Player And Goalkeeper Of The Month Awards For March
Tue 8th April 2014 | League Awards | By Ian Templeman
PREMIER DIVISION - TOM BERWICK OF COLNE
Tom signed for Colne in late January and made his debut at Maine Road as a left back.
Due to postponements his next game was the home fixture against St Helens on the 1st March, where he scored an hat trick in an emphatic 7-0 victory. His first two goals in the opening 10 minutes were poacher's goals from inside the penalty area, with his third being a low volley into the bottom corner.
Colne's next fixture was away to league leaders Runcorn Linnets where Tom arguably put in the performance of the year by a Colne player in a shock 4-3 victory. Tom opened the scoring with a spectacular volley from 30 yards, his second was a flighted free kick that deceived everyone to nestle in the top corner and he scored a last minute winner when he scrambled home at the far post.
Tom was unavailable for the next two games due to an injury sustained in the Runcorn fixture and drew two blanks against Barnoldswick and the return fixture with Runcorn, playing in both games whilst not fully fit. He however returned to top form in the last two games of the month.
He equalised with a stunning volley at Norton and created a number of chances with his exciting wing play, as well as running himself into the ground in a game Colne played for 50 minutes with only 10 players.
On the last game of the month he scored a double against Stockport Sports, scoring the opening goal and then a winning final minute penalty.
Considering that Tom is only 19 years old and playing at this level for the first time, his performances during March were outstanding.
In summary, he played 6 games, scored 9 goals, was nominated twice as man of the match, contributed 5 assists and scored a hat trick in consecutive games - all this from a full back who has been turned into an attacking midfielder.
DIVISION ONE - MIKEY WHITE OF FORMBY
Eight games, his one hundredth appearance, a ninety fourth minute penalty winner, a cup final appearance guaranteed and four successive Man of the Match awards - March was certainly a notable month for Mikey White.
Formby’s first game of the month was a hard fought 2-2 draw at promotion rivals Atherton Collieries. Formby were reduced to 10 men after an hour so Mikey re-organised the team ensured they managed to snatch a last minute draw through his sheer determination. Next up was a home game against a resurgent Chadderton that Formby won by a single goal, and Mikey was nominated as man of the match in what was his one hundredth appearance for the Squirrels.
Formby then travelled to AFC Darwen for the First Division Challenge Cup semi-final first leg. Formby lost 3-2 but Mikey was again awarded man of the match. A week later Eccleshall welcomed Formby and within half an hour were three goals down. They pulled two back before halftime so the scene was set for an epic second half. Mikey marshalled his side again and ensured they came away with the three points. He was awarded his third successive man of the match.
A week later Formby played another promotion rival, Hanley Town. In what turned out to be the Squirrels hardest game of the month, Mikey scored a ninety fourth minute penalty to snatch the points and collect his fourth successive man of the match award.
Next up were Cheadle Town who were comfortably despatched 3-0, and Mikey completed the month by leading his team to an extra time victory over AFC Darwen in the second leg of the First Division Challenge Cup semi-final.
A bold and determined centre half whose style combines commitment and fire with canny strategic prescience, he is an opposing forward’s nightmare. In his hundredth game Mighty Mikey White was named as Man of the Match by opposition officials, describing him as ‘like a brick wall’.
PREMIER DIVISION - GREG HALL OF GLOSSOP NORTH END
Greg joined GNE from fellow Premier Division side Maine Road in March. He was put straight into the starting XI and proved his worth immediately with a fine performance away at Norton United.
In a tense match Greg was instrumental in ensuring that the scores remained level at half time with a couple of fine saves in the first half. From this base, GNE moved on to score the only goal of the match in the second half and ensure that their long unbeaten run continued against one of the promotion favourites.
In his next match against Silsden, Greg demonstrated to the Surrey Street faithful a side to the goalkeeping art which is not always valued – distribution. Whether by foot or from hand Greg has the ability to find a colleague with unerring accuracy so setting up attacking positions from very little. This skill was seen to devastating effect later in the month.
The home match against Runcorn Linnets brought the biggest crowd of the season to Surrey Street and they created a fine atmosphere on a Monday night. In a fixture considered by many to be crucial to the promotion hopes of both sides, it was Greg who kept the scores at 0-0 half way through the first half when he came off his line very quickly to snuff out any danger from an accurate through ball.
In the final match of the month, away at Congleton Town, the distribution skills which had been apparent from the beginning brought their reward. A flat kick from hand found midfielder Sam Hare. Hare flicked the ball forward into the path of Lee Malkin who took his chance to close out the match in favour of GNE. Goalkeeper to the back of the opposition net in less than 10 seconds and nothing the defenders could do about it.
Greg is proving to be a great addition to a buoyant Hillmen side, and will look forward to the matches to come as the season draws to its conclusion.
DIVISION ONE - MATT CONKIE OF 1874 NORTHWICH
Matt Conkie has been an inspiration to his team mates all season so far, but in the very busy month of March he surpassed his previous months' performances
1874 Northwich played seven League games in the month, winning six and drawing the other. Matt conceded just two goals and had five clean sheets - three of which were against sides who are, like 1874, close on the heels of the two leading clubs in Division One: Atherton Collieries, Hanley Town and Holker Old Boys and all games were away from home.
At Atherton Colls, Matt had to be on his toes for 90 minutes in a very close game and pulled off a string of good saves whilst commanding his area superbly all game to give his team mates confidence. The game at Hanley was similar and on a "special" night, Matt was kept busy again but he was up to the task not only saving long range shots, but twice preventing goals with unbelievable reactionary saves from close to his goal line attackers.
Then in blustery conditions at Holker, Matt provided a master class in goalkeeping to help his side earn all three points
The two goals that were conceded in the league were not "down" to Matt in any way, as Atherton Collieries at home and AFC Darwen away both scored a "good" goal.
1874 Northwich and Matt also had two cup games in the month - beating Abbey Hey 2-1 in a close encounter and one particularly good save from Matt arguably kept his side in the League Challenge Cup. First of all he saved well low down from a 12 yard shot but as the ball bounced off him to an attacker Matt then had to bravely dive at the feet on his opponent to produce the double-save.
The win over Abbey Hey took 1874 into the semi final against high-riding Maine Road and although taking the lead, Matt's side came under the cosh for long periods and despite suffering a leg injury Matt continued bravely to try and thwart the Maine Road attackers. He was beaten three times in the game but realistically had no chance with any of the goals.
So a total of nine games in 31 days during the month, and Matt conceded just six goals - without doubt, a worthy winner of the Division One goalkeeper of the month for March.
Congratulations to all the players on their awards.
Player And Goalkeeper Of The Month Awards For March
Tue 8th April 2014 | League Awards
By Ian Templeman
PREMIER DIVISION - TOM BERWICK OF COLNE
Tom signed for Colne in late January and made his debut at Maine Road as a left back.
Due to postponements his next game was the home fixture against St Helens on the 1st March, where he scored an hat trick in an emphatic 7-0 victory. His first two goals in the opening 10 minutes were poacher's goals from inside the penalty area, with his third being a low volley into the bottom corner.
Colne's next fixture was away to league leaders Runcorn Linnets where Tom arguably put in the performance of the year by a Colne player in a shock 4-3 victory. Tom opened the scoring with a spectacular volley from 30 yards, his second was a flighted free kick that deceived everyone to nestle in the top corner and he scored a last minute winner when he scrambled home at the far post.
Tom was unavailable for the next two games due to an injury sustained in the Runcorn fixture and drew two blanks against Barnoldswick and the return fixture with Runcorn, playing in both games whilst not fully fit. He however returned to top form in the last two games of the month.
He equalised with a stunning volley at Norton and created a number of chances with his exciting wing play, as well as running himself into the ground in a game Colne played for 50 minutes with only 10 players.
On the last game of the month he scored a double against Stockport Sports, scoring the opening goal and then a winning final minute penalty.
Considering that Tom is only 19 years old and playing at this level for the first time, his performances during March were outstanding.
In summary, he played 6 games, scored 9 goals, was nominated twice as man of the match, contributed 5 assists and scored a hat trick in consecutive games - all this from a full back who has been turned into an attacking midfielder.
DIVISION ONE - MIKEY WHITE OF FORMBY
Eight games, his one hundredth appearance, a ninety fourth minute penalty winner, a cup final appearance guaranteed and four successive Man of the Match awards - March was certainly a notable month for Mikey White.
Formby’s first game of the month was a hard fought 2-2 draw at promotion rivals Atherton Collieries. Formby were reduced to 10 men after an hour so Mikey re-organised the team ensured they managed to snatch a last minute draw through his sheer determination. Next up was a home game against a resurgent Chadderton that Formby won by a single goal, and Mikey was nominated as man of the match in what was his one hundredth appearance for the Squirrels.
Formby then travelled to AFC Darwen for the First Division Challenge Cup semi-final first leg. Formby lost 3-2 but Mikey was again awarded man of the match. A week later Eccleshall welcomed Formby and within half an hour were three goals down. They pulled two back before halftime so the scene was set for an epic second half. Mikey marshalled his side again and ensured they came away with the three points. He was awarded his third successive man of the match.
A week later Formby played another promotion rival, Hanley Town. In what turned out to be the Squirrels hardest game of the month, Mikey scored a ninety fourth minute penalty to snatch the points and collect his fourth successive man of the match award.
Next up were Cheadle Town who were comfortably despatched 3-0, and Mikey completed the month by leading his team to an extra time victory over AFC Darwen in the second leg of the First Division Challenge Cup semi-final.
A bold and determined centre half whose style combines commitment and fire with canny strategic prescience, he is an opposing forward’s nightmare. In his hundredth game Mighty Mikey White was named as Man of the Match by opposition officials, describing him as ‘like a brick wall’.
PREMIER DIVISION - GREG HALL OF GLOSSOP NORTH END
Greg joined GNE from fellow Premier Division side Maine Road in March. He was put straight into the starting XI and proved his worth immediately with a fine performance away at Norton United.
In a tense match Greg was instrumental in ensuring that the scores remained level at half time with a couple of fine saves in the first half. From this base, GNE moved on to score the only goal of the match in the second half and ensure that their long unbeaten run continued against one of the promotion favourites.
In his next match against Silsden, Greg demonstrated to the Surrey Street faithful a side to the goalkeeping art which is not always valued – distribution. Whether by foot or from hand Greg has the ability to find a colleague with unerring accuracy so setting up attacking positions from very little. This skill was seen to devastating effect later in the month.
The home match against Runcorn Linnets brought the biggest crowd of the season to Surrey Street and they created a fine atmosphere on a Monday night. In a fixture considered by many to be crucial to the promotion hopes of both sides, it was Greg who kept the scores at 0-0 half way through the first half when he came off his line very quickly to snuff out any danger from an accurate through ball.
In the final match of the month, away at Congleton Town, the distribution skills which had been apparent from the beginning brought their reward. A flat kick from hand found midfielder Sam Hare. Hare flicked the ball forward into the path of Lee Malkin who took his chance to close out the match in favour of GNE. Goalkeeper to the back of the opposition net in less than 10 seconds and nothing the defenders could do about it.
Greg is proving to be a great addition to a buoyant Hillmen side, and will look forward to the matches to come as the season draws to its conclusion.
DIVISION ONE - MATT CONKIE OF 1874 NORTHWICH
Matt Conkie has been an inspiration to his team mates all season so far, but in the very busy month of March he surpassed his previous months' performances
1874 Northwich played seven League games in the month, winning six and drawing the other. Matt conceded just two goals and had five clean sheets - three of which were against sides who are, like 1874, close on the heels of the two leading clubs in Division One: Atherton Collieries, Hanley Town and Holker Old Boys and all games were away from home.
At Atherton Colls, Matt had to be on his toes for 90 minutes in a very close game and pulled off a string of good saves whilst commanding his area superbly all game to give his team mates confidence. The game at Hanley was similar and on a "special" night, Matt was kept busy again but he was up to the task not only saving long range shots, but twice preventing goals with unbelievable reactionary saves from close to his goal line attackers.
Then in blustery conditions at Holker, Matt provided a master class in goalkeeping to help his side earn all three points
The two goals that were conceded in the league were not "down" to Matt in any way, as Atherton Collieries at home and AFC Darwen away both scored a "good" goal.
1874 Northwich and Matt also had two cup games in the month - beating Abbey Hey 2-1 in a close encounter and one particularly good save from Matt arguably kept his side in the League Challenge Cup. First of all he saved well low down from a 12 yard shot but as the ball bounced off him to an attacker Matt then had to bravely dive at the feet on his opponent to produce the double-save.
The win over Abbey Hey took 1874 into the semi final against high-riding Maine Road and although taking the lead, Matt's side came under the cosh for long periods and despite suffering a leg injury Matt continued bravely to try and thwart the Maine Road attackers. He was beaten three times in the game but realistically had no chance with any of the goals.
So a total of nine games in 31 days during the month, and Matt conceded just six goals - without doubt, a worthy winner of the Division One goalkeeper of the month for March.
Congratulations to all the players on their awards.
