December 2024 Player of the Month announced
Fri 10th January 2025 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for December 2024 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for December 2024 has gone to Djavan Pedro from Bury, who has become the first player since Craig Cairns in 2016 to retain this award.
Affectionately known as DJ, he scored seven goals in the month in the five games that he played, with no player across the country at Step 5 scoring more than this. The former Salford City player also picked up three Man of the Match wins, an accolade that he has picked up seven times in his first 13 appearances for The Shakers.
His first game of December saw his team go down to a 3-1 defeat at Litherland REMYCA, with DJ scoring the only goal of the game for his team.
In the next game against Colne, DJ scored again in am emphatic 4-0 win and also provided two assists for his teammates. DJ picked up his first Man of the Match of the month after providing the assist in the away match at Irlam in which Bury won 1-0.00
DJ's best performance of the month came in the game before Christmas, an outstanding performance against at the time top of the table Chadderton. DJ scored a first half hattrick and added a fourth just after the hour mark. DJ was still causing the defence issues in the 96th minute of the game drawing the foul to win a late penalty, which was duly slotted away in a 5 star performance in which Bury won 5-2.
His third successive Man of the Match came in the Boxing match derby against Ramsbottom United where he scored his seventh goal of the month. DJ's fourth assist of the month (not including winning the penalty) came in a final game of the month in the 5-2 victory over Prestwich Heys.
A superb month for DJ who has proved to been an excellent addition to Dave McNabbs's squad with 14 goals in his first 15 games.
Congratulations to DJ!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
Darwen striker Connor Hughes has been confirmed as the NWCFL's First Division North Player of the Month for December 2024.
Connor played higher up the pyramid for teams such as Hyde, Halifax Town, Worcester City and Stalybridge Celtic, before joining Daisy Hill in 2020/21. He spend two seasons with the Cutters before moving to Witton Albion last season, before moving to Darwen in August.
In December he played in all three games that the Salmoners played, scoring and picking up Man of the Match in the first game of the month at Garstang.
Next up was a home tie against high flying Euxton Villa on Boxing Day, with Connor one again picking up Man of the Match in a fine display for his team. He helped himself to the matchball as he scored a hat-trick in that game,
The final game of the month was another home game, this time a tight affair at home to Bacup Borough with Connor setting up teammate Jayden Major to score the winner with 20 minutes remaining.
Congratulations to Connor on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The winner of the NWCFL's First Division South Player of the Month for December 2024 is Sandbach United striker Joe Bevan.
The 27-year old striker is no stranger around the NWCFL, first joining Avro back in the 2018/19 season. Spells have followed at New Mills, Wythenshawe and Abbey Hey, before he joined Sandbach United at the start of this season. Perhaps the only surprise is that he has not won this award before.
His first game of the month against Allscott heath where Joe was rightly nominated as Man of the Match he terrorised the back 4 especially the centre halves where his pace enabled him to twice break the line going one on one with the keeper to finish deftly inthe bottom corners, he then had the opportunity to score his hat-trick but selflessly set up Pollard for an easy finish. Of course in true Joe Bevan style he was not happy with that and went on to finish the game 4-0 with his own hat-trick with a fantastic shot from the left side giving the keeper no chance. (Notably his third hat-trick of the season both of his others being made in under 13 minutes each).
In the second game against Winsford he struck a lovely penalty to deny Winsford a clean sheet of which they have had many this season. It was a deserved goal back after missing a few earlier chances and striking the crossbar. Once again being awarded Man of the Match for his tenacious play.
In the third and final game of December Sandbach went 1-0 down at Cammell Laird, however that did not deter Joe who without fail puts in maximum effort, turning the game round in the space of twenty minutes in the second half with a brace. the first a twist and turn of the last man to put him one on one with the keeper and sweetly placing the ball at an angle which was impossible for the keeper. In the 85th Minute he struck the winner with a close range goal after a looping cross found the defence floundering.
A fantastic month all-round for Joe, averaging two goals a game, two Man of the Match awards and an assist and boosting his chance of the end of season golden boot award.
Congratulations Joe!
December 2024 Player of the Month announced
Fri 10th January 2025 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for December 2024 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for December 2024 has gone to Djavan Pedro from Bury, who has become the first player since Craig Cairns in 2016 to retain this award.
Affectionately known as DJ, he scored seven goals in the month in the five games that he played, with no player across the country at Step 5 scoring more than this. The former Salford City player also picked up three Man of the Match wins, an accolade that he has picked up seven times in his first 13 appearances for The Shakers.
His first game of December saw his team go down to a 3-1 defeat at Litherland REMYCA, with DJ scoring the only goal of the game for his team.
In the next game against Colne, DJ scored again in am emphatic 4-0 win and also provided two assists for his teammates. DJ picked up his first Man of the Match of the month after providing the assist in the away match at Irlam in which Bury won 1-0.00
DJ's best performance of the month came in the game before Christmas, an outstanding performance against at the time top of the table Chadderton. DJ scored a first half hattrick and added a fourth just after the hour mark. DJ was still causing the defence issues in the 96th minute of the game drawing the foul to win a late penalty, which was duly slotted away in a 5 star performance in which Bury won 5-2.
His third successive Man of the Match came in the Boxing match derby against Ramsbottom United where he scored his seventh goal of the month. DJ's fourth assist of the month (not including winning the penalty) came in a final game of the month in the 5-2 victory over Prestwich Heys.
A superb month for DJ who has proved to been an excellent addition to Dave McNabbs's squad with 14 goals in his first 15 games.
Congratulations to DJ!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
Darwen striker Connor Hughes has been confirmed as the NWCFL's First Division North Player of the Month for December 2024.
Connor played higher up the pyramid for teams such as Hyde, Halifax Town, Worcester City and Stalybridge Celtic, before joining Daisy Hill in 2020/21. He spend two seasons with the Cutters before moving to Witton Albion last season, before moving to Darwen in August.
In December he played in all three games that the Salmoners played, scoring and picking up Man of the Match in the first game of the month at Garstang.
Next up was a home tie against high flying Euxton Villa on Boxing Day, with Connor one again picking up Man of the Match in a fine display for his team. He helped himself to the matchball as he scored a hat-trick in that game,
The final game of the month was another home game, this time a tight affair at home to Bacup Borough with Connor setting up teammate Jayden Major to score the winner with 20 minutes remaining.
Congratulations to Connor on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The winner of the NWCFL's First Division South Player of the Month for December 2024 is Sandbach United striker Joe Bevan.
The 27-year old striker is no stranger around the NWCFL, first joining Avro back in the 2018/19 season. Spells have followed at New Mills, Wythenshawe and Abbey Hey, before he joined Sandbach United at the start of this season. Perhaps the only surprise is that he has not won this award before.
His first game of the month against Allscott heath where Joe was rightly nominated as Man of the Match he terrorised the back 4 especially the centre halves where his pace enabled him to twice break the line going one on one with the keeper to finish deftly inthe bottom corners, he then had the opportunity to score his hat-trick but selflessly set up Pollard for an easy finish. Of course in true Joe Bevan style he was not happy with that and went on to finish the game 4-0 with his own hat-trick with a fantastic shot from the left side giving the keeper no chance. (Notably his third hat-trick of the season both of his others being made in under 13 minutes each).
In the second game against Winsford he struck a lovely penalty to deny Winsford a clean sheet of which they have had many this season. It was a deserved goal back after missing a few earlier chances and striking the crossbar. Once again being awarded Man of the Match for his tenacious play.
In the third and final game of December Sandbach went 1-0 down at Cammell Laird, however that did not deter Joe who without fail puts in maximum effort, turning the game round in the space of twenty minutes in the second half with a brace. the first a twist and turn of the last man to put him one on one with the keeper and sweetly placing the ball at an angle which was impossible for the keeper. In the 85th Minute he struck the winner with a close range goal after a looping cross found the defence floundering.
A fantastic month all-round for Joe, averaging two goals a game, two Man of the Match awards and an assist and boosting his chance of the end of season golden boot award.
Congratulations Joe!
