The Alty striker made such a favourable impression during a recent loan spell at the Tameside Stadium... that Curzon Ashton came back in with an approach to sign him on a permanent basis.

After a fee was agreed, the 26 year old completed his move to the Nash".

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson said, "Firstly, Tom has been a fantastic servant to me, Neil Sorvel and the club. He demonstrated great loyalty on a number of occasions by staying with us while knowing his role wouldn’t always be as the starting number nine.

“He always gave 100 per cent in any position he was asked to play, and he was also brilliant around the changing room. He’s now at an age and stage in his career where he needs to be selfish, and we need to support his decision. It’s time for Tom to take control of his own future, to go and be the main man and show everyone what he’s capable of.

“He’s definitely been a victim of our success. We’ve gone up the levels so quickly that it has been difficult for him to establish himself as that starting nine. So, it means taking a step back in level to be playing every week, but it could also mean taking a big step up, if he can hit the heights he is capable of. I wish him every success in football and hope he does reach those levels.”

Footnote: Tom made his debut as a Curzon player in Tuesday night's goalless draw with Southport.

Tom leaves Altrincham just shy of his 150th appearance for the club. Discounting his substitute appearance in the void match against Dover last season, Tom made 70 starts and 78 appearances from the bench and netted 32 goals.

He made his Alty debut on 12 August 2017 at home versus Stafford Rangers but left the club in November 2018, only to return in May 2019.

Born in Warrington, Tom came through the Chester FC youth system (2013-16) where he made 3(+21) first-team appearances under manager Neil Young. He then went on loan to 1874 Northwich FC and, in January 2015, Tom started a month's loan at Marine.

In December 2015 he went on a month's loan to Salford City, with a similar loan stay at Hednesford Town following that. In 2016 he briefly joined Hednesford before a summer 2016 move to AFC Telford United. However, he soon moved on to Warrington Town (Sept. 2016) and then Droylsden (Dec. 2016 to Feb. 2017). At that point he joined Nantwich Town and followed manager Phil Parkinson to Altrincham in summer 2017.

On 1 November 2018 it was announced that he had opted to move to FC United in the hope of more consistent game time. Ironically he left Moss Lane whilst top of the chart for goals scored per minutes played in 2018/19 season!

Tom ended the season at FCUM but rejoined Altrincham in late May 2019. In 2021-22 he had started or taken part in seventeen of the 24 matches played in league and cup before going a loan to Curzon Ashton was announced on 23 December 2021. He returned to Alty and started at Solihull on 29 January 2022.

FOLLOW THE CROWDS TO THE JDS!

Altrincham FC reports that "With nine home games of the 2021/22 Vanarama National League season remaining for Altrincham, we currently sit in 11th place in the attendance table with a highly-impressive average of 2,246.

Above: When Grimsby Town visited on a Tuesday night in October, 2,882 was the attendance at the JDS with 1,251 recorded in the away section.

The club have not averaged more than 2,000 over the course of a season for over four decades, with the current figure the highest on record since the 1970s...

While the away following for the likes of Wrexham, Stockport County and so many others has undoubtedly helped bolster figures at The J.Davidson, it is equally irrefutable that our home support is growing...

The clash against Weymouth [next Saturday] is our final Footy for a Fiver promotion for this season, and we are looking to pack out The J.Davidson once again... The benefit for Season Ticket Holders is to bring a buddy for free. All you have to do is email Bill Waterson, and you’ll be sent a free ticket to encourage a member of your family or friend to come along...

With some stunning attendances under our belt already this season, such as the 3,900 against Stockport, 3,683 against Solihull Moors and 3,145 against Wrexham, we would love nothing more than to maintain this momentum in gate numbers".

Surprisingly, despite riding high in the National League table, bottom of the League's average home gates are Alty's hosts tonight, Boreham Wood whose average is just 891 spectators.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The news was announced just before 2.30pm, despite the pitch having passed an earlier pitch inspection, with Parmenter describing the decision as 'an absolute disgrace.'

The fixture had initially been due to be played on Saturday, January 8, but was called off hours before kick-off following heavy rain, with County expressing their frustration after the late postponement.

'It’s unbelievable,' Parmenter [said]... 'It’s inconceivable to me how somebody sitting in an office in London can call a game off where the pitch has just been inspected by a referee at 12.30pm and has been passed as easily playable. Then at 2.15pm, the game is called off by somebody, sitting in an office in London in conjunction, apparently, with Mark Ives, the general manager of the National League.

'One minute, they (the National League) are charging us for not completing fixtures. The next minute, they are calling off fixtures unnecessarily and preventing us from completing fixtures. This can only be due to undue pressure from Notts County on the authorities because we had the pitch inspected by a referee; it was perfectly playable.

'They said it’s because of the weather forecast. I have got the weather forecast here and, from 3pm onwards, it’s sunny intervals and light showers. So you tell me how somebody sitting in an office 500 miles [sic] north of here can say whether a game can be on or off.

'It’s an absolute disgrace and we will be making a formal complaint about this!'...

He added 'The manager has just been out on the pitch and he can’t believe the game has been called off'".

Notts County responded saying, "It is hugely disappointing and frustrating to once again be addressing issues regarding a postponed trip to Dover, not least due to the inconvenience and cost to supporters, many of whom had set off on the understanding that the Crabble Athletic Ground pitch was ‘perfectly playable’.

On Monday, Dover’s club secretary contacted our chief executive Jason Turner to advise that their view was that the pitch was in satisfactory condition but, due to the events leading to the late postponement of the initial fixture on 8 January, they had arranged for a referee from the Kent FA to conduct a provisional pitch inspection at 11am today (Tuesday). We were told that the match referee was unavailable at this time, but that his FA colleague would liaise with him immediately thereafter. We therefore communicated to our supporters that, while Dover had expressed no immediate concerns, plans were in place to reassess the situation if necessary and that updates would follow in due course.

It therefore came as a surprise to Turner when, at 11.10am today, 10 minutes after the provisional inspection had been scheduled to start, he received a call from the match referee to say the aforementioned official was no longer available and that Dover believed their surface to be playable having carried out groundworks on Friday. They had advised him the earliest they could schedule another provisional inspection would be for 12.20pm and, based on this information, the match referee informed us that he was instead going to endeavour to inspect the pitch himself at 4pm.

Turner informed him that he wasn’t comfortable with our supporters departing Nottingham without a qualified external individual providing their assessment of the pitch, insisting that due to past experience, the weather forecast, the distance and significant cost to fans, it was imperative that the pitch was assessed in the early afternoon. The National League were in agreement and made arrangements for an official of the required level to conduct a pitch inspection shortly after 12.30pm.

Having received no communication from Dover regarding the outcome of said inspection, Turner called their club secretary at 1pm and was categorically assured that the pitch had been deemed perfectly playable and that the appointed official had no concerns about the match going ahead. Turner informed Dover that this information would be communicated immediately via our digital channels to help supporters make what we believed would have been an informed decision as to whether to travel, with the assurance that we would maintain dialogue with all parties in the event of a change in circumstances.

The next communication received by Turner came from the match referee at 2.10pm, informing him that based on the pitch inspection report and weather forecast, he had decided to postpone the match. It is clear, therefore, that Dover’s communication to us following the inspection was either misjudged or misleading.

Following the announcement of the postponement, Dover published an interview with their chairman Jim Parmenter in which he inferred that the postponement can only have come as a result of ‘undue pressure from Notts County’. While we firmly stand by our decision to ask questions of Dover regarding the condition of their pitch and of the National League to arrange an earlier inspection, this was simply to ensure that our supporters were provided with the best possible information before deciding whether or not to travel.

We vehemently reject Parmenter’s inference that we were seeking for the match to be postponed. Not only have we once again incurred considerable team travel and hotel costs, but this week’s training schedule has now been severely affected. We have already experienced severe disruption to our season for various reasons and were desperate to play this evening’s match and continue the momentum we have built in our back-to-back wins over Barnet and Halifax.

We will continue our dialogue with the National League as part of our efforts to promote the importance of clear, open and accurate communication between clubs for the benefit of supporters".

SAD END TO CHRIS'S LOAN

A typically-positive surging run by the Northern Ireland under-21 prospect was halted by a clumsy foul that left him in need of lengthy treatment in only the 12th minute of Alty's 1-0 Vanarama National League win.

The exciting young Fleetwood Town midfielder... was eventually carried off on a stretcher amid fears he may have suffered a broken leg or fractured ankle. Thankfully, those fears were allayed by a scan that ruled out a break but showed that damage had been sustained to the 20-year old's ankle.

He is being treated by Fleetwood's medical team, and, with the expectation being that he faces several weeks on the sidelines, his loan spell with Alty has ended".

Earlier, his parent club Fleetwood Town had reported that Chris Conn-Clarke "has recently joined National League North side Altrincham and has featured in two games so far. The first was a 2-2 draw against Woking, with the forward looking settled straight away creating chances throughout the game. To start the game, he was brought down in the box to win a penalty which was subsequently missed. After 83 minutes, he was subbed off, but it was an impactful debut for the side.

He then started the next game against King's Lynn Town at The Walks and was instantly on his game, running forwards and forcing the opposition’s backline to defend. Unfortunately, 15 minutes into the game, he was brought down for a free-kick on the edge of the Linnets' box and had to be subbed off after some treatment".

NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD

The most parsimonious defence in the National League, which has been breached just 15 times in 23 league games was beaten three times by Wrexham on Saturday as the Wood exited the FA Trophy. Those 23 games are the fewest played by any club in the National League so they face a spell of "catch-up" in the final half of the campaign.

Nevertheless Boreham Wood lie fifth in the National League having lost just twice all season in that competition. They are only six points behind leaders Stockport County and have four games in hand on the Cheshire club.

The sides drew the reverse fixture in November, 1-1, with Josh Hancock levelling the game after Alty had fallen behind just before the hour-mark.

FA TROPHY DRAW

• Bromley v Solihull Moors
• Needham Market v Stockport County
• Notts County v Wrexham
• Dagenham & Redbridge v York City

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Pompey defender Mnoga is currently on loan [at Weymouth]...

There’s been no further updates on striker Tshimanga’s condition.

However, Terras boss David Oldfield revealed his young Fratton Park defender is ‘distressed’ and ‘distraught’ following the incident... He also stressed the 19-year-old did not set out to hurt the Chesterfield front man".

The Southend Echo reports that "Callum Powell is keen to kick on at Southend United after scoring what he believes will be ‘the hardest goal’ of his Shrimpers career.

Powell fired home his first Blues goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Woking...

'I think the first goal is the hardest one,' said Powell.

'Most of the time, after that, they start to flow... I know I will kick on now and score a lot more goals'...

'Since I’ve signed it’s been four wins in a row so I’ve come into a team full of confidence that’s on the way up,' said Powell. 'Everyone is buying into what the gaffer and the coaching staff are doing and it’s been great...

'Growing up I’ve always been a winger but this year I’ve been playing as a striker,' said Powell...

Powell... has also been able to settle in well off the pitch too... 'A few of us are living in the same hotel too. I’m with Cards (Harry Cardwell), Harrison (Neal) and Kacper (Lopata). We’re the troublesome foursome but it’s a really good laugh...

'Being back in full-time football is exactly what I wanted and it’s even better than I anticipated in terms of the quality of training and the quality of the other players too... I played step four then got a move straight to step one of non-league football.

'I went back down to step three and I’ve gradually had to work my way back up to get back into step one... If I keep working hard and showcasing what I’m capable of there’s nothing to hold me back anymore.'”

ALTY LEAD TOP-FLIGHT NON-LEAGUE CLUBS

Altrincham are currently playing their 29th season in the top-flight (national level) of non-League football. They were inaugural members of the first national division in non-League, the Alliance Premier League in 1979, and stayed at that level for 18 seasons before their first relegation in 1997. They also hold the dubious honour of having twice won the league at that level yet were denied promotion to the Football League by the iniquitous re-election procedures in force at the time.

Since then, they have had a further four spells in the top-flight, comprising a further eleven campaigns, including the current 2021-22 season. These campaigns comprised 1999-2000 (1 season), 2005-11 (6 seasons), 2014-16 (2 seasons) and 2020 to date (2 seasons).

The above chart excludes the void matches against Chester (2009/10) and Dover Athletic (last season).

According to @eddymistra on Twitter, the 1220 games played (excluding those void games and play offs) bring Alty level with the club's old foes Northwich Victoria as the club which has played the most top-flight games in non-League. So there is a Cheshire stranglehold on the honour of being non-League's longest serving clubs at national level.

The next highest match totals at top-flight level are, apparently, Kettering Town and Woking.

ALTY'S ALTERED STYLE

"They altered their style of play to what they normally do and came here and did a job on us today".

NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD

Boreham Wood report that "It’s mid-February and Boreham Wood have finally been knocked out of a cup competition, having succumb to a 3-0 defeat at the Racecourse by Wrexham. After the heroics of Bournemouth last Sunday [in the FA Cup], the visit to North Wales was a match too far for Luke Garrard’s men as first half goals from Ollie Palmer and Jordan Davies, and a late second half goal from Aaron Hayden ensured that the Welsh side take their place in the 6th Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Luke Garrard made two changes from last Sunday’s FA Cup win with Jamie Reckord replacing the cup-tied Conor Stevens at left side centre half and frontman Danilo Orsi starting instead of midfielder Josh Rees who dropped to the bench, with Tyrone Marsh falling back into the advanced midfield role.

Boreham Wood had the better of a scrapy opening in windy conditions but were unable to make their dominance count... The home side took the lead. A deep Callum McFadzean cross was headed in from former Wood loanee Ollie Palmer... Danilo Orsi had the ball in the net for Wood but it was ruled out for offside.

On twenty-seven minutes came the goal that settled the match as a contest. A fantastic curling strike by Jordan Davies gave Taye Ashby-Hammond no chance in the Wood goal. Wrexham started to turn the screw...

The second half started in the same vein as the first ended with the home side dominant... A spate of substitutions couldn’t galvanise Luke Garrard’s men and on ninety minutes the hosts wrapped up the scoring when a Reece Hall-Johnson cross was headed in by Aaron Hayes.

Boreham Wood were second best as the hosts looked sharper and more clinical... [Next], first up is Altrincham at LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park on Tuesday night where Luke Garrard will want to get back to winning ways".

Boreham Wood: Ashby-Hammond, K. Smith, Evans, Stephens, Reckord, Mendy Mendy, Ricketts (Rees 65’), Raymond, Marsh, Boden (Lewis 77’), Orsi (Clifton 71’). Subs not used: Roach, C. Smith, Ranger.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Centre-back James Jones returned to Barrow's starting eleven as the Bluebirds were held to a goalless draw at Holker Street by Stevenage,

Marcus Dinanga was cup-tied as his Dartford team suprisingly lost to Needham Market in the FA Trophy.

Thanks go to Phil Jordan for the above informaion.

RESERVES HIT FIVE

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Chesterfield are anxiously awaiting news on star man Kabongo Tshimanga after he was taken to hospital with a nasty-looking injury in the Spireites’ gut-wrenching late draw against Weymouth in Paul Cook’s first match.

Alex Whittle gave the Blues the lead in Dorset with 20 minutes remaining but substitute Ahkeem Rose scored eight minutes into stoppage time to grab a point. However, the result almost felt irrelavant at full-time as all thoughts turned to Tshimanga...

With Chesterfield leading one-nil with ten minutes remaining, Weymouth’s Haji Mnoga put in a strong challenge on the striker from behind near the halfway line. He won the ball but it did look like he went through the back of Tshimanga. It was very similar to Jeff King’s tackle against Stockport County in the previous match and that resulted in a straight red. This time, referee Greg Rollason did not even give a foul, let alone a yellow.

It was distressing to watch and that was from my position high up in the press box so there is no doubt it would have affected Chesterfield’s players on the pitch. He needed oxygen, was stretchered off and taken to hospital. As a result of the delay, there were 12 minutes of added-on time and Weymouth scored with four of those remaining to compound a bad day at the office.

We await further news on Kabs but it did not look good and it is heartbreaking for a player who is in the form of his life. If Chesterfield have lost the top marksman in the league for the rest of the season and possibly longer then Paul Cook may have to dip into the transfer market sooner than he anticipated.

Before the injury to Tshimanga Chesterfield had put in a far from inspiring performance considering they were trying to impress the new manager.... They gave away possession far too easily and were lucky that Weymouth did not have the firepower to pounce on some sloppy mistakes...

The second-half was not much better but they did find the breakthrough when Whittle burst into the box and drilled low past Fitzsimons...

Credit to the hosts because they played well and did not look like a team who were third from bottom and ten points from safety before kick-off. They let Chesterfield have the ball at the back and as soon as the first pass went into midfield they swarmed like bees and won it back.

Given what had just happened to Tshimanga, the late equaliser was gut-wrenching but overall I think the Terras deserved it... It was a missed opportunity to go two points clear at the top of the league and it felt like a defeat at the end.

This was Paul Cook’s first game in charge since being appointed but his influence on team selection and tactics was minimal. Having only been in the building two days, he did not want to make any big changes and it was Danny Webb who was leading on the touchline. Cook now has a full week on the training pitch to put across his ideas ahead of the first of five successive home games starting with Solihull Moors on Saturday".

KING'S LYNN TOWN 0-1 ALTRINCHAM

Altrincham started well but lost the promising Chris Conn-Clarke to a leg injury after being fouled (12 mins). The bright forward player had to be stretchered off after treatment (15 mins).

The first half got worse when, after winning seven corners, Altrincham won a penalty, only for Mooney to see his kick saved. It was the team's third penalty miss out of four this season and the second in successive games.

However, into added time before the break, Ryan Colclough scored a fine goal at the end of a good move to make it 0-1 to the visitors. The lead was retained to the end of the five added minutes of the first half.

King's Lynn were much improved in the second half, especially after the introduction of striker Gold Omatayo but Altrincham held out and were dangerous on occasional counter-attacks.

Match report here.

ALEC MAKES IT 41

He became the 41st player named this season in a National League match squad by Altrincham.

A centre-back, Alec Mudimu (26) has joined on a short-term contract after training with the club recently. He has 24 caps for Zimbabwe.

As a child Alec's family moved to Hertfordshire but his youth football started at Sheffield Wednesday before he moved to Stalybridge Celtic in 2011.

In fact, he played against Alty for Stalybridge at Moss Lane in 2014.

In early 2015 he joined Radcliffe Borough on loan, after which he had spells at Northwich Victoria and Stockport Town and,in Wales, with Cefn Druids (2017-)

Trials followed at both Fleetwood Town and Rochdale before he opted to move abroad, to Moldova, where he joined Sheriff Tiraspol (2020). A year later, in January 2021, he moved to play for Ankaraspor in Turkey

In the interim, he was capped for the first time by Zimbabwe, in 2018.

LYNN'S VERDICT

The Robins moved 15 points clear of Tommy Widdrington's side in the league standings thanks to a Ryan Colclough goal on the stroke of half-time.

Lynn looked a shadow of the side that had picked up four points from their previous two outings...

There were recalls to the team for both Joshua Barrett and Brett McGavin with Tyler Denton and Cameron Hargreaves dropping to the bench.

The Manchester-based outfit... dominated the first half...

Altrincham were forced into an early change in the 16th minute after Christopher Conn-Clarke was stretchered off after the slightest of touches from Harry Phipps saw him go down just outside the box.

Lynn by their recent standards were flat in the first half...

Altrincham were handed a lifeline 13 minutes before the break after Josh Coulson clearly handled the ball in the box and referee Scott Simpson pointed to the spot.

But Daniel Mooney (left) saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Jones low down to his left to keep the score goalless...

Altrincham's extra enterprise was rewarded in first half stoppage time as the home side allowed Ryan Colclough the freedom of the pitch before firing past Jones in the Lynn goal.

Lynn were much better after the break but in truth their performance couldn't have been any worse after an abject first half display...

Their first effort on target came 13 minutes from time as Barrett forced Anthony Thompson into his first save of the match."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Kairo Mitchell's late winner sent The Shaymen out after Billy Waters had cancelled out Ruben Rodrigues' early opener.

'A game of little chances. We started sloppily, put ourselves on the back foot with how we started,' Wild said. 'We always seem to start like that after a week off. But after that initial 20-odd minutes I thought we played some really good stuff, created some really good chances, we scored a really good goal and got hit with a sucker-punch on the break as they brought fresh legs on at the end...

'So I'm really pleased with how we grew into the game and how we played today, we played some really good stuff, I'm just disappointed with the result'...

Town defender Jay Benn was sent-off in added time for a second yellow card and will now miss next Saturday's National League game against Dover.

'I thought it was ridiculous... on the referee's part, not Jay's,' Wild said...

'I wanted to do well in this competition, I really did... I'd rather we had a game this week to get back up to speed than going into the Dover game having not played for two weeks'".

The Dorset Echo confirms that "Weymouth have signed promising duo Harvey Bunker and Dan Smith on loan.

Midfielder Harvey Bunker joins on a month-long loan from... Forest Green Rovers.

Smith, 22, has also been signed on loan from National League rivals Eastleigh, having been on loan at Hereford earlier this season...

Commenting on Bunker, Oldfield told Echosport, 'He’s a young player that I’m hoping can affect our group'".

From Chesterfield we learn that "The 1-1 draw at Weymouth was an eventful game in so many ways. The return of Paul Cook had brought renewed optimism to the club and it was hoped that a win would have taken the Spireites back to the top of the table.

Instead, a lacklustre first half showing saw the teams level at the start of the second period and Chesterfield stepped up a gear and took the lead thanks to a great strike from Alex Whittle.

The Spireites looked to be seeing out the game comfortably when Haji Mnoga made the rest of the proceedings seem irrelevant. His tackle on Kabongo Tshimanga saw the striker stretchered off after receiving oxygen for the pain.

Things went from bad to worse when Ahkeem Rose levelled, from 15 yards, in added time after Fraser Kerr had lost possession and there just wasn’t enough time left to find a winner.

The fixture at the Bob Lucas Stadium was just another long away game a few days ago but after an incredible Tuesday night at Edgeley Park, the mood was set...

Two days later when the news was announced that Paul Cook was to return as manager... the positive mood grew...

The 500 plus travelling Spireites were in great voice as they greeted the team onto the pitch...

All level at the interval but the Spireites hadn’t bossed the half and were lucky that the Terras lacked confidence in front of goal to capitalise on their possession...

The breakthrough finally arrived from one of the least likely sources. Whittle made a run on the left and burst into the box, received and, without hesitation, fired a tight angled shot into the bottom corner off the post...

Tshimanga was on the receiving end of an awful tackle from Haji Mnoga and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Joe Quigley took his place.

The injury resulted in 12 added minutes which would inevitably be nervy... Substitute Ahkeem Rose... hit home after Kerr lost possession".

Wrexham "progressed tto the quarter final of the FA Trophy for the fourth time with a confident win over in-form Boreham Wood before a club record home crowd for the competition...

Phil Parkinson made three changes from the side which lost 1-0 at Torquay last Saturday. Callum McFadzean came in for his debut, with Jordan Davies returning from his COVID lay-off and Dan Jarvis making his first start since he was injured against Bromley.

The opening stage were scrappy... [befgore] Wrexham were ahead... Ollie Palmer’s cushioned header drifted over the keeper and inside the far post...

The visitors would be frustrated again as Wrexham doubled their lead. Daviesran onto the ball and smashed it sensationally into the top left corner...

Boreham Wood continued to pursue a goal energetically... The final goal came as the match enter added time. A corner was cleared to Reese Hall-Johnson, whose exquisite cross was glanced home by the head of Aaron Hayden.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Barnet 1-3 Wealdstone
• Dover Athletic 1-3 Torquay United
• Eastleigh 0-0 Yeovil Town
• Grimsby Town 3-1 Aldershot Town
• King's Lynn Town 0-1 Altrincham
• Weymouth 1-1 Chesterfield
• Woking v Southend United (k.o. 5.20pm)

FA TROPHY FIXTURES

Saturday, 12 February

• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 Spennymoor Town
• FC Halifax Town 1-2 Notts County
• Needham Market 1-0 Dartford
• Stockport County 1-0 Cheshunt
• Stourbridge 0-1 Solihull Moors
• Tonbridge Angels 1-1 Bromley (Bromley won on pens)
• Wrexham 3-0 BorehamWood
• York City 3-2 Morpeth Town

TODAY'S OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN TOWN

Widdrington’s ban comes into effect on Saturday, so it affects the home game against Altrincham, as well as home games against Woking on Tuesday and Bromley in a week's time, plus the trip to Barnet on Tuesday, February 22. He was also fined by the FA.

The punishment follows his protests against a penalty awarded against his team at Southend on Friday, January 21. The match was poised at 1-1 in the final seconds when Ross Barrows was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area. Widdrington protested and was red-carded; Southend scored from the spot and won the game 2-1.

The FA posted that the Lynn boss had been charged with 'Two breaches of FA Rule E3.1: 1. It is alleged that, in or around the 91st minute of the fixture, the Participant’s language towards a Match Official was abusive, and/or insulting, and/or improper.

'2. It is alleged that, in or around the 91st minute of the fixture, the Participant’s towards a Match Official was improper and/or violent.'

The club also faced a charge of failing to control its players, but that hearing was delayed until Monday because of the length of time it took to hear Widdrington’s case.

And the Lynn News adds that "A 36 year-old man is to stand trial on a charge of throwing a plastic cup of beer at fans during a King’s Lynn Town match at The Walks.

Patrick Kennedy is accused of the offence during the Linnets’ first league game of the season, against Southend United... Kennedy said he admits throwing the beer but the cup did not leave his hand and will contest whether liquid can be classed as a 'missile'...

If convicted, Kennedy could also face the imposition of a Football Banning Order lasting for at least three years".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

With Dover a different but no less dangerous proposition however... Lewis said: 'They are not a bad side, especially going away from home. They haven't been conceding too many goals so we know that they can be hard to break down - and we have been working on that this week'...

Johnson is unlikely to play the surprise 5-5-0 formation that he did against Wrexham, especially with striker Danny Wright hoping to be fit enough to make a return to the team. But the manager won't really want to change the personnel too much after such a great performance.

Loan player Stephen Wearne had a great game alongside Connor Lemonheigh-Evans with those two playing furthest forward, but with a question mark over the fitness of Armani Little... there may be a forced need for change.

While rumours of the imminent return to Torquay of former Queens Park Rangers loan striker Sinclair Armstrong persist in the internet forums, there certainly has been nothing official on that front from the club....

Diver... in Andy Hessenthaler they have an experienced manager who knows the game inside out. It would be a miracle if they survived relegation this season; but that doesn't mean they are going to be easy pickings.

Johnson said 'We think we are flexible enough, depending on who we play, as to what shape we play, what personnel we play... I have been here long enough now and the lads have been here long enough now that most of them know the subtle changes that we can make if we need to'".

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "Paul Hurst has admitted there is added pressure on Grimsby Town to beat Aldershot Town after their frustrating draw with King's Lynn Town... as they welcome another bottom-half club to Blundell Park.

Tuesday's frustrating stalemate was the first time Grimsby have dropped points at home against a side outside the top-seven.

However, with the Mariners' play-off rivals in FA Trophy action, Hurst is keen to seize the opportunity to narrow the gap to the play-off places...

'We want to win our home games. Whether we're playing top, bottom or something in between... If we win, we'd have seven points from the last three, we already have that anyway. We are trying to build an unbeaten run, can we get that extended?

"At the same time, because of the league position and the Trophy action takes places, we have got an opportunity. We want to take advantage of that and after drawing in the way we did, it adds up to make sure we go out and get three points.'

Aldershot have moved into mid-table safety since beating Grimsby Town in November. Saturday's visitors have a much more impressive record away from home than in front of their own supporters, boasting the sixth-best away form in the National League".

The Southend Echo reports that "Goalkeeper Harry Seaden and midfielder O'Shane Stewart have had their contracts terminated at Southend United.

Seaden made six senior appearances for the Shrimpers but Stewart failed to work his way into the first team.

Heading out on loan are right-back Rob Howard and striker Matt Rush.

Rush will spend the rest of the season with Chelmsford City while Howard will see out the campaign with Farnborough who already have Terrell Egbri on loan from the Shrimpers".

DEREK TOMKINSON R.I.P.

Derek Tomkinson

• Born: Stoke-on-Trent, 6th April 1931
• Died: 28th July 2021

Locally born, Derek Tomkinson, joined Port Vale as an amateur inside forward in 1949 but never made a senior appearance for them, moving firstly to Leyton Orient, also as an amateur, before moving to Burton Albion in 1951.

He returned to Port Vale in December 1952 when he signed as a professional and went on to make twenty-nine league appearances scoring five goals and he featured in their 1953-54 title-winning campaign. On leaving the Valiants he joined Crewe Alexandra early in the 1955-56 season, where he scored a solitary goal in nineteen games.

He then signed for Macclesfield in the summer of 1958, playing in either half-back position but usually right-half in his first two seasons. However, for most of the 1960-61 season, he played at right-back. Having established himself in the side during his first season, he went on to be almost ever-present in the following two seasons, being part of the side, which won the Cheshire Senior Cup in April 1960.

On leaving Macclesfield he moved to rivals, Altrincham, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw with Chester Reserves. Once again, he played primarily at right-back but played one game at left back and three at right half Making a total of 39 appearances during the 1961-62 season, despite missing three months of the season. He retired to France, but later returned to England in December 2013 and lived in Cullompton, Devon, where he sadly passed, aged 90 on 28th July 2021.

Career Figures

• Port Vale 1949-1950 : (No games, Amateur)
• Leyton Orient (joined 05/1950) 1950/51 No games
• Burton Albion 1951/52
• Port Vale (joined 12/52)
  • 1952/53: 6 apps 0 goals in League
  • 1953/54: 19 apps 5 goals in League; 1 app., no goals in FA Cup
  • 1954/55: 4 apps in League
  • Total 29 apps, 5 goals
• Crewe Alexandra (08/56): 1956/57, 17 apps, 1 goal in League; 2 apps in FA Cup
• Macclesfield Town (1957/58-60/61)
  • 1958/59 23-0 L 1-0 FAC 1-0 Other
  • 1959/60 35-2 L 1-0 FAC 8-1 Other
  • 1960/61 41-0 L 5-0 FAC 2-0 Other
• Altrincham: 1961-62. 25 apps in League; 8 apps in FA Cup; 4 apps in League Cup, 2 apps in Cheshire Senior Cup.

ALTY OLD BOY: YOAN ZOUMA

The brother of West Ham United's Kurt Zouma, Yoan previously had made 23 appearances for Bolton Wanderers in 2018.

Having completed his first three appearances for Altrincham, a hamstring injury forced Yoan off at half-time in his fourth game, but he had returned to fitness by early April, 2021. On 21 May it was announced that his loan was coming to an end after just five starts.

His current club, Dagenham & Redbridge have announced that having videod his brother Kurt, of West Ham United, ill-treating a cat, "Yoan was this week contacted by the RSPCA to assist in their investigation and is fully cooperating with them.

However, Dagenham & Redbridge FC would again like to reiterate that it condemns any form of cruelty towards animals...

The Club has therefore decided that until the RSPCA has completed its investigations, Yoan will not play for Dagenham & Redbridge in any competitive match.

Any further action deemed necessary to be taken will be made at the conclusion of the RSPCA investigation."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Cook, who was sacked by Town in December after nine months at Portman Road, was previously in charge at Chesterfield between 2012 and 2015 during which time he saw them to the League Two title and League One play-offs.

The Spireites were managerless after their Ipswich-born boss James Rowe departed by mutual consent on Friday having been suspended on January 24th.

Cook will be assisted by Danny Webb, the son of former Chelsea and QPR full-back David, first-team coach under Rowe and then caretaker-manager.

Chief executive John Croot [said]... ''He enjoyed great success here previously and to secure someone with his impressive track record is a real coup. Paul was our number one target when we began our search for a new manager'".

Meanwhile at Bromley the chirman writes that "Though it has only been a matter of weeks since I last penned an update to you all, a lot of things have been going on behind the scenes...

Many of you will have seen the speculation regarding the future of our Manager, Andy Woodman. Andy was approached by League One Gillingham, which we made clear to supporters, and a formal offer was eventually made to him.... Receiving such an offer from a higher-placed Club is both flattering and difficult to turn away, but, as we all know this is exactly what Andy decided to do. I think rather than being a reflection on Gillingham, this is a reflection of us and how far we’ve come...

"In January, we have further invested in and bolstered our squad with the addition of six new players. Scott Wagstaff, Ellery Balcombe, Luke Dreher, Connor Parsons, Mason Bloomfield and Ben Margetson have all come on board to give Andy further options for the crucial upcoming months, and I’m sure you join me in welcoming them all to Hayes Lane. We have a busy time ahead with regard to fixtures, and I know we will need the extra bodies to give us the best possible chance in all of our matches.

We’ve now passed the halfway point of the season, and I think we can all be very pleased with where the team are in the table at the moment, sitting in 4th place...

Many of you will be aware that our new bar & kitchen is getting closer to its completion. Not only will this be a wonderful supporters’ bar on a matchday, but beyond that, it will be an operation in itself, open every day of the week to the general public, and another step towards my aim of making this Football Club self-sustainable... "Wanting a football related name... 'Broomfields’ was by far the most popular option chosen by supporters. The name is a historic reference to the sprigs of broom, which is an emblem of the town and a feature of our Club crest. It refers to fields or pastures around Bromley where broom previously grew, and with all of this in mind, I’m pleased to confirm this will be the name for our new Bar & Kitchen...

"Our off-field team have now moved out of the Portakabins and into the all-new, purpose-built offices...

The difficult decision has been made to find a new, loving home for our beloved club cat, Gareth... and I’d like to thank Beckenham Town for assisting us with this so far...

"We had over 3700 in the Stadium for our Boxing Day clash with Southend United, and just prior to this one, we had over 3600 for our match against Notts County. I’d like to thank you for your support during this time, as it really does make the world of difference to the team".

According to Wales Online, "Former Cardiff City playmaker Lee Tomlin is training with National League side Wrexham.

Tomlin has been without a club since leaving the Bluebirds by mutual consent back in October, but could now be poised for a sensational return to Welsh football.

It's understood the 33 year-old is set to spend the next couple of days with the Dragons, who could well be looking to strengthen their bid for a top five finish...

The forward is training with Phil Parkinson's men today and tomorrow, but it seems there is a long way to go before Wrexham make any sort of concrete contract offer."

The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town have received positive news on Max Wright's thigh injury, with initial scans ruling him out for the next two weeks.

The winger sustained a new thigh injury in training on Monday which kept him out of the matchday squad against King's Lynn Town.

Wright has been plagued by injuries throughout his Mariners career but should be back in contention for the trip to Dover Athletic on February 26.

'It's good news really,' Hurst told Grimsby Live.... 'I'm conscious to caveat that with the fact of Jordan (Maguire-Drew)'s injury, we would have hoped he'd have been back certainly in the last two games. We do always have an air of caution but the scan results were positive. It's not on his main muscle, the damaged area isn't too significant...

'He's had lots of injury disappointments over the year, not just whilst I've been here. We're pleased first and foremost that he hasn't got a couple of months in the gym. With the 23-year-old's contract running down, Hurst admitted that he is racing against time to prove his reliability for next season.

'Yes, that's a fair comment,' Hurst said".

COLCLOUGH STAYS

Alty had to contend with a determined attempt to prise Colclough away during the January window but stood firm after dismissing the League Two club’s offers as ‘nowhere near’ their valuation of a player who has lit up the Vanarama National League over the past two seasons.

The end of the transfer window finally put paid to the unnamed club's hopes...

Under contract until the end of next season, the 27 year old has repeatedly shown himself to be one of the National League’s most devastating attacking talents... since he joined from Scunthorpe United in November, 2020...

Alty director Rob Esteva said, ‘It’s going to happen that if you have a player of Ryan’s ability, playing as he has been, there will be interest... It’s never ideal, and it can have an unsettling effect, but the way Ryan responded on Saturday with a performance that lifted the team, the fans and the whole club speaks volumes for his commitment to Altrincham, his maturity and his development as a person on and off the field.

‘When he left Scunthorpe and came to us, there was a cloud hanging over him, in the form of a pending court case. We knew about that. We sat down with him, listened to him, made it clear we understood what he was going through and said we were there for him, ready to help in any way we could.

‘That cloud lifted with the case being thrown out, and I think it’s fair to say he is repaying the faith and trust we placed in him. Likewise with his commitment to us during the January transfer window...

'He has done it so often, and when you look at the number of times he has hit the woodwork, he is unlucky not to have a much higher goals tally. That said, 15 goals and eight assists in 55 appearances since joining the club is an outstanding return from out wide".

ALTY OLD BOYS

But James Jones did not get onto the pitch from the subs' bench for Barrow where the home team, Hartlepool United, had fellow ex-Alty defender Regan Ogle in their substitutes' list.

Sean Williams scored as his Warrington Town side beat Nantwich Town.

Thanks to Phil Jordan for the information.

NEXT OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN TOWN

The Lynn News tells us that "King's Lynn Town boss Tommy Widdrington was a proud man as he saw his side pick up a valuable point at Grimsby Town [on Tuesday].

The Linnets frustrated the playoff-chasing Mariners throughout and could have taken all three points...

And Widdrington felt the display reflected the changes he had tried to make since arriving at the Walks in December.

He said... 'If you're managing a club, the team starts reflecting you, your character, your personality, possibly you as a player as well. I loved clean sheets when I played but I loved playing football as well. I used to give it to better players than me and I think we've got a good blend of both here.

'I'm really proud because it wasn't a fluke that we did it on Saturday [against Weymouth].

'I've said it was coming that we were going to get a few goals against somebody and it's not a fluke that we've kept another clean sheet because we've been set up solidly'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Racecourse, which is the oldest international football stadium in the world still in use, hasn't been owned by the football club since 2011, when it was purchased by Wrexham Glyndwr University... The overwhelming majority of Dragons supporters were in favour of the club purchasing the freehold of the stadium back from the university.

A statement from Wrexham AFC said 'The club can confirm that discussions with Wrexham Glyndwr University to purchase the freehold of the Racecourse are now at an advanced stage with Heads of Terms agreed. It is anticipated that completion of the purchase will be concluded by the end of March...

'[Co-chairmen] Rob & Ryan have confirmed they will ensure that protection is provided in the various agreements, so that the Racecourse Ground will remain the home of Wrexham AFC until at least 2115, unless a move away is necessary because the Racecourse Ground is no longer capable of meeting the club’s requirements'...

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney...said... 'There is nothing more symbolic than owning your own home and... we are delighted to now have control of our own destiny'".

The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Stockport County manager Dave Challinor said a couple of ‘big decisions’ went against his side in Tuesday night’s breathtaking 2-2 draw against Chesterfield.

Challinor felt they should have been awarded an early penalty following a clash in the box between the Spireites’ Fraser Kerr and opposition striker Scott Quigley.

Referee Scott Tallis apparently admitted it was a foul but that he did not award the spot-kick because he did not believe Quigley was going to get to the ball, which Challinor said was ‘irrelavant in my eyes.’

And with Town leading two-nil in the first-half, the hosts thought they had pulled a goal back through Ash Palmer’s header but it was ruled not to have crossed the line.

Meanwhile, Chesterfield felt hard done to when Jeff King was shown a straight red card just after the break for a tackle on Will Collar. That swung the game in County’s favour and they scored twice to level...

Challinor was disappointed with the first-half display and admitted he would have been happy with a point at half-time.

He explained 'It was poor from us in the first-half in terms of bad decisions and not dealing with threats which allowed them to play the game they wanted to play it. We conceded two poor goals. I thought in the first bit of the game the back three did not deal with their front two...

Challinor added 'I am disappointed with our last 20-30 minutes, I thought we could have been better with our simple passes in order to cause them more problems but credit to them (Chesterfield), they have dug in there'".

From Barnet we hear that "Dean Brennan’s side fell to defeat ... losing 6-1 against Notts County under the lights at Meadow Lane.

The hosts started quickly and opened the scoring in the 7th minute as Ruben Rodrigues... struck low and hard at goal. Aston Oxborough got down to make the save but spilled it into the path of Elisha Sam who tapped in.

Notts County doubled their advantage four minutes later... Ian Burchnall’s side netted a third just before the half hour mark as... Sam... unleashed a fierce strike into the far corner of the net...

The Magpies... scored a fourth goal when Rodgrigues... slotted the ball beyond Oxborough’s left glove.

Dean Brennan’s side pulled one back in the 61st minute when Teddy Howe played a low cross into the centre for Mason-Clark to turn home beyond the reach of Jaros.

Notts County found the net for the fifth time in the 72nd minute when... Wootton... swept it in from close-range.

The home side further extended their advantage with just minutes remaining".

NEXT: KING'S LYNN TOWN

The Linnets emerged with a commendable goalless draw against the Mariners who have a formidable home record this season. It was King's Lynn's second successive clean sheet.

However, they remain twelve points behind Altrincham, although they do have two games in hand.

Wealdstone's win on Tuesday night pushed Alty down to nineteenth but the Robins are ten points ahead of twentieth-placed Weymouth, who have one game in hand on them.

Lynn News reported that "A resolute display earned King's Lynn Town an excellent point away at Grimsby Town... If anything, Lynn had the better chances as they built on their weekend win over Weymouth...

And Cameron Hargreaves could have won it for Lynn late on, only to head wide with the goal at his mercy.

King's Lynn Town: P Jones, A Jones, Barrows, Coulson, Phipps, Scott, Denton (Hickman 71), Clunan (c), Widdrington (McGavin 78), Hargreaves, Linton (Barrett 84). Subs: Hickman, McGavin, McFadden, Walker, Barrett. Booked: Widdrington, Barrows, Hargreaves."

THROUGH THE YEARS: 12 FEBRUARY

This was only Altrincham's second away match of 2013, due to postponements. So, five of the club's previous six games had been on home turf. This match, too, had been in doubt but the pitch had passed an inspection on matchday morning.

A very poor first-half from Altrincham saw them outplayed for 45 minutes by Histon's fast closing-down, accurate passing and penetrative play. Alty did not threaten apart from one shot from Watmore. Alty's passing lacked invention and moves ended time and again in aimless balls forward. They fell behind when Mills was allowed too much space on the right and his mishit shot was turned home by Sheppard (9 mins). Then a foul by Hall conceded a penalty (24 mins) which Stevenson dispatched to give Histon a merited two-goal lead at the break.

Alty brought on Lacey for Moult and then Leather for Lawrie but the visitors made little impression as the game progressed. The Robins mustered no threat on the Histon goal apart from a header from a corner, which was cleared off the line, as pass after pass went astray. Indeed, Histon went close twice in the closing minutes, with Alty bringing on Brooke for Clee. Any hopes of staying in the play-off places will need a much better showing than this.

In the reverse fixture at Moss Lane this season, Altrincham had won 5-0.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY 4. Carl RODGERS, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Danny HALL, 7. James LAWRIE, 8. Jake MOULT, 9. Duncan WATMORE, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs 12. Scott LEATHER, 14. Patrick LACEY, 15. Ryan BROOKE, 16. Danny MITCHLEY, 18. Stephen BULLEN

MIDWEEK RESULTS

• Grimsby Town 0-0 King's Lynn Town
• Notts County 6-1 Barnet
• Southend United 2-0 Bromley
• Stockport County 2-2 Chesterfield Ex-Alty man Jeff King was sent off for Chesterfield in the 49th minute when the visitors led 2-0.
• Wealdstone 2-1 Yeovil Town

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Goals from Kabongo Tshimanga and Akwasi Asante gave Danny Webb’s side a 2-0 lead after 21 minutes.

However, a Jeff King red card early in the second half signalled the start of a Stockport comeback with goals from Will Collar and Ryan Croasdale bringing them level.

Only one change was made from the win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday with Manny Oyeleke coming in for Saidou Khan...

Chesterfield finally drew first blood after 16 minutes... Tshimanga controlled with his chest before lashing a volley past Ben Hinchliffe.

Asante soon increased the lead to two goals...

A scrappy game started to swing the way of the hosts as they aimed to find a way back into the game...

Just five minutes into the second half... King went in strong on Ryan Rydel and the tackle was deemed to be a straight red card.

Stockport made that man advantage count almost straight away. Collar sent a curling effort emphatically past Loach... The home side soon found themselves on level terms as Croasdale’s 25-yard piledriver skidded across the floor and into the back of the net.

Waves and waves of Stockport attacks continued to come towards the Blues’ goal... The Spireites were dealt another blow late on when captain Luke Croll went down with a serious looking injury.

However, Webb’s men... were granted a point for their unbelievable efforts".

Bromley "announce the signing of forward Mason Bloomfield from fellow National League side Barnet for an undisclosed fee.

The 25 year-old began his career at Dagenham & Redbridge before joining Chelmsford City in 2015 after three loan spells at Chatham Town, Erith & Belvedere and Maldon & Tiptree.

Spells at Grays Athletic, Witham Town, Brentwood Town and Aveley followed before he returned to the Daggers.

Bloomfield was then awarded with a move to Norwich City where three loan spells followed, including moves to AFC Fylde and Crawley Town.

In August 2020, he made the permanent switch to Hartlepool United, his final destination before arriving at The Hive last summer...

Our new signing said.. 'I saw exactly where the club is going and I had a very positive meeting with the Manager and Chairman. Bromley look like a really solid team that will be pushing for promotion.'”

According to the Dorset Echo, "Weymouth vice-chairman Paul Maitland has announced his exit from the Terras after 10 years at the club...

Maitland has played a huge role at the Bob Lucas Stadium in his decade-long association with the Terras... He has been assistant-boss to Jason Matthews and Mark Molesley, was Director of Football and most recently Vice-Chairman.

Maitland also led Weymouth as interim manager... between boss Brian Stock's departure and the appointment of David Oldfield...

In January 2020, Maitland left Weymouth before returning... following the exit of Molesley as manager later that summer.

And in May 2021 he took the role of vice-chairman following Rob Bowman's exit... Maitland cited being 'exhausted' as his main reasoning for stepping away...

He said... 'I came here 10 years ago looking to enhance my coaching career and have ended up going on an unbelievable experience of highs and lows... A return to the National League has topped all of those struggles...

'I am exhausted, my children need to see more of me and some of the abuse aimed at me recently has become too much'...

Chairman Ian White admitted...'During the first two-and-a-half years which included our two back-to-back promotions he was the link between Mark Molesley and the board and what a job he did with that... To be honest it feels like I am losing my left arm'".

In Hampshire's Daily Echo, "Eastleigh confirm that young defender Tom Bragg has signed a two-year contract extension with the club...

The central defender is a graduate from the Spitfires’ Elite Development Squad scholarship programme, and made his senior debut as a late substitute in the National League versus Weymouth last month.

Bragg, who later moved to Scotland for his scholarship with Hibernian, is a former Saints [Southampton] academy youngster...

Bragg told the club website... 'This year has taught me so much already when I think of myself from the start of the year to now. Having experienced players around me like Andrew Boyce and Tom Broadbent has helped me improve so much and I'm learning every day'".

Kent Online reports that "Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler understood captain Sam Wood’s decision to leave the club last week.

The 35 year-old left-back quit Crabble to rejoin Isthmian Premier Cray Wanderers, the club where he started his career, a drop of two divisions.

'It was Woody’s decision,' said Hessenthaler. 'He works for the Cray Wanderers chairman (Gary Hillman) on a building site, that’s his day job. They are in a sticky position in the league and were looking for a bit more experience. They approached him and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse going forward.

'He is 36 in the summer; he didn’t want to go but it was a decision he had to make for him and his family. He’s got a mortgage and this gives him a bit more security'...

'He has been a brilliant person for us, the boys loved him and he was great in the dressing room; we’ve already missed having him around,' said the Dover boss...

Wood made 36 appearances for Dover over the past two seasons, scoring twice."

NEXT OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN TOWN

Alty have no midwweek game but the Eastern Daily Press tells us that the Linnets' manager "Tommy Widdrington returns to one of his former clubs on Tuesday night, hoping to build on the feelgood factor currently being enjoyed by his King’s Lynn Town side.

The weekend 3-0 victory over Weymouth was only their second at home this season, but banked a valuable three points in the battle against relegation...

He said 'I had just under three years there [Grimsby]. I have an affinity for the club; I was up there in the summer and played in a veterans’ game, a charity match, so I know Grimsby really well... I was the record signing when I first went there from Southampton (in 1996).

'I think they were expecting Matt Le Tissier, but he didn’t turn up, it was me, so that was a bit strange. They’d had Ivo Bonetti before me and he was a worldie, and I turned up as the biggest thing they’d ever bought and the manager was promptly sacked about two months later.

'But I had a good time there, I get on well with the club. I think it is a great club, a big club which shouldn't be in our division and I don’t think it will be for a great deal of time. I hope they’re not, but I hope we beat them on Tuesday.'

Only once this season have Lynn gone two games unbeaten... but Widdrington believes his players can handle the atmosphere as well as the opposition.

'Big club, big crowd, partisan against rather than for us and it is how we handle that,' he said. 'I thought we handled that ever so well at Chesterfield and I thought we handled it really well at Halifax. I have no doubt we can handle the situation ... If we implement what we know to be their weakness and get at that and try to keep their strength at bay as much as we can then we will be competition for anybody in this division.'”

SHAUN DENSMORE TESTIMONIAL

Now in his 14th year at the club, Densmore's dedication to the Alty cause has endured through three decades... and you now have the chance to say thanks for everything at a testimonial match...

Sunday, April 10th is the date to put in your diary... That is the day when Alty players and managers past and present will converge on The J.Davidson Stadium to pay tribute to a stellar Robins career.

There will be no shortage of nostalgia, either, with the likes of Robbie Lawton, Stuart Coburn and Nicky Clee among those lined up for an Alty Old Boys' XI to take on the current team.

The memory lane theme will be evident off the pitch as well, with the club currently working on a special testimonial brochure, packed with photos, tributes, recollections and anecdotes relating to one of THE stand-out careers in recent Alty times".

YOUTHS WIN

The Alty under-16s' prospect... went on as substitute on the hour and put his name on the scoresheet within two minutes. Raftery's quickfire strike made him the youngest player to score for the team in manager Paul Fay's time at the club and rounded off a deserved victory in a game that was a credit to both sides...

The Robins went in front from [a] 17th minute corner, Jones delivering a great ball and Cook timing his run perfectly to finish clinically.

The lead proved shortlived, however, as Avro equalised just five minutes later... A few well-chosen words at half-time had the desired effect on the Alty players as they started the second 45 minutes a lot better, moving the ball quicker and being a lot tidier in possession.

The improvement in Alty's overall play led to a second goal in the 55th minute, as an excellent link-up between Ewan McGeady and Watson gave Jones the chance to deliver a great ball into the box, where Morrison finished with aplomb, rounding off the move with an audacious back heel.

On the hour came Raftery's grand entrance, as he went on... and settled the outcome with a moment he'll never forget...

Eight of the 16[-strong squad] came from the juniors, including three under-17s and two under-16s"

Alty squad: Morgan Chilton, Ewan McGeady, Lucas Aldcroft, James Cook, Liam Evans, Nathan Wall, Danny Watson, Joel Trevor, Angus Bailey, Tom Jones, Louis Morrison, Aiden Kelly, George Raftery, Joe Holt, Michael Vale, Ben Lawson.

Meanwhile "Alty's Development squad lost 3-2 to Fylde Colts... Fylde went ahead in the 20th minute from a well-rehearsed set play.

Undeterred, Alty forced their way back on terms, as Beehan latched on to a ball from JJ Kelly... to make it 1-1 at half-time....

It was Fylde who turned... opportunities into goals, and, in the space of 10 minutes at the start of the half, they were 3-1 in front...

Time was running out, but they did finally reduce the arrears five minutes into added time, when Higgins won possession with a decisive tackle and linked up with Lynch, who lobbed the keeper for an excellent second Alty goal.

Alty squad: 1. Sonny Wright, 2. Louie Williams, 3. Charlie Mitchell, 4. Ben Atkinson, 5. Sam Murphy, 6. Cairan Kelly, 7. Mike Comber, 8. James Kelly, 9. Tom Higgins, 10. Adam Lynch, 11. Yusuf Adeniyi, 12. Owen German, 13. Charlie Beehan, 14. Sam Chambers, 15. Josh Peters, 16. Mike Smith".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 29 year-old, who was captain at Bolton Wanderers before making the move to the Hatters in October... will pose a big threat to the Spireites if he is available...

Boss Dave Challinor... said, 'He had an injection in his ankle. It has not made a significant difference yet but we will see how he is... He makes a huge impact on our team'...

League leaders Stockport, who have one more point than second-placed Chesterfield, made history when they won their tenth game in a row at the weekend...

Challinor added: “I think the atmosphere in grounds are [is] often made by opposing sets of fans and Chesterfield will come in their numbers so that will only enhance the atmosphere that will be in here.”

Stockport have the ninth best home record in the league, while the Spireites have the second best away record...

'It is a big game, potentially the biggest game of the season so far,' Challinor... said".

From the Nottingham Post, we learn that "Notts County boss Ian Burchnall has outlined the work his side need to do following the late 2-1 defeat to Grimsby Town... at Meadow Lane at the weekend.

The hosts opened the scoring through Callum Roberts in the first half before Ryan Taylor levelled matters in the 76th minute.

[Ex-Alty loanee] Luke Waterfall stole all three points during stoppage time as the Magpies fell to their sixth defeat this season...

The 38-year-old boss admitted to feeling 'disappointed' with the outcome...

'I think, first half, in my opinion we should be out of sight but... they [Grimsby] ... but then when we have to be able to hang on...

'We've had a great start to the season then there was three games where it was a poor week and this week feels a bit like that. We responded so well from those three games and went on a run of really strong performances... We've had a bad week... but now we have to respond like we did during the season after those three performances...

'Tuesday night [against Barnet], we're going to go a lot of games in quick succession so we just need to get into a rhythm now... We have to play those two games in hand, then we have to play everybody around us... I think we can take points against teams around us, we can be up and around it'".

In the Dorset Echo, "Weymouth manager David Oldfield insisted the sorry 3-0 loss at fellow bottom-three side King’s Lynn Town is not 'defining' for the Terras.

Following on from an impressive display at rivals Yeovil in midweek, Weymouth looked off their usual standards as Malachi Linton won and converted a penalty midway through the first half.

Weymouth improved in the second 45 but could not seriously test home keeper Paul Jones.

Instead, two goals in six minutes from Michael Clunan and Josh Barrett ensured the Linnets closed the gap to Weymouth in 21st to three points, while holding two games in hand.

Oldfield admitted the Terras 'struggled' at The Walks as they remain eight points from safety.

He said... 'This is by no means a defining match... We have done well since I’ve been in, the boys have responded, they’ve worked hard, they’ve done what I’ve asked them to do... We got what we deserved from the game...

'As much as I’ve spoken in the past about stepping forward, and we have done, we certainly halted that progression (on Saturday).. Certainly it was a very average performance from us and one we need to look back on carefully, not throw the baby out with the bath water though...

Oldfield also reserved praise for top scorer and captain Josh McQuoid, who made his 100th club appearance at King’s Lynn."

The BBC confirms earlier rumours that "Chesterfield are in talks with Paul Cook to return as manager as a replacement for the departed James Rowe, BBC Radio Sheffield understands.

The 54 year-old is hugely popular at Chesterfield, having led them to the League Two title and League One play-offs in his previous spell.

Cook has been out of the game since being sacked by League One side Ipswich Town in December... Upon moving into management he has won titles with Sligo Rovers, Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan.

It was Portsmouth, who met his release clause, who ended his spell at Chesterfield after the play-off defeat by Preston in 2014-15".

STEVE FINNEY R.I.P.

Right: Steve Finney receives an award from Alty chairman, Mark Harris.

Steve Kenneth Finney

• Born: Hexham, Northumberland, on 31st October 1973
• Died: 4th February 2022

Terry writes:

"Steve attended Ullswater High School before going on to play for Pategill Juniors FC, Penrith and Northbank FC amd then signing for Preston North End on youth terms, (1990-1992). He turned professional in May 1992 and, over the next two seasons, he played 6 games and scored once before joining Manchester City in February 1993.

Steve never made an appearance for the first team, but had one game as an unused substitute in the 1993/94 season.

So, in June 1995 he signed for Swindon Town and during the 1995/96 season helped Swindon win the Second Division Championship, scoring 12 goals, his first goal for Swindon coming on debut, on the opening day of the season, in an away victory at Hull City. Steve found things tougher in the First Division, scoring only twice in twenty-two appearances during the 1996/97 season.

In 1997/98 Steve scored six goals in thirty appearances, across all competitions. He also had a spell on loan at Cambridge United in October 1997, scoring twice in four full and three appearances from the bench. In July 1998 Steve then joined Carlisle United, scoring six times in forty-three appearances. In March he moved south, joining Leyton Orient making five appearances, without scoring.

In the summer he had trials with Exeter City, which did not result in the offer of terms, so Steve moved back north and dropped into the non-league scene, starting the season with Barrow, where he played ten games before joining Chester City in October 1999, playing 13 games, (nine from the bench), without scoring.

The following season he remained a fringe player, making a further eight appearances, (five from the bench), again without scoring.

Right: Steve Finney in his Altrincham days.

He then went on loan to Altrincham in December 2000, making his debut on the 9th December in a 3-1 win at Moss Lane against Marine. Steve then made his scoring debut against Whitby Town, scoring all three in a 3-1 win at Moss Lane. He scored regularly then through to early April. He finished the season as Altrincham’s top scorer, with eleven goals in twenty-four games, (including one from the bench).

After leaving the club he returned the following season in November 2000 to score twice, from the bench in an 8-1 Cheshire Senior Cup win over Woodley Sports. He was an unused substitute in the following FA Cup tie with Lancaster City and that was Steve’s Altrincham career over.

Steve then worked as a salesman for Lloyd Land Rover, before moving on to Ullswater Road Garage, Penrith and then latterly he was Business Development Manager for NWF fuels. Since October 2020 Steve had also coached at Ullswater United.

Steve sadly passed, aged just 48, after a short illness. Condolences to all family and friends

Steve’s senior career:

• Preston North End (05/92) 1991/92-1992/93: 1(+5) apps, 1 goal
• Manchester City (02/1993) 1993/94-1994/95: 0 apps
• Swindon Town (06/95)
  • 1995/96: 22(+8) apps, 12 goals in league; 2(+4) apps, 2 goals in FA Cup; 4 apps, 1 goal in League Cup, 2(+1) apps, 1 goal in other matches
  • 1996/97: 8(+12) apps, 2 goals in league; 1(+1) apps in League Cup

FOOTNOTE: At the time of his hat-trick against Whitby in December 2000, this website wrote that "A hat-trick from Steve Finney, in only his third match on loan from Chester City, wrapped up the three points for Altrincham. Finney's three were the first Altrincham League hat-trick since Keith Russell hit a hat-trick against Spennymoor in April, 1998... His first came after 5 minutes when the Whitby keeper, Campbell, let the ball escape him and he finished from close range. His second, after 28 minutes arrived after Campbell and his defence only half-cleared a corner and Finney slotted home the loose ball from ten yards. The third goal was the best, a stooping header from a fine cross by Barry Crowe, who had also initiated the move up the right wing (70 mins)."

POST-MATCH VIEWS

And Brian Flynn also interviewed man of the match, goalkeeper Tony Thompson on Alty TV after the game.

ALTY'S NEW ARRIVALS INTERVIEWED

Left to right: Eddy Jones and Chris Conn-Clarke

Alty's most recent two new loanees, Eddy Jones and Chris Conn-Clarke, have both reviewed their careers and hopes for the future with press and media officer Brian Flynn. The AltyTV video interviews of both discussions are to be found on Altrincham FC website by clicking the appropriate link below...

Interview with Eddy Jones; with Chris Conn-Clarke

Both players made their debuts for the club on Saturday.

WOKING "DESPONDENT" AFTER ALTY DRAW

The end of this match provided such a stark contrast to the very beginning. After consecutive league defeats without scoring, Woking fans would have been looking to see an improvement in terms of attacking threat; and could not have dreamt of a more perfect start than that they managed at Moss Lane... Effiong... advancing into the box and hitting a low left foot shot past the keeper, with just 15 seconds on the clock...

On 7 minutes, the home side... found themselves with a great opportunity to level. Chris Conn-Hall [Conn-Clarke], turned sharply in the penalty box and was upended by Annesley. Elliot Osborne stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, which was superbly parried away by Mark Smith

Above: Goalkeeper Smith saves Osborne's penalty during the game on Saturday.

The home side looked nervy at the back...

Woking doubled their lead through an unlikely source in Kyran Lofthouse after 33 minutes. The young wing-back had previously only scored one goal for Woking (ironically against Altrincham in a 1-1 draw the previous season), however his second for the club was something special... Lofthouse picked up the ball in the centre circle and evaded two challenges. Driving towards goal, he unleashed a fine strike from 25 yards into the top left-hand corner...

Woking controlled the first twenty minutes of the second half, coming close to adding to their lead on a number of occasions....

Altrincham got themselves back into the match... Josh Casey, to his dismay, was adjudged to have fouled Conn-Clark... Worse punishment was to follow however, as Colclough made a smart near post run to flick home the ball which was dangerously whipped in by Mooney.

This goal provided the home side, and crowd, with a much-needed lift...

On 84 minutes, Woking were only able to clear their lines as far as to Colclough, just outside the box, who rounded Lofthouse and drove home a fierce shot at Smith’s near post, prompting jubilant scenes amongst the home support...

At the final whistle, Woking looked pretty despondent and stunned, reflecting on missed chances going forwards and a lack of solidity at the back".

STRUGGLING TO STAY UP

Underlining the gulf between the haves and have-nots in the National League's top division, all four of those promoted clubs are now in the bottom six of the division, joined by Dover Athletic and Maidenhead United.

Those four most recently promoted clubs (in bold below) are currently in the following league positions...

• 18th: ALTRINCHAM P27 PTS27 POINTS PER GAME (PPG) 1.0
• 19th: MAIDENHEAD UNITED P25 PTS27 PPG 1.08
• 20th: WEALDSTONE P24 PTS 25 PPG 1.04
• 21st: WEYMOUTH P26 PTS 17 PPG 0.65
• 22nd: KING'S LYNN TOWN P24 PTS 14 PPG 0.58
• 23rd: DOVER ATHLETIC P27 PTS-5 PPG -0.18

Only three clubs go down this season because of the demise of Macclesfield Town which means the division is running one-club short.

Currently, Alty are fourth-bottom on Points Per Game (PPG) and have a cushion of ten points over the third-bottom club, currently Weymouth.

On Saturday, Weymouth lost a potential "six pointer" at King's Lynn, which in one sense was a good result for The Robins as it kept the gap at ten points from 21st place. But, in another sense, it signalled an upturn in form for their next opponents.

But Altrincham, currently bottom of the form guide in the NL Paper, need to capitalise on that good fortune when they travel to King's Lynn to face the Linnets next Saturday.

NEXT OPPONENTS: KING'S LYNN TOWN

Victory in game one of a seven-game slog will give renewed hope that Lynn can pull off a minor miracle and escape the drop.

Goals from Malachi Linton, Michael Clunan and Josh Barrett secured a much-needed three points after a display that arguably matched anything seen this season. Lynn were relentless going forward with a more ruthless approach in front of goal.

An hour before kick-off Lynn announced three new signings; Josh Coulson started in the heart of defence, while Cam Hargreaves was a late sub and Jak Hickman remained on the subs’ bench...

Lynn went ahead on 25 minutes, Linton converting from 12 yards after he had been fouled by Haji Mnoga as he drove into the area...

Lynn were easily the more dangerous of the two sides... Lynn hit the woodwork four minutes after the break...

Clunan turned in the area and planted the ball in the bottom right-hand corner to give Lynn a valuable two-goal cushion. Minutes later it was three as Barrett twisted one way and another before firing in a left-footer from eight yards ...

King’s Lynn Town: P Jones, A Jones, Phipps, Coulson, Barrows, Scott, McGavin, Widdrington (Hargreaves76), Clunan (Sundire 81), Barrett, Linton (Walker 84). Subs not used: Denton, Hickman."

MATT STAYS AT NANTWICH

The 28 year-old Altrincham keeper was an unused substitute in a 3-1 defeat against Jordan in Abu Dhabi last Friday, January 28th, after the the previous Tuesday's fixture against Uzbekistan had to be called off, due to Covid in the New Zealand camp.

Now back home, he goes straight into action, following a request from Nantwich to keep him for the rest of the season after his impressive form helped shore up their defence in his earlier spell with them".

Matt played for the Dabbers on Saturday and helped them to a win at Morpeth.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Wood skipper, a trainee at Charlton when Scott Parker was in the first team, saw his goal in the 38th minute secure their place in the last 16 and set up a tie with Everton in the next round.

Cherries... were left embarrassed by the non-league outfit on their own turf.

The hosts made nine changes in total... Three January transfer window signings made their full debuts for the Dorset club, including goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and defenders James Hill and Nat Phillips...

National League Boreham Wood went into the fourth-round proper having not conceded a goal in the competition so far... There were 75 places between the teams in the footballing pyramid ahead of kick-off...

On 38 minutes, the Wood took a deserved lead. After working the ball down the left through Jacob Mendy, Gavin Kilkenny’s clearance fell to captain Ricketts, whose low, driven effort from the edge of the box went in off the post to send the visiting fans delirious".

Wrexham confirm that "Asa Hall’s first-half header was enough to seal all three points for Torquay United as Wrexham suffered their fifth away league defeat of the season.

Hall’s goal inside the first ten minutes saw the United skipper rise above the Wrexham defence and head home past Rob Lainton.

Wrexham dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes, but could not find their cutting edge in front of goal in what was a frustrating afternoon for the travelling 790 Wrexham fans.

The defeat sees the Red Dragons drop down to seventh, four points ahead of Notts County who have two games in hand.

Phil Parkinson made three changes... Bryce Hosannah returned from a short period of injury, Jordan Ponticelli replaced the suspended Paul Mullin and Tom O’Connor made his debut, coming in for Jordan Davies, unavailable due to COVID-19.

Wrexham started brightly, creating problems for the Torquay backline... But the Gulls took the lead eight minutes into the contest, as a dubious free kick was taken by Amari Little, and his delivery was well headed past Lainton by Asa Hall.

Parkinson’s side came close to levelling twice...

They started the better of the two sides in the second period too... The hosts hadn’t created much since they took the lead in the eighth minute, but they never looked like giving up their goal advantage either as they sealed the victory, the first time Wrexham have failed to score away all season".

Hampshire's Daily Echo tells us that "A late Reece Smith equaliser saw the spoils shared between Maidenhead and Eastleigh as they drew 2-2 at York Road.

The Spitfires looked like they could be about to pick up a first victory since early January, when Danny Whitehall and Ryan Hill cancelled out a Charlee Adams volley.

However, Alan Devonshire's Magpies rallied to earn a point.

Eastleigh, who handed a start to new signing Brett Pitman, had a good chance in the opening minutes of the game when Tom Broadbent had a shot from 12 yards out but his effort was saved.

Maidenhead took the lead in the 40th minute when Adams hit a volley into the top corner... Eastleigh equalised in the 72nd minute through a tap-in from Whitehall before Hill put the Spitfires in the lead just seven minutes later, smashing the ball home.

A late goal from Smith in the 87th minute rescued a point for the Magpies".

AFTER THE GAME: NEIL SORVEL

"I actually thought we controlled the game better in the first half, without creating the chances but, in th second, we moved the ball quicker and created more.

"They had some good chances to kill us off but some great saves from Tony [Thompson] allowed us to pick up a deserved point".

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 WOKING

Right: Alty celebrate Ryan Colclough's first goal of his brace in the steady rain at Moss Lane.

Match report here.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Less happily, Ritchie Sutton's Alfreton lost 5-0 to Bradford (PA).

DEFEAT FOR RESERVES

FA CUP TIES

Saturday, 5 February 2022

• Kidderminster Harriers 1-2 West Ham United (a.e.t.)

Sunday, 6 February 2022

• AFC Bournemouth v Boreham Wood (k.o. 6.30pm)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Two Kabongo Tshimanga penalties, [one] in each half saw the Blues come from a goal down to remain second in the National League.

Webb had a short spell as a manager at Leyton Orient in 2017.

He told the DT, 'I learnt a lot from that. It was a strange situation there as well for different reasons. I was 33 and I only did a few games and I think my oldest player was 21...

'The biggest thing is, I love this place, I love the town, I love the football club, which is a big statement after not being here for a year, but I think it means a lot to me and all the other staff to see the boys give that sort of effort and keep us near the top of the table.'

Rowe left by ‘mutual consent’ on Friday night amid misconduct allegations which emerged last month...

Webb said... 'I think that whatever has happened at the club in terms of they have now released a statement, and he is no longer with us, it is my role at this specific time to make sure we tick over'...

He added 'Their attitude and effort has been fantastic, they have given it their all. We got the three points at Eastleigh in a different kind of way but I thought today was a better performance and a more exciting home performance'...

Curtis Weston (ankle) and Laurence Maguire (Achilles) were not involved but their injuries are not serious".

The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town ended their eight-match losing run away from home as a last-minute winner secured a 2-1 comeback victory at Notts County.

The Mariners almost encapsulated their season in just 90 minutes as they spurned guilt-edged chances but took all three points thanks to goals from Ryan Taylor and Michee Efete.

The striker had already hit the post with a wayward penalty shortly after Town had fallen behind to Callum Roberts' opener...

In a topsy-turvy afternoon for the striker, he sent the away end into raptures as he rescued a point mid-way through the second 45.

Things got even better when in six minutes of stoppage time, Waterfall met Danny Amos' free-kick which was bundled across the line by Efete for the winner to send the away end into raptures...

The victory is Town's first on the road since October 9 and their first away point against a play-off rivals... After 15 minutes, Notts opened the scoring through Roberts...

However, Hurst's men grabbed a grip on proceedings and were awarded a penalty when McAtee was barged into by Kyle Cameron... However, Taylor's left-footed effort hit the foot of the post...

Arjan Raikhy was the architect in midfield, conducting the midfield battle against the National League's most possession-heavy side...

In a season-defining 20 minute spell, the Mariners took all three points. Taylor swept home his seventh goal of the season from close range...

Notts County then rallied... But instead, the moment every Grimsby Town fan had dreamt off followed... Amos lofted the ball into the box, Waterfall nodded it down and Efete headed turned the ball home to secure a priceless three-point haul".

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 WOKING

Disaster struck initially when debutant centre-back Cooper's ball upfield went to an opponent who played in team-mate Effiong. The big striker slotted a low shot across the exposed Thompson to make it 1-0 (12 secs).

Alty seemed to have a way back into the game when lively debutant Conn-Clarke was brought down and a penalty was the clear outcome. But Osborne's spot-kick, though well hit, was impressively saved by keeper Smith.

Then, Altrincham's naive defending was exposed again when Lofthouse was allowed to stride unchallenged, up the middle from halfway, before firing past Thompson from outside the box. So it was 0-2 after 34 minutes.

The second half saw Alty dominate possession but, initially, fail to land an effort on the Woking goal. But midway through the second half, Mooney's curling freekick from the right was back-headed into the net by Colclough (66 mins).

And it was Colclough who scored again to level the game at 2-2 with a superb shot fom left of goal after his trickery had got him past Lofthouse towards the byline (84 mins). Alty pressed for a late winner but Woking were not content to sit back and they too went for the three points. Alty were indebted to goalkeeper Thompson for several one on one saves and he was named man of the match.

However, neither side could break the deadlock and it ended two apiece.

Match report here.

SATURDAY LEAGUE GAMES

• Aldershot Town 1-3 Barnet
• Altrincham 2-2 Woking
• Chesterfield 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
• FC Halifax Town P-P Bromley (waterlogged pitch)
• King's Lynn Town 3-0 Weymouth
• Maidenhead United 2-2 Eastleigh
• Notts County 1-2 Grimsby Town
• Stockport County 1-0 Dover Athletic
• Torquay United 1-0 Wrexham
• Yeovil Town 0-0 Solihull Moors

TODAY'S OPPONENTS: WOKING

The Cards were far from their best in their last league outing, a 1-0 home defeat by Yeovil Town... They’ve also struggled on the road of late, with the only away victory in the last two months coming last Tuesday evening, when a much-changed side picked up a morale-boosting 2-0 win over seventh tier Walton Casuals...

Alan Dowson’s side have also been goal-shy of late...

Dowse’s hopes will be boosted by a marquee Friday signing. The arrival of former Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace midfielder Jack Roles, who also has Football League experience, most notably during a successful loan spell with Cambridge United, has been met with excitement from Woking fans.

The 22-year-old will be hoping to add an additional goal threat from midfield, particularly in the absence of Kretzschmar... Elsewhere, Tom Champion and George Oakley also remain sidelined through injury, but Louie Annesley is available again after serving his suspension...

The Robins currently sit in 18th place, with 26 points from 26 games, five points fewer than the Cards having played a game more, whilst their tally of 50 goals conceded is the joint-second worst defensive record in the league, with only bottom of the table Dover having conceded more".

Alty have, however, won the last two home games against The Cards; 1-0 last March and 3-1 in 2016.

LOADS OF LOANS

The trio will also raise, to 40, the number of players named in a National League squad by Altrincham this season.

If Jordan Hulme (right) plays today, there could be four loanees on the pitch for Altrincham against Woking. As six other loanees have already been and gone this season that means ten players have been loaned by the club this season so far.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Ahead of the FA Cup fourth round clash this weekend, Garrard... spared breath for kind words on his Cherries counterpart, as well as an unusual request.

In his press conference, the 36-year-old said, He (Parker) is an unbelievable manager. I am going to ask him afterwards if I can come in for three or four days to watch him and work alongside him because what I have witnessed in my prep is outstanding...

'If I can take one per cent from Scott Parker, I am a better manager.'

Parker was then showed the video of Garrard saying that... which he admitted was 'Pretty humbling...

'I’m very appreciative of Luke and them words. I’ll be more than happy to offer him whatever he wants and I’m sure I’ll bat some ideas back with him.'”.

Also, Boreham Wood "announce the signing of defender Connor Stevens from National League rivals Wealdstone FC for an undisclosed fee. Connor arrives at the LV BET Stadium on a two-and-a-half year contract until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Connor began his career with Hertfordshire neighbours Watford, coming through the youth ranks at Vicarage Road... A loan spell with National League South side Oxford City during the 2017/18 season preceded a permanent transfer to then-National League South outfit Wealdstone in the summer of 2018...

Stevens helped the Stones reach the end of season play-offs, eventually losing out to play-off winners Woking in the semi-finals... Just a season later though, Wealdstone and Stevens went one step further, clinching the Stones return to Non-League football’s top table as Champions of the National League...

Stevens links up with former Stones teammates Dennon Lewis, Jacob Mendy Mendy and Connor Smith as Wood look to continue to mount a promotion push...

Wood Chairman Danny Hunter said 'Luke [Garrard] has been after Connor for quite a while, so we have monitored things for months, and moved quickly when we realised the player who was out of contract at the end of the season might be interested and thankfully both clubs were able to reach an agreement amicably that was fair for all parties'".

The Lynn News tells us that "King's Lynn Town have been hit by three FA charges following their clash at Southend United last month.

The first charge focuses on the surrounding of a match official after the Shrimpers were awarded a controversial late penalty.

Linnets boss Tommy Widdrington also been charged for his behaviour in the aftermath of Southend's late penalty award and the club have requested personal hearings.

A post on the FA website confirmed... 'It is alleged that in or around the 91st minute of the fixture, King’s Lynn Town FC failed to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion'...

A second post then confirmed Widdrington’s charges: 'Two breaches of FA Rule E3.1: 1. It is alleged that... the Participant’s language towards a Match Official was abusive, and/or insulting, and/or improper... [And] It is alleged that... the Participant’s towards a Match Official was improper and/or violent'.

Widdrington said after the defeat... 'What I threw at him [the fourth official] was the gel packet he was supposed to pick up off the pitch which the Southend lad had left on there. But his job is to appease us and if he doesn’t want to then he doesn’t have to talk to us. What he doesn’t do is come back at you and make you argumentative towards him, that’s what he did.”

The Southend Echo tells us that "Former Southend United midfielder Nathan Ferguson has joined Wealdstone.

Ferguson was released from the Shrimpers by mutual consent earlier this week having made 43 appearances during a year long spell at Roots Hall".

Chesterfield announce that the "Football Club and James Rowe have today come to an agreement that his position as manager will terminate with immediate effect by mutual consent.

The club would like to thank James for his achievements during his tenure and wishes him well for the future".

This follows his suspension for disciplinary reasons.

According to the Portsmouth News "Well-travelled former Fulham, Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers and Grimsby striker leaves Chesterfield on loan to reunite with very familiar face at Hawks (Havant & Waterlooville)... [to be] reunited with former boss Paul Doswell at National League South Hawks.

Payne, 30, will initially join on loan until the end of the season from National League Chesterfield before signing a further one-year deal at Westleigh Park when his Spireites contract ends in the summer...

During his time as Sutton boss, Doswell signed Payne in the summer of 2009 after catching his eye playing for Croydon's youth team...

Payne was picked up by then-Premier League Fulham just a matter of weeks after moving to Sutton, but failed to make a single appearance for the Cottagers...

In fact, this will represent the third time Payne has worked under Doswell having rejoined Sutton for a brief loan spell in 2012.

‘This year hasn’t gone quite as well as I wanted it go to so that’s why I’ve got the fire in my belly to kick on and get scoring goals again' said Payne. Payne arrives at Westleigh Park with just two goals in 38 appearances over the past two seasons in spells with Grimsby and Chesterfield."

TWO NEW LOANEES AT ALTY

Left-back Eddy Jones has joined the club on loan from Stoke City for the rest of the campaign, while versatile Fleetwood Town forward Chris Conn-Clarke will be with us on an initial one-month basis...

With the defence already reinforced by the loan signing of centre-back Jake Cooper from Rotherham United earlier this week, the Robins are looking in good shape...

Though he can fill any of the forward positions, Northern Ireland under-21 international Conn-Clarke made his name as a tricky winger at Glentoran and in the Burnley youth ranks and is keen to take the eye in Alty colours.

Snapped up by Burnley from Glentoran in the summer of 2018 on a two-year scholarship that was swiftly extended by a year, Conn-Clarke has already broken through to the first team at Fleetwood after joining them last February and having the length of his initial contract increased to the end of next season..

. Said the 20-year old, 'I know a bit about Altrincham, because I was with Joel Senior at Burnley and my best mate is Barry Baggley at Fleetwood, who spoke highly of the club from his time on loan here. He enjoyed playing for Alty, and I hope I will, too. As long as I'm playing, I'm happy, wherever I am. I like to express myself on the pitch and show a bit of flair, create chances for others and score a few myself.

'I love to have the ball at my feet and dribble with it, so you could say I'm a typical attacking midfield player... Could it be more than a month? I'd happily stay longer if the chance was there.'

With on-loan left-back Kevin Berkoe (right) returning early to Salford City, following his red card at Solihull Moors and subsequent suspension, the signing of Wales under-21 left-back Jones for the rest of the season could hardly be more timely.

Fresh from a loan spell at Hartlepool United, the 20-year old said: 'As a full-back, first and foremost, you've got to enjoy defending, and I do. I like to be aggressive and get tackles in, and when I've got the ball, I like to link up with the winger in front of me and join in the play and get crosses in.

'I've got lots of energy, and I hope I can bring that to Altrincham. I'm looking forward to this opportunity with a good group of lads'".

NEXT MATCH: WOKING

Altrincham have won just two of their last 22 games in all competitions whilst Woking also have a pretty indifferent record in recent months, having won just five and drawn one of their last 19 games in all competitions. And it is noticeable that those five wins were all against teams who were or continue to be struggling at the wrong end of the table (Altrincham, Southend United, Weymouth, Dover Athletic and Wealdstone).

In this context, their chief executive recently spoke up publicly in response to criticism of the club's manager, as Get Surrey reported that "John Katz remains fully behind manager Alan Dowson at Woking...

Any criticism of Dowson has been predominantly online and Katz said... 'The boys are putting in the work'...

New recruits are on their way as Dowson looks to shore up a leaky defence and Katz added... 'There are names out there that are our top targets and they are names that I believe people will be thrilled with'...

Katz is aware that there has been criticism of Dowson but he sprang to the defence of the boss... 'From what I’ve heard and seen from the boys they kind of understand the type of pressure that the gaffer is under,' he added...

'Football is about results and we are in a business that always needs a scapegoat... I’m still convinced he’s the right guy to do it... We set out clearly that a top-half finish was the goal. To create a core nucleus that we could build around to reach the EFL in three years time.'"

BLOW FOR JOEL SENIOR

Carlisle United report that "Rod McDonald [calf], Joel Senior [knee] and Callum Guy [hamstring] left the field (in that order) and, as feared after the game, the diagnosis does not look good with them having now had further medical assessments...

'It’s not good news at all,' manager Keith Millen said 'Joel has seen a specialist and will need surgery to his knee, which is a massive blow for him and all of us. He’s just joined us, and you can see the potential he has. He got his chance quite early because of Kelvin’s injury. I think everyone has seen signs of what he’s going to bring to us, so we’re all devastated for him.

'We don’t know exactly what surgery is required, but it will more than likely leave him out for the rest of the season. It’s really tough for him, I’ve spoken to him, and he’s got to try and first of all get over the initial disappointment, the shock of it all,' he added. 'Then we need to make sure we do the right things medically, which we will. And then from my experience, the quicker you can get the process in place the better it will be for him. We were all gutted for him because he was starting his career with us and he was looking good.

'He’s got a good family around him and we’ve just got to be there to support him.'”

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

With the January transfer window creaking shut on Monday, we are now set with our playing personnel for the rest of the season...

I think the impact of Ollie Palmer in his first two games has not gone unnoticed in the stands or in the squad and we are confident that Callum McFadzean and Thomas O'Connor can have a similar effect... [after] as successful a January transfer window as the club has possibly ever had...

Away from the first team, we are delighted to welcome two new members of staff to the club in the form of Head of Marketing and Communications, Ryan Grant, who joins with an impressive CV, having worked at Blackburn Rovers and, unfortunately, Manchester United; as well as Andy Duff, our new Head of Commercial, who has worked previously with the likes of Bayern Munich, British Athletics and Mercedes F1 team...

We have passed 100k followers on TikTok, surpassing many big clubs such as Swansea, Blackburn, Birmingham and Sunderland".

The Halifax Courier tells us that "Midfielder Kian Spence could be in line for a return to the side when FC Halifax Town host promotion rivals Bromley on Saturday, says boss Pete Wild.

Spence hasn't played since the FA Trophy game at Alfreton on January 15 due to a hamstring injury...

Captain Niall Maher missed last Saturday's 3-1 win at Dagenham and Redbridge due to an ankle injury... 'Niall's touch and go for the weekend,' Wild said...

Striker Matty Stenson wasn't involved in Tuesday's West Riding County Cup defeat at Liversedge. 'That tackle against Eastleigh rattled him a little bit, for want of a better phrase,' said Wild. 'We've had him scanned to make sure the knee's not re-injured, it's not and we now just need to get him into a position where he can be back out and playing.'

Midfielder Kieran Green is still in his protective boot after his ankle injury, and Wild says he is waiting for the swelling going down before an assessment can be made.

Town's opponents on Saturday have won their last five games in a row, and are level on points with Halifax having played one match less.

'We know they'll try and use their physical presence, we know they're a threat on set-pieces, and we know we're going to have to defend our own box really well because that's where they're scoring their goals from,' Wild said. 'That's something that's got them real success this year so we know what their threats are... I think I'd stress to the fans that you'll need to be patient on Saturday... because it'll be a tight contest, a bit like Maidenhead and Boreham Wood, where we'll have to be patient'... he said...

'We'll go into it full of confidence off the back of last week and wanting to replicate what we did at Dagenham last week'...

The Town boss added that two or three of the side that started at Liversedge [in the County Cup] on Tuesday have boosted their claims...

'It was a cobbled together team of players. If you were to put a phrase around the team it would be 'players who needed a game'... There were certainly two or three lads who came out of the game with credit and gave me something to think about'" concluded the Shaymen's manager.

The Bristol Post tells us that "Joey Barton believes Brett Pitman's loan move from Bristol Rovers to Eastleigh 'works for all parties'.

The 34 year-old was made available for transfer by the manager ahead of the transfer deadline on Monday, but moves to non-league are permitted until April and Pitman was confirmed as an Eastleigh player on Thursday evening...

'It works for all parties,' Barton explained. 'It’s a lot closer to Brett’s home, it gets him out playing and that’s how you want to finish your career. You don’t want to finish your career, after such a good career like Brett has had, by sitting on the bench and not even making the squad.

'I felt it was key and he was due the respect of finishing his career on his own terms. He wants to play and, for me, he wasn’t going to play a lot for us and it was natural that we would help him get an opportunity'...

Pitman... became an increasingly peripheral figure, not ideally suited to the style of play employed by Barton...

The manager confirmed Rovers can recall Pitman should an injury crisis occur... Barton said, 'For us, that is the benefit of loaning to the National League. You do have the option to recall players'".

Southend United confirm that "Nathan Ferguson has left Southend United by mutual consent.

The 26-year-old midfielder made 43 appearances for the Shrimpers after signing in January 2021. But he has now left Roots Hall...

Ferguson scored three goals while with Blues including a stunning long range effort at Forest Green last season".

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "Grimsby Town will be without Jordan Maguire-Drew this weekend, who hasn't recovered from a calf injury in time to face Notts County... [He] has missed the last two National League matches...

Paul Hurst told Grimsby Live, 'We were expecting to have Jordan Maguire-Drew back fit but that almost certainly won't happen... He has had a scan. It's nothing major at all but he is feeling it when he's jogging for a longer period. ..

'He can do football movements but natural accumulations of distance are proving a problem. I'm not sure how much longer he will be out for... Once he does a few laps of the pitch and goes again, he can feel it. It's clearly not right'...

'The window is shut for Premier League loans but we are still open,' Hurst said. 'As much as we have places open, we'll continue to make enquiries and look but I am happy. The squad is in a good place...

'I won't just add players to the squad for numbers'...

Grimsby Town were beaten 1-0 by Notts County in the reverse fixture at Blundell Park, in a match they were desperately unlucky to lose...

Hurst said... 'When you face a team with the most possession in the league, the most passes in the league across the season, you have to be organised and hard-working... With the way they play, very expansive, they'll pick you apart if you're not organised...

'I don't think there has been much wrong a lot of the time, the fine margins haven't been there for us. The longer any run goes, you get into bad habits... We can't carry on losing games away from home'".

ALTY OLD BOY: JOEL SENIOR

Later, Carlisle manager Keith Millen spoke to the News & Star, who reported that "The Blues lost Rod McDonald, Joel Senior and Callum Guy to injuries in the first half of the 2-1 defeat.

New right-back Senior was stretchered off while experienced defender McDonald and midfielder and captain Guy limped off.

Manager Keith Millen says the trio will be assessed but first impressions of the injuries were not positive. 'All three of them aren’t great, looking at it,' he said after the game.

'With Joel, I don’t know yet. With Callum it’s a hamstring, which isn’t good. Rod’s looks like a calf [problem]... They’re not knocks, they’re more contacts or twists. We’ll have to see how bad they are. But they’re not kicks, where you think, "You might recover in time for Saturday". That doesn’t look good...

'It’s three bad injuries we don’t need'".

COOPER INTERVIEW

IN JORDAN SINNOTT'S MEMORY

His last club, then in League Two, were Chesterfield who announce that this "Saturday’s matchday collection has been organised to raise funds for the Jordan Sinnott Foundation Trust.

The organisation was recently launched as a registered charity in honour of the former Chesterfield player, whose life was cruelly cut short in January 2020 at the age of 25.

Outlining the aims of the charity, Jordan’s fiancee, Kelly Bossons, explained 'We decided to think about what Jordan (pictured, left, in his Alty days) would want to do. He was obviously very sport-orientated so we decided that we’d focus the charity on sport.

'We wanted to remove any boundaries that may stop any children in the future being able to reach their potential in areas of sport because of financial reasons.

'We have a grant process and we support clubs as well as individuals. In the last week alone, we had nearly £30,000-worth of grant applications submitted to us.

'We need to have the funds to be able to award the grants so we’re just trying to do as much fundraising as possible.'"

NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING

Before the match Woking stated that "The Cards will be looking to play themselves back into form when they make the short trip to Walton Casuals...

Alan Dowson’s side lost three out of their four games in January, although Dowse and his team will be left wondering how they didn’t take more from the games against Aldershot Town, Bromley, and Yeovil Town, to add to the win against Wealdstone. They’ll now be looking to start turning the corner as we enter February, ahead of a run of six league matches in 21 days, starting on Saturday away to Altrincham, before Southend United coming to the Laithwaite Community Stadium one week later...

In team news, striker George Oakley could feature for the first time since September as he nears a return to first-team action, although Max Kretzschmar and Tom Champion are currently sidelined through injury. Josh Casey and Jermaine Anderson both returned against Yeovil Town last time out and could play some part here as they close in on a return to full fitness. Joe McNerney and Solomon Nwabuokei, who were both withdrawn at half-time against the Glovers, could also be looking to impress after a difficult afternoon on Saturday."

CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP

The Dabbers report that "A second half brace from Alex Reid was enough to knock Nantwich Town out of the Cheshire Senior Cup.

The Dabbers had a sensational record in the Cheshire Senior Cup over the last four years. In fact, the last time they lost was in the 2016/17 finals where they were beaten by Crewe Alexandra. Since then, they had won it twice in both 2017/18 & 2018/19, the competition didn’t take place in the two seasons after due to COVID.

After getting a bye in the first round, Nantwich beat Altrincham 3-2 at the J.Davison Stadium in the Second Round. The Hatters have had to beat both Chester and Macclesfield to get to this stage.

Right: Former Altrincham winger Joe Mwasile scored the Nantwich goal. Joe was the only loan player used by Altrincham during 2013-14

The Dabbers made six changes from their [league] draw on Saturday...

On a blustery night in South Cheshire, the game took a while to get going. In fact the first opportunity lead to the first goal of the game. Argentinian midfielder Tommy Montefiori won the ball on halfway and drove into the County half before exchanging passes with Joe Mwasile and then firing low into the bottom corner to give The Dabbers an unexpected lead.

It didn’t take the visitors long to assert their authority on the game and despite going a goal down early they were dominating the ball creating chances...

In the 73rd minute, Stockport’s dominance finally paid off as they levelled the scores when substitute Keane Burugh fired a ball across the face of goal for Reid to poke home from close range. After getting back in the game, the visitors not had the momentum...

The game was looking like going to penalties until the visitors struck a sucker punch in the last minute. A cross from the right was met by an unmarked Reid who couldn’t miss as he headed home from inside the six yard box. Seconds later, the referee blew the final whistle and to be fair to Stockport, they probably deserved to take the lead based on their second half performance".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Captain Jamie Turley was reportedly suspended for taking a stand against a member of the Bees’ staff, who allegedly made the racist comment during Saturday’s game against Stockport, where Vanarama National League leaders County ran out 5-0 winners at The Hive.

Stockport subsequently issued a statement on Tuesday saying the club were aware of an alleged incident of racist abuse towards defender Ryan Johnson in the first half which 'occurred in the home stands' and were continuing to support the player.

After the incident had been immediately reported by Johnson to referee Jacob Miles, the match was briefly stopped...

According to reports, the allegation was made against one of the Barnet backroom staff and Bees captain Turley had subsequently asked the club for that person not to be around the squad at training on Monday. It is reported the member of the backroom staff complained, which resulted in Turley being suspended.

The rest of the players then reportedly stated they would not play in Tuesday night’s game at Southend but later only changed their minds after having being told some of them could have their contracts terminated if they followed through with their stance.

Defender Turley was not named in the squad against Southend, with Rob Hall selected as captain.

Barnet chairman Anthony Kleanthous told The Mirror 'I have not spoken with the team at all and am not aware of any direct “termination” threat to the players. Jamie Turley has been suspended on full pay by HR at the Club following a separate internal complaint. This is standard staff disciplinary procedure'...

Barnet said... 'We can confirm that an investigation was immediately carried out in full on the day of the alleged incident. This was conducted by the safety officer, who has overarching authority over these matters on match days, and in consultation with the attending police present at the game.

'Witnesses were interviewed with statements taken and the matter was reported to the London Matchday Silver Commander in a debrief to MO6 HQ Football Unit in line with MPS Policy. The senior police officer at the scene confirmed there was no allegation or substance for a criminal investigation to take place'".

Another club riven by an internal disciplinary matter is Chesterfield from there the Derbyshire Times reports that "Wigan Athletic boss Paul Cook could be set for a sensational return to Chesterfield...

The 54-year-old, who achieved great success at Chesterfield in his previous spell at the club between 2012 and 2015, is believed to be very interested in coming back...

The potential appointment is muddied by the ongoing situation with James Rowe and... there is a growing sense that it is more than just a possibility.

If it comes off, it would be a huge coup for Town to attract a manager with such an impressive CV... A potential return for much-adored ‘Cookie’, a three-times title winner with Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan, would give the Blues a massive boost going into the second-half of the seaso...

In his previous spell at the Spireites Cook won the League Two title and guided them to the League One play-offs and a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final before leaving to join Portsmouth...

The situation with Rowe, who was suspended last week over misconduct allegations, is still ongoing and the police remain tight-lipped over whether they are investigating the matter".

In the Grimsby Telegraph, "Paul Hurst 'can see both sides' to the debate over whether salary caps should be implemented in the National League.

Grimsby Town were present at a meeting with the other 22 National League clubs, where the introduction of financial regulations, amongst other topics, [was] discussed. As things stand, there are no limits as to what clubs can spend in the fifth tier of English football, unlike the EFL.

Wrexham AFC have particularly taken advantage and invested huge sums of money, signing three League One players in the January transfer window alone.

Whilst the club are entitled to spend as they please, the ongoing financial turmoil at Derby County is a reminder of the need to consider sustainability...

'If you end up at a club with that finances and the owner will put that money in, you'd be disappointed that you can't take advantage of that investment. At the same time, you don't want to see a club spend that money and then a change in ownership suddenly puts them in trouble.

'I genuinely see both sides. Our League is seeing a huge discrepancy between the top and the bottom teams'" said the Grimsby manager.

According to the Dorset Echo, "Weymouth boss David Oldfield insisted the Terras’ 1-1 draw at old enemies Yeovil Town was a 'decent away point'.

Oldfield’s players marked his first derby as boss with a superlative first half in which they dominated the Glovers. Early reward came in the form of Sean Shields’ fourth-minute goal, tucking home Josh McQuoid’s low ball across the box.

Yeovil improved in the second half and equalised when Tyler Cordner diverted Adi Yussuf’s drilled shot into the far corner for an own goal.

Weymouth’s Tom Bearwish and Yeovil’s Yussuf both missed gilt-edged chances in a storming second half as the sides played out their third 1-1 draw of the season.

Post-match, Oldfield said 'A very strong, competitive performance. We worked really hard, I think it was a close game... It’s a decent away point... Wwe managed to resist, too, at the end under some big pressure. That’s another small but definite step forward.'

Analysing debutant and new signing Manasse Mampala’s performance, Oldfield added 'I’m hoping he can add to us and I think he did'".

2 February 2022

DINANGA HEADS SOUTH

LOANEE DEFENDER JOINS ALTY

The Alty boss vowed to reinforce his backline... and he was as good as his word last night (Monday) when he welcomed 21 year old centre-back Cooper to The J.Davidson Stadium...

Six-foot tall and strongly built, Alty's latest arrival cited aggression as one of his main attributes, as well as a keen eye for goal, and looks an ideal acquisition during Tom Hannigan's injury absence...

Jake said, 'I like to think I read the game well, I'm aggressive in my defending and I'm confident in my ability in both boxes.

'First and foremost, I'm a defender, but I started out as a striker when I was a youth player at Sheffield United, and I like to think I've got a decent scoring record.

'I fancy myself in both boxes, and if I get a chance in the opposition area, I fancy myself to score....

'I know what I can do as a defender, and hopefully I'll show it week-in, week-out for Altrincham... I'm looking forward to my time here, and if it goes well, I hope we can sort it until the end of the season.'

Burnley-born but Sheffield-raised, Jake has made a handful of EFL Trophy appearances for the Millers and says the experience of playing alongside former Newcastle United centre-back Mike Williamson during a loan spell at Gateshead was 'massively' beneficial to his development".

Footnote: Jake will become the seventeenth player to make his debut for Altrincham this season when he steps onto the pitch for The Robins.

He had two loan spells at Gateshead in 2019-20 and 2020-21 making 29 appearances and also made two appearances for Hartlepool United in 2020-21. He has been to Moss Lane previously; in March 2021, when he was an unused sub as Alty hosted Hartlepool behind closed doors.

This season, he has made eleven appearances and scored three goals when on loan at National North Darlington before he returned to Rotherham a fortnight ago.

MIDWEEK GAMES

• Southend United 2-1 Barnet
• Yeovil Town 1-1 Weymouth

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Mampala, 21, has scored one goal in 15 first-team appearances for Blues this season... Congolese marksman Mampala's chances of game time appear limited at United, with the Cumbrians signing three strikers on transfer deadline day.

Mampala, who in 2018 inked a professional contract with Everton, is set to become the second signing of the David Oldfield era after Aaron Drewe...

Blues' boss Keith Millen... said, 'He's not played enough first-team games... It's not fair if he's not getting any game time. If he's not even on the bench, then it's tough....

'It's not so much the level, it's more about him playing consistently, getting confidence and belief in what he's about and hopefully score some goals.'

Mampala provides competition for strikers Josh McQuoid, Ben Thomson, Brandon Goodship and Jordan Greenidge, plus injured forwards Martell Taylor-Crossdale and Brad Ash".

Notts County report that "Connor Parsons has returned to Wycombe Wanderers and Tiernan Brooks has headed out on loan.

Parsons made five appearances for us after arriving from the Chairboys in November and returns to Adams Park...

Brooks, meanwhile, has joined Coalville Town until the end of the February. The terms of the agreement mean he will continue to train regularly with us while gaining crucial match experience with the Southern League Premier Division Central side".

Meanwhile, Wrexham "confirm the signing of versatile midfielder Tom O’Connor from Burton Albion, for an undisclosed fee.

Irishman O’Connor, 22, who has been capped by his country at Under-19 and Under-21 level, has signed a contract until June 2025.

He has scored five goals in 21 matches for the Brewers this season...

O’Connor said... 'It’s a risk to drop it into the National League but, seeing the squad here and the set-up, and the fact they have trusted me with a three-and-a-half-year deal, I feel like this Club can go a long way.'

Manager Phil Parkinson said... 'Midfield is one area where we were light on numbers, and Tom offers us versatility with being able to play left-sided defence too.'"

From the Derbyshire Times comes news of "The transfer business Chesterfield's promotion rivals did on deadline day as Kabongo Tshimanga stays at Spireites.

It wasn’t strictly transfer deadline day for National League clubs but a few of Chesterfield’s promotion rivals got involved in some of the action.

Any possible incomings for the Spireites have been put on hold until the situation with manager James Rowe is resolved.

The biggest worry for Town fans was the possibility of losing 22-goal man Kabongo Tshimanga but thankfully he stayed put...

Stockport County signed winger Myles Hippolyte from League Two Scunthorpe United on a free transfer.

The 27-year-old, who has played in the National League before with Yeovil Town, has penned a deal until the end of the season...

There was a surprise at Edgeley Park though as the league leaders sold John Rooney to Barrow for an undisclosed fee...

He finished last season as Stockport’s joint-top scorer in all competitions with 21 goals and was named the National League Player of the Year...

Wrexham, who are the only National League club who Monday’s transfer deadline applied to, signed their third League One player in a week.

They brought in central midfielder Tom O’Connor, 22, from Burton Albion... O’Connor follows in the footsteps of striker Ollie Palmer, from AFC Wimbledon, and Crewe Alexandra defender Callum McFadzean, in joining the Welsh club from a League One club.

Burton Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said... 'It’s an offer that the club couldn’t refuse'... Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: “I’m very pleased. I feel Tom’s a strong signing for us...

Halifax announced the signing of striker Zak Dearnley following his release from League Two Oldham Athletic...

Some of Chesterfield’s promotion rivals bolstered their squads but Solihull Moors sold midfielder James Ball to Rochdale for an undisclosed fee...

Southend signed striker Callum Powell from Kettering. The 26 year-old has scored 14 goals this season.

Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, 20, joined Notts County from Liverpool on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Midfielder Luke Dreher, 23, has signed for Bromley on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the season.

Halifax brought in midfielder Jamie Thomas, 25, on loan from Preston North End until the end of the current campaign.

Solihull Moors have loaned defender Mark Ellis from Barrow until the end of the season.

Aston Villa midfielder Arjan Raikhy has linked up with Grimsby Town on loan for the rest of the season".

SOBER ASSESSMENT

Above: Manager Phil Parkinson and his assistant, Neil Sorvel, are looking to end their team's poor sequence of results when Woking visit on Saturday.

In an Alty TV interview he spoke at length to press and media officer Brian Flynn, both about the 5-0 defeat at Solihull and the wider objectives both for this season and beyond.

NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING

In their 2022 matches, on 2 January they started with a defeat at home, 2-3, by nearby rivals Aldershot Town. They then beat Wealdstone 2-0 at Kingfield before two 1-0 defeats were experienced last week, the first at Bromley and then at home to Yeovil Town.

As regards their most recent game with The Glovers, Woking report that they "slipped to their 14th defeat in 25 league games at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, losing 1-0 to fellow mid-table side Yeovil Town, who held on for the three points despite being reduced to 10-men for the final half an hour.

Dowse [manager Dowson] made five changes to the side that started in the 1-0 defeat away to Bromley on Tuesday night, with Joe McNerney coming into the side for the suspended Louie Annesley, Solomon Nwabuokei replacing Tarryn Allarakhia, who dropped to the bench and Jamar Loza came in for Nicke Kabamba, who was named among the substitutes. Jermaine Anderson also started in central midfield in place of Max Kretzschmar who was out with injury, while Josh Casey returned to the bench.

The Cards started the better... Despite looking comfortable, Woking were then 1-0 down in the 15th minute when McNerney misjudged a through ball and Wakefield scampered on to it and calmly slotted a low finish into the right corner of the net, giving Smith no chance...

Woking tried to muscle their way into the game with a few crosses and through balls, but nothing was coming off and they missed some creativity and spark in central midfield without Kretzschmar to unlock the well-drilled Yeovil defence.

Anderson was the brightest in the middle of the park but Woking generally had a lack of ideas going forward in the first half an hour. McNerney then received a yellow card in the 38th minute after a late challenge on the dangerous Wakefield...

Effiong’s tame effort over the bar summed up the first half for the Cards, who had not tested or forced a save from the visitors’ keeper Grant Smith in the first half.

Dowse made a double change at half-time as he looked for improvement and to get an equaliser, sending on Casey and Allarakhia, in place of McNerney and Nwabuokei, but maintaining the 3-5-2 formation....

The Cards had their best effort of the game in the 60th minute as they finally hit the target... Dowse made one final change as he went to four at the back, bringing off Johnson for Kabamba who went up front alongside Effiong. Loza was released to the left-hand side, where he has always played his best and most threatening football for Woking.

The momentum of the game seemed to change in Woking’s favour in the 62nd minute, when Yeovil were reduced to 10 men when Little was shown his second yellow car... The sending off gave the Cards more space... Woking were well on top with all the possession and making good use of the extra man with Allarakhia particularly busy with Yeovil camped in their half, playing for the odd counter-attack...

Loza, who had been much more involved since being switched to the left utilising his direct running and pace, then had an effort narrowly deflected past the right post... The Cards still had not truly tested the visitor’s keeper despite a lot of pressure...

All in all, it was a frustrating afternoon for the Cards who huffed and puffed and had plenty of possession, but lacked the quality in midfield and composure in the final third...

Woking: 1 Mark Smith, 2 Kyran Lofthouse, 5 Joe McNerney © (3 Josh Casey 45’), 6 Moussa Diarra, 7 Jamar Loza, 8 Solomon Nwabuokei (17 Tarryn Allarakhia 45’), 9 Inih Effiong, 11 Tyreke Johnson (18 Nicke Kabamba 62’), 22 David Longe-King, 23 Jermaine Anderson, 24 Rohan Ince. Unused subs: 13 Craig Ross, 26 Jake Rumble".

FIXTURES REPEAT THEMSELVES

In the first half of this season Altrincham had the following sequence of National League games...

• Match 12 Tue. 26.10.21 H SOLIHULL MOORS
• Match 13 Sat. 30.10.21 A Woking
• Match 14 Sat. 13.11.21 H BOREHAM WOOD
• Match 15 Sat. 20.11.21 A Weymouth

Match 15 was actually Altrincham's last league win, which was secured against a Weymouth side playing with ten men for more than an hour after a sending-off. The last league win against a side which completed the match with eleven men was on 9 October against Maidenhead United in Match 9.

Now, in the second half of the season Altrincham have the reverse fixtures against the same four clubs, in the same sequence. However, the re-arranged King's Lynn Town game has had to be interpolated into the sequence

• Match 26 Sat. 29.1.22 A Solihull Moors
• Match 27 Sat. 5.2.22 H WOKING
• Match (28) Sat. 12.2.22 A Boreham Wood - postponed owing to Boreham Wood being in FA Trophy
• Match 28 Sat. 12.2.22 A King's Lynn Town - rearranged from 25.1.22
• Match 29 Tue. 15.2.22 A Boreham Wood - rearranged from 12.2.22
• Match 30 Sat. 19.2.22 H WEYMOUTH

MATTY'S INTERNATIONAL FAMILY

The NL Paper has reported the story and pointed out that Matt's call-up is the latest in a sequence of international honours for the Gould family.

Matt's father Jonathan played for Scotland and is the team's goalkeeping coach nowadays.

And Matt's grandfather, Bobby Gould, managed the Wales international team. As if that were not enough, Bobby's brother Trevor played for England Schoolboys.

The NL Paper also tells us that, in addition to his employment with Altrincham, Matt Gould coaches the Wigan Athletic Under-18 and Under-23 sides. Matt is currently on loan at Nantwich Town.

MIDWEEK GAMES

• Southend United v Barnet
• Yeovil Town v Weymouth

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Reds have completed two new signings so far this month with the club breaking its transfer record to bring in striker Ollie Palmer from AFC Wimbledon and left-back Callum McFadzean linking up with his former manager Phil Parkinson after leaving Crewe Alexandra.

With Wrexham unable to sign any more players, including loans, when the January transfer window closes tonight, Parkin would like to have one more fresh face through the door...

Parkin wouldn't specify the position Wrexham want to bolster... Said Parkin, 'The important thing for us is that we have cover in absolutely every position knowing full-well that after Monday, we can't strengthen again. I think we would just like to bring one more in at the moment'".

According to the Business Desk, "Grimsby Town Football Club has increased profits, despite being relegated from the Football League at the end of last season.

For the year-ending May 31 2021, the Mariners reported a profit of £195,505 (against £145,660 in 2020).

Covid restrictions during the season saw fans locked out of games, resulting in turnover in 2021 18% down vs 2020 (-£644,848). This was partially offset by government and local authority grants received of £593,216.

The Blundell Park club was sold last May to Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit, who took over from the divisive figure of John Fenty, who many fans saw as the reason for the Club’s fall from the Football League.

Andrew Pettit, vice chair, said...'We are pleased to be able to report a profit for the financial year ended 31st May 2021. Notwithstanding relegation... and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the previous board left the finances of the Club in a good state'...

Jason Stockwood, the Club’s chair added 'Andrew and I intend to continue to invest in the infrastructure and playing side of the Club and since the financial year end 1878 Partners has invested a further £1.125m into the business to support these initiatives'".

The Southend Echo reports that "Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler feels Southend United will be pushing for promotion next season.

The Shrimpers made it six games unbeaten with a 1-0 win against the Kent club on Saturday...

[Hessenthaler said], 'Credit to our fans and credit to their fans too. They’ve got wonderful fans with the situation they’re in. They’re a long way from getting promoted after coming down last year but I’m sure they will be pushing next season...

'There wasn’t much in the game in the first half but in the second we pushed Michael (Gyasi) up and he was causing them problems... They didn’t look like scoring and I thought we looked quite comfortable but one lapse in concentration from a set piece and we’ve been punished'".

Yet another EFL player has moved to the National League as Scunthorpe United "can confirm Myles Hippolyte has joined National League side Stockport County in a permanent transfer.

The midfielder had made 55 appearances for United since signing in August 2020, scoring five times".

stockport County add that Hippolyte joins "on a free transfer.

The 27 year-old, who has previously played in the National League whilst at Yeovil Town, became available to the Club earlier this week and has now signed a deal until the end of the season.

Myles began his footballing career as a young pro at Brentford, before spending time in non-league with spells at Southall, Tamworth and Hayes and Yeading... He is capable of playing on the left-hand side or through the middle as a number 10.

In 2014, he made the move north of the border to join Scottish Championship side Livingston, and would go on to make over 200 appearances in Scottish Football for a range of clubs...

Myles then returned to English football after joining Yeovil, following their relegation to the National League. He scored five times in 31 appearances for the Glovers as they reached the play-offs, before signing for Scunthorpe...

He has been in fine recent form... with his performances seeing him nominated for the League Two Player of the Month award for December".

The Halifax Courier tells us that "FC Halifax Town have signed former Oldham Athletic midfielder Zak Dearnley.

The 23-year-old's departure from Oldham was announced earlier this week, bringing to an end his time at Boundary Park which began with a loan spell from Manchester United in 2019.

Dearnley was named as a substitute for United without ever making a first-team appearance, playing nine games on loan for Oldham during the second half of the 2018-19 season, scoring on his debut. He was signed by Oldham by Halifax boss Pete Wild, who was in temporary charge of the club.

After leaving United, he returned to Oldham in January 2020, scoring four goals in eight appearances over the second half of the 2019-20 season.

He then scored seven goals in 19 appearances for Oldham during the 2020-21 season, and scored three goals in 19 games this season before leaving the club".