an appeal, Weymouth will settle for the one-game ban.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 20 November
When Altrincham visit Weymouth on Saturday they will not want reminding that their last fixture on that date was on 20 November 2010, when they lost 7-0 at Crwaley Town! That and details of all of Alty's previous games on that date are to be found in Howard Watts and the late Mike Garnett's Through the Years records.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
In the Grimsby Telegraph, "Paul Hurst reveals how Grimsby Town have avoided Southend United's relegation hangover. The Mariners have been riding high at the top of the National League whilst the Shrimpers are battling to avoid relegation.
The BBC confirms that "The National League is to receive an additional £5m of Covid impact funding from the Premier League to assist its member clubs.
In the Leader Live we learn that "Wrexham AFC has provided an update on where visiting fans will be situated from now on.
The 72 reports that "Stockport County striker Scott Quigley believes his move to Edgeley Park from Barrow was a step up. The attacker left League Two to drop back into the National League over the summer...
"Notts County will now refocus on the National League after getting knocked out of the FA Cup, claims the "https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/ian-burchnall-sends-notts-county-6226063">Nottingham Post.
ALTY'S ATTENDANCE RESTRICTIONS
With Altrincham recording four consecutive home gates in excess of 2,000 for the first time in decades that sequence looked set to be extended to five when Gateshead visited the J. Davidson Stadium on Tuesday for a vital FA Cup replay which would earn the winners a plum tie in front of the live TV cameras against EFL Division One club, Charlton Athletic.
Even with season ticket holders having to pay an additional fee for admission to cup matches, it was a reasonable expectation that another 2,000 gate was a realistic possibility. But it was not necessarily a lack of interest which deprived Alty of an extension of their good run but the requirement of Trafford MBC, on Health & Safety grounds, to implement a cut in ground capacity to just 1,390.
PARKINSON ON CUP DEFEAT
Following his side's third FA Cup exit in five years to lower league opposition, Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson spoke to press and media officer Brian Flynn after the 3-2 defeat on Tuesday night by Gateshead. The Alty TV interview is on the Altrincham FC website.
NEXT OPPONENTS: WEYMOUTH
Saturday's clash in Dorset brings together two out of form sides. Whilst Alty have won just once (in the FA Cup) in their last eight matches, The Terras have lost their last four league games and taken just two points out of the last 21 available. In league matches, Alty are currently five games without a win, a sequence which comprises two draws and three defeats by a single-goal margin.
FA CUP REPLAY
Wednesday, 17 November
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Grimsby Telegraph informs us that Grimsby Town's "rivals have been splashing the cash to try and force a route into the Football League.
The Nottingham Post reports that "Lincoln City and Rotherham United sent two key members of staff to watch Ruben Rodrigues last night as interest in the Notts County forward continues to intensify.
200% reports that "On 26th October, current Southend United chairman Ron Martin and former Southend United director and chief executive Geoffrey King appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court, charged with two counts of failure to pay Value Added Tax (VAT); £4.485m related to a land sale in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 2019 and £921,260 related to a transaction in Thundersley, Essex, just over six miles outside Southend, in 2016. Both transactions involved Martin’s property development group of companies, Martin Dawn PLC (MD), selling to North Wales-based housebuilders Redrow Homes PLC...
Next Tuesday, Altrincham travel to face Chesterfield who if they remain at the top of the National League by then, will be the third table-toppers to face Altrincham already this season, after Grimsby Town and Boreham Wood.
MIDWEEK NATIONAL LEAGUE GAMES
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
17 November 2021
ALTRINCHAM 2-3 GATESHEAD
Altrincham threw away the best part of £100,000 in prize money and guaranteed TV fees, not to mention gate receipts from a plum Round Two tie with Charlton Athletic with a poor performance against Gateshead.
FA CUP REPLAYS
FA Cup First Round replays...
NEXT MATCH: WEYMOUTH
Altrincham travel to face Weymouth next Saturday in the National League.
This week the Dorset Echo confirmed that "Weymouth defender Calvin Brooks has left the Terras after 312 games, the club has revealed.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Leader Live reports that "Wrexham AFC are asking supporters for their views on the planned redevelopment of the Kop at the Racecourse Ground.
According to the Eastern Daily Press, "King’s Lynn Town owner Stephen Cleeve has called for the FA to take action over a social media post of Wrexham fans singing about him.
The Derbyshire Times relays the view that "Kabongo Tshimanga is ‘happy’ at Chesterfield and his future is at the Spireites, says manager James Rowe.
In the Grimsby Telegraph, Grimsby Town manager "Paul Hurst has warned that some Grimsby Town players 'have had opportunities' and is expecting a response against Southend United... to four consecutive defeats...
16 November 2021
ANOTHER CUT IN CAPACITY AT JDS
Late on Tuesday afternoon Altrincham FC announced another cut in capacity for tonight's game, to 1,390 spectators. There are also changes to the access arangements if you follow the above link.
FURTHER CUT IN CAPACITY AT JDS
Altrincham welcome Gateshead to the J. Davidson Stadium (JDS) tonight for their Emirates FA Cup First Round replay, following the 2-2 draw ten days ago, secured by two late goals from the Robins. Each club is seeking to secure a profitable home tie against League One Charlton Athletic in the Second Round.
CO-CHAIRMAN THANKS FANS
Altrincham FC co-chairman Bill Waterson has thanked supporters for their excellent support this season and he has also addressed the ground capacity limitations imposed on the club by Trafford Council in an article on the Altrincham FC website.
ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS
Alty TV has highlights of last Saturday's draw between Altrincham and Boreham Wood.
NEXT LEAGUE OPPONENTS: WEYMOUTH
Altrincham face the long journey to Weymouth on Saturday and from the South Coast the Dorset Echo reports on The Terras' last match, at Chesterfield which the Derbyshire side won 4-0 but only after a controversial red card for a Weymouth player with the game goalless at that stage.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Torquay United's "injury problems just won't abate after both Chiori Johnson and Dan Holman limped from the pitch during the 2-1 win against Dover Athletic.
In the Grimsby Telegraph, "Aldershot Town boss Mark Molesley described his side's win over Grimsby Town as a 'special moment' after finally ending a run of seven games without a point at home.
According to the Lynn News, "Time is ticking for King's Lynn Town Football Club and defensive warrior Kyle Callan-McFadden says that the players have got to start taking responsibility for their errors on the pitch...
The Derbyshire Times explains why "Tyrone Williams will be a 'great addition' for Chesterfield after move from Solihull Moors.
In the Grimsby Telegraph, we learn that "The Mariners have struggled to find the net without their star striker who remains on the sidelines with a knee injury
15 November 2021
BEFORE THE REPLAY AGAINST GATESHEAD
In Sunday's NL Paper, Alty manager Phil Parkinson said of the tie at Gateshead last week, "We haven't had the depth of squad but the players we got back really helped us with the quality that they bring.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Howard Watts and the late Mike Garnett's Through the Years records remind us that on Tuesday, when Alty host Gateshead, it will be the eighth anniversary of the FA trophy game at Colwyn Bay where, after a referee injury, manager Frank Sinclair declined to complete the match, with his side 2-0 down, and the FA ordered it to be replayed.
THREE HOME DEBUTS, AND NEARLY FOUR
There were three home-match debutants on Saturday bringing to 31 the number of players named in a league match day squad by Altrincham this season.
ALTY YOUTHS WIN AT ST HELENS
On Sunday, in an away league match, Altrincham FC Youth beat St Helens Town 2-0. They now share the lead in the North West Youth Alliance Premier Division league table with Chester FC.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Ashley Hemmings scored for Kidderminster Harriers as they beat Elliot Durrell's AFC sTelford on Saturday. In the NPL, Sam Sheridan scored for Ashton United in the NPL.
ALTY'S BIRMINGHAM GIANT-KILLING REMEMBERED
The NLP has Tony Incenzo recalling major FA Cup giantkillings. Of the 1986 win by Altrincham at then top-flight Birmingham City, he says, "This match is often overlooked... possibly because it was played on a Monday night before a paltry crowd of 6,636 at St Andrew's. Or, maybe due to the fact that it was decided by a scruffy own goal by Rob Hopkins in the 75th minute.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Nottingham Post reports that "On a record-breaking afternoon, Notts County ensured there was no triumphant return to Meadow Lane for Neal Ardley after securing a 2-0 victory over Solihull Moors.
According to the Derbyshire Times, "Weymouth manager Brian Stock felt Ollie Harfield’s sending off against Chesterfield was ‘harsh’ and said they might appeal it.
From Woking we learn that "Dowse’s men were back to winning ways on the road as they brought three points back from the UK’s newest city [Southend], against a side lacking any threat or real fight...
From the other side, the Southend Echo tells us that "Southend United head coach Kevin Maher felt his side lacked quality on the ball during this afternoon’s 2-0 defeat to Woking... at Roots Hall.
And from Hampshire's Daily Echo we learn that "Eastleigh were unable to claim a result at Yeovil Town’s Huish Park despite their second-half equaliser, with a late winner seeing it finish 2-1.
14 November, 2021
ALTY HAVE "BOUNCED BACK"
Speaking to the NL Paper after the 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood, Altrincham assistant manager Neil Sorvel said, "It's been a difficult few weeks.
ALTRINCHAM 1-1 BOREHAM WOOD
AWAY VIEW
Boreham Wood provide a very fair report of their draw at Altrincham.
They say that the Wood "were left to make do with a point when a Josh Hancock piledriver cancelled out Jamal Fyfield’s second half opener for Boreham Wood...
NEXT: GATESHEAD
Altrincham's next match is on Tuesday night at the J. Davidson Stadium when they face Gateshead in their Emirates FA Cup First Round replay.
TOUGH SEASON FOR RESERVES
A 4-2 defeat away to Congleton Town Reserves in the Cheshire League on Saturday means that Altrincham Reserves have won just three of their fifteen league games this season.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town's worrying form continues as familiar failings prove costly against Aldershot Town. The Mariners were beaten 2-1 by the side that sat second-bottom in the National League before kick-off.
Bromley "made it 10 league games undefeated with a 1-1 draw away at Stockport County in front of the BT Sport cameras.
An early sending off cost King's Lynn dear as the Lynn News informs us that "King's Lynn Town opened the scoring in a league game for the first time this season but there was no Hollywood ending as Wrexham punished a sloppy home defence by scoring six times on their travels.
">Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Alan Massey was left to bemoan a familiar story at full-time on Saturday afternoon as his side produced another woeful defensive performance on their return to National League action.
13 November, 2021
ALTRINCHAM 1-1 BOREHAM WOOD
In front of 2,283 spectators, Altrincham were certainly well deserving of their point against a functional Boreham Wood. It was the home side that contributed the flair to the afternoon as they came back from behind to equalise in the 76th minute.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
National League.
MATCHDAY ARRANGEMENTS AT THE J DAVIDSON STADIUM
The Altrincham FC website carries co-chairman Bill Waterson's "update on revised capacities and procedures at The J. Davidson Stadium for the next two games... with Boreham Wood and Tuesday’s Emirates FA Cup replay against Gateshead at The J. Davidson Stadium.
TODAY'S MATCH: ALTY v BOREHAM WOOD
Sports Molepreviews today's game saying "The weekend's National League action includes an out-of-form Altrincham side hosting top-of-the-table Boreham Wood at Moss Lane on Saturday.
The hosts have dropped to midtable after an initial bright start to the campaign, whilst their visitors are unexpectedly flying high at the summit of the fifth tier in the early stages... Six wins from their opening nine league fixtures had supporters dreaming of a surprise promotion to the EFL just a few weeks ago, but a four-match winless run has seen them hopes fade a little recently.
A joint-best 11 goals conceded from the opening 14 fixtures has been the primary reason for their rise to the summit, and has allowed them to climb there despite ranking joint-10th in the division on goals scored at the other end of the pitch...
MATCH TICKETS
Altrincham FC is currently offering for sale tickets to the next three fixtures at the ground, against Boreham Wood (today), Gateshead in the FA Cup (next Tuesday) and for the visit of Southend United on 27 November.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
What Altrincham did earlier this season, reducing admission prices to £5, Notts County are doing this weekend as the Daily Mirror
reports that "Notts County are attempting to set a new attendance record for the National League this weekend. County... host Solihull Moors on Saturday at 3pm.
We learn from the Dorset Echo that "Former Dorchester winger Tom Blair has signed for Weymouth from Eastleigh... on an 18-month deal.
In the Grimsby Telegraph we learn that "Grimsby Town have three clear contract priorities... The Mariners have 18 players whose contracts expire in the summer of 2022...
Devon Live claims that "Torquay United return to National League action after a two-week break with a home game against bottom-of-the-table Dover Athletic tomorrow afternoon. It couldn't be an easier game, right?
According to the Derbyshire Times "Tieing down Gavin Gunning to a new contract is the ‘best bit of business’ James Rowe has done since being appointed Chesterfield manager, he says.
TV LURE FOR ALTY AND GATESHEAD
Before Altrincham face Gateshead in their FA Cup replay next Tuesday, Altrincham host Boreham Wood in the National League on Saturday and both those National League clubs had an interest in the choice of games to be televised from the FA Cup Round Two in December.
The FA live broadcast fee for this coverage is £60,000 per Club.
NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD
Although Altrincham lost their last home game against Boreham Wood, which took place on 20 February 2021, the Wood have yet to win at the J. Davidson Stadium! That is because the meeting in 2020-21 was at Broadhurst Park, the home of FC United of Manchester. The match was moved there to help to protect the then troubled Moss Lane pitch and the Wood won 3-2.
ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS
Altrincham FC has announced that the winners in its latest Monthly Draw, for October 2021, were as follows:-
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Lynn News tells us that "King's Lynn Town have sold striker Junior Morias to Dagenham and Redbridge for a five-figure fee.
Bromley "wishes to address speculation surrounding the future of its manager Andy Woodman.
We learn from the Maidenhead Advertiser that "There were reasons and explanations for Saturday's eye-opening 7-4 FA Cup defeat at FC Halifax Town, but Maidenhead United boss Alan Devonshire didn't really want to make excuses for such a poor defensive display.
After Wrexham's 5-0 away win on Tuesday at Aldershot Town, the Leader Live reports that "Nothing sets one up for a good week like a 5-0 away win, especially if it is earned in a replay of a game that had been proceeding very nicely until it was abandoned under frustrating circumstances...
The Grimsby Telegraph believes that "The Mariners will welcome four players back into their squad this weekend for their trip to Aldershot Town.
NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD
Altrincham welcome league leaders Boreham Wood to the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday, having already hosted previous league leaders Grimsby Town, losing by the odd goal in five.
Altrincham are without a win five games in all competitions whilst Boreham Wood arrive having lost just once in their last nine outings in league and cup.
IMPROVED FORTUNES FOR YOUTHS
It's been a series of mixed results recently for the Altrincham Youth (u-18) team. After their 4-0 home defeat in the NW Premier by AFC Fylde, on 31 October they beat Glossop North End 5-2 in a cup match.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Chesterfield report that "A planning application has been submitted by Chesterfield FC for the construction of a sports bar in the car park at the Technique Stadium.
The Leader Live tells us that Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson "wanted Wrexham to do their talking on the pitch in Tuesday's re-arranged game against Aldershot Town, and his players delivered.
Meanwhile, Aldershot Town tell us that "As we approach our Armistice Fixture against Grimsby Town this Saturday, we’ve been reflecting on Aldershot’s historical involvement in World War 1.
We learn from the Halifax Courier that "FC Halifax Town boss Pete Wild says their free weekend has come at a great time for them.
10 November, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD
The league leaders are in town on Saturday as Hertfordshire club Boreham Wood visit the J Davidson Stadium for a National League match.
As the fourth official indicated a minimum of two additional minutes, the hosts broke the deadlock against the run of play. Marsh sent a strike towards the back post where Boden was waiting to tap into an empty net for his sixth of the season. The bulk of the chances had very much fallen Eastleigh’s way, and although they looked threatening in attack they were unable to break down Wood’s resolute defence who went into the interval ahead.
CAPACITY CUT AT THE J DAVIDSON STADIUM
Altrincham FC "Co-Chairman Bill Waterson writes:
MIDWEEK FIXTURE
National League
POTENTIAL FA CUP OPPONENTS
Following Monday's draw for Round Two of the FA Cup, London News confirmed that "Charlton Athletic have drawn either Gateshead or Altrincham in the second round of the FA Cup.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Halifax Courier reports that "FC Halifax Town boss Pete Wild is expecting a good game when his side take on Kidderminster in the FA Cup second round... after Kidderminster knocked out Grimsby Town and Halifax overcame Maidenhead in the first round.
News of an ex-Alty player comes from the Derbyshire Times that "Jeff King will be available for Chesterfield’s next match against Weymouth on Saturday despite receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in his last appearance.
The BBC confirms that "Non-league Stockport County's FA Cup first-round replay against Bolton Wanderers will be shown live on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website.
9 November 2021
FA CUP: ALTY OR GATESHEAD DRAW THE ADDICKS
The draw for Round Two of the Emirates FA Cup was made on Monday evening. Altrincham or Gateshead will play at home to Charlton Athletic. Should Alty win next Tuesday's replay against Gateshead, it would set up their first home draw in the FA Cup after nine successive away ties.
PARKINSON PRAISES SUBS
After the late comeback at Gateshead on Saturday, Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson spoke to Brian Flynn and paid tribute to the substitutes deployed in the second half. The interview can be found on the Altrincham FC website.
FA CUP ROUND ONE
Monday 8 November
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
At Notts County, "Loanee defender Ciaran Brennan has been recalled by Sheffield Wednesday.
In the Leader Live, "Steve Parkin bemoaned the devastating spell that cost Wrexham at least a replay against Harrogate Town.
RITCHIE SUTTON LOAN EXTENDED
Altrincham FC confirm that
"Ritchie Sutton (right) has joined Alfreton Town on loan for a second time and will remain with the Vanarama National League North side for the rest of this season".
DRAW FOR RESERVES
On Saturday Altrincham FC Reserves drew 1-1 away to Greenalls Padgate St Oswald's in the Cheshire League.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Lynn News report that "King's Lynn Town Football Club say they are working hard with the police to identify the culprits involved in crowd disorder at The Walks.
Hampshire Live reports that "Portsmouth defender Haji Mnoga has angered fans at loan club Bromley after he was sent off on Saturday in the 3-0 FA Cup defeat at Rotherham United.
From the BBC we learn that "Stockport County held EFL neighbours Bolton Wanderers to an entertaining FA Cup first round draw.
In the Nottingham Post we read that "Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall praised a 'great performance' as the Magpies kept their dreams of an FA Cup run intact with a 1-1 draw at Rochdale.
From Yeovil Town we learn that manager "Darren Sarll was left delighted after his side secured a place in the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup, after an away victory against Yate Town at Lodge Road.
7 November, 2021
GATESHEAD 2-2 ALTRINCHAM
The BBC has video highlights of the game.
ANOTHER VIEW ON GATESHEAD v ALTRINCHAM
New Chain reports that "Altrincham came from two goals down to secure an FA Cup first-round replay...
FA CUP FIXTURES
The winners of First Round ties receive £22,629 in prize money.
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
Yusifu Ceesay scored for Alfreton Town as they won at Spennymoor. Ritchie Sutton has returned to Alfreton to resume his loan spell in Derbyshire.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Halifax Courier reports that "Town manager Pete Wild said his side went from the sublime to the ridiculous in their 7-4 FA Cup first round win over Maidenhead at The Shay.
According to the Derbyshire Times, "Chesterfield have signed former Dagenham and Redbridge defender Luke Croll on a short-term deal.
Southend United report that "After being forced to watch from the stands, Blues boss Kevin Maher said he was disappointed to see his Southend side knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup at the hands of Chesterfield.
6 November, 2021
GATESHEAD FOCUS ON ALTY
On the eve of the Gateshead v Altrincham clash in the FA Cup today, the NL Paper reports that "Gateshead player-manager Mike Williamson has called for full focus from his players as they prepare to face Altrincham in the FA Cup first round.
However, Saturday’s meeting with the Robins provides a sterner test for Williamson and his players as they face an Altrincham side that are currently sat [sic] on the fringes of the National League play-off places.
LOANEE JOINS FROM STOKE
Altrincham FC press and media officer, John Edwards, reports that "Phil Parkinson has significantly bolstered his midfield options after adding exciting Stoke City prospect Adam Porter to a depleted Altrincham squad for the next month...
FA CUP DRAW
Whichever team wins the Gateshead v Altrincham tie on Saturday will find out who will be their opponents in Round Two of the FA Cup later the same evening. The draw is scheduled for c.9.55pm on Monday evening on ITV4.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Wycombe Wanderers confirm that "Andre Burley has moved out on loan to National League side Maidenhead United for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
"'For us it is just about getting through, then you are only one game away from potentially getting a really big club in the draw.'
5 November 2021
NEXT MATCH: GATESHEAD
After two games with a very limited squad as Covid isolation protocols forced four players out of action in addition to the ten others already sidelined by injury, Altrincham hope to have an expanded array of players available for selection in the FA Cup at Gateshead on Saturday.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo tells us that "Suthend United striker Simeon Akinola may need an operation on his knee. The 29 year-old has missed the Shrimpers' last five matches.
According to the Daily Mirror "Wrexham's new Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney... completed their surprise takeover of the Dragons back in February but last week was the first time they have been able to visit Wales and see their new team in the flesh.
The Halifax Courierclaims that "The statistics speak for themselves: only five teams in the top five divisions of English football have conceded fewer goals this season than Halifax, no team in the National League has conceded fewer goals than them this season and they have kept nine clean sheets in 16 games, including eight in their last ten games.
4 November, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: GATESHEAD
Gateshead currntly lie ninth in the National League North having played just nine fixtures, whilst all but one of those above them have played two or more games.
CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP
The draw for the Cheshire Senior Cup Second Round has dealt Altrincham a home tie against manager Phil Parkinson's former club, Nantwich Town.
ALTY OLD BOY
FC Halifax Town report that former Alty loanee "midfielder Elliot Newby (right) has extended his loan spell from Stockport County until the end of the year
Now 25, Elliot enjoyed a successful loan period at Altrincham from Barrow, arriving on 29 December 2016 for what developed into a three-month stay.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Stockport County "confirm the appointment of former Hartlepool United Manager Dave Challinor to lead the Club, on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
In the Leader Live, "Phil Parkinson has urged players to make the most of their opportunity in the absence of Wrexham's two top scorers.
According to the Dorset Echo,
"Weymouth boss Brian Stock hinted at a reassessment of the Terras’ penalty takers following the 1-0 win over King’s Lynn.
The Southend Echo reports that Southend United "striker Rhys Murphy felt 4-1 victory against Dover Athletic was a step in the right direction for the Shrimpers.
NEXT OPPONENTS: GATESHEAD
On Saturday, Altrincham travel to the International Stadium to face Gateshead in the Emirates FA Cup, First Round.
UPS AND DOWNS
The BBC confirms that "The Football Association has clarified promotion and relegation for this season in the National League and National Leagues North and South.
Just one team will be relegated from both National Leagues North and South.
TUESDAY FIXTURES
National League.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Altrincham fans will remember that, back in 2011, Dave Challinor opted to leave a successful managerial spell with Colwyn Bay for ambitious but then lowly AFC Fylde. History has now repeated itself as Challinor has again opted to leave a successful club for one lower down the pyramid.
In the Leader Live "Harry Lennon admits Wrexham will leave themselves with too much ground to make up if they don’t stop dropping points from winning positions.
According to the Derbyshire Times, "Chesterfield have a defensive injury crisis ahead of this Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Southend United.
We learn from the Dorset Echo that "Weymouth midfield maestro Omar Mussa admitted to shedding tears of joy after scoring his first senior goal.
Kent Online informed us before tonight's heavy defeat that "Andy Hessenthaler is refusing to look beyond Dover's next game as their search for a sorely-needed first win of the season continues at Southend.
2 November, 2021
PHIL DISCUSSES RECENT GAMES
Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson was interviewed by Laurence Howarth after his side's defeat at Woking on Saturday and this can be heard on the official Altrincham FC website.
NEXT OPPONENTS: GATESHEAD
On Saturday, Altrincham travel to the International Stadium to face Gateshead in the Emirates FA Cup, First Round.
Their opponents, AFC Fylde report that "First-half goals from David Perkins and [ex-Alty man] Joe Piggott secured a comfortable victory for the Coasters...
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
According to the Hartlepool Mail, "Hartlepool United have responded to the growing speculation surrounding manager Dave Challinor and the vacant position at Stockport County.
We learn from the Derbyshire Times that "Chesterfield midfielder Joe Rowley is set to be out for eight weeks with an ankle injury.
In the Southend Echo, before Tuesday's fixture, "Southend United boss Kevin Maher insisted Tuesday’s match with Dover Athletic matters far more than his own Roots Hall homecoming.
The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Maidenhead United fans are being encouraged to help the side make history this Saturday, when they take on FC Halifax Town in the first round of the FA Cup.
1 November, 2021
AFTER THE GAME AT WOKING
Following the defeat at Woking, Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson told the NL Paper, "In adversity you see a lot of positives in people's characters and we have seen that with this team this week".
FA CUP CENTURY FOR ALTY
Next Saturday, Altrincham play their second game in their one hundredth FA Cup campaign. They have reached the First Round stage, next Saturday, after a 3-2 win at Southport in the Fourth Qualifying Round.
ALTY FACE TABLE-TOPPERS... AGAIN!
In their next National League game, a week on Saturday, and for the second time this season, Altrincham face the National League leaders. Having lost to Grimsby Town on 5th October when they headed the division, current leaders Boreham Wood now top the division and they are Altrincham's next guests.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Devon Live reports that "The Torquay United Supporters' Trust has condemned the disgraceful and unprovoked scenes after Gulls fans were pelted with coins and glass bottles during the 1-1 draw with Wrexham on Saturday.
Meanwhile Wrexham "regret to say we are aware of reports of unacceptable incidents and behaviour at our match against Torquay United, directed towards opposition supporters, by a very small minority of attendees at the game...
In the Daily Echo, "Tyrone Barnett’s first-half goal helped Eastleigh return to winning ways... as they beat Maidenhead 1-0 at Silverlake Stadium.
According to the Eastern Daily Press,
"Owner Stephen Cleeve has promised to do what he can to ‘fix things’ after King’s Lynn Town suffered their fourth consecutive National League defeat.