The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier

FC UNITED of MANCHESTER sit at the top of the Premier Division for the first time in their history after two midweek wins over NANTWICH TOWN and RETFORD UNITED with the latter conceding five goals following on from their 3-2 midweek defeat at STOCKSBRIDGE. The only other club with a 100% record after three games is NORTHWICH VICTORIA who edged out BRADFORD PARK AVENUE on Tuesday before scoring a rather more comfortable 4-0 victory over HUCKNALL TOWN who themselves had won 4-0 at BUXTON on Wednesday.

In joint third are ASHTON UNITED and MATLOCK TOWN both of whom have yet to concede a goal but were held to draws on Saturday at FRICKLEY ATHLETIC and OSSETT TOWN respectively. The fans of Frickley and Ossett suffered a goal drought as both clubs were drawing 0-0 at home for the second time in five days – indeed Frickley have yet to find the net in three attempts! Newly promoted MICKLEOVER SPORTS are finding the going tougher than last season and have conceded ten goals to join RETFORD UNITED and NANTWICH TOWN as the only teams without a point.

Of the teams who have played two games in the First Division North only two have maximum points with CHORLEY giving a very impressive imitation of Chelsea having scored six in both opening games. They followed up their six at home on the opening day with another half dozen at CURZON ASHTON on Monday evening. Joining them at the top 24 hours later were SKELMERSDALE UNITED with a 4-1 win at RADCLIFFE BOROUGH who had also conceded four on the opening day. At the opposite end of the table all without a point after two matches are OSSETT ALBION, LEIGH GENESIS, GARFORTH TOWN, MOSSLEY (who are still searching for a first league goal after their 5-0 defeat at CLITHEROE) and RADCLIFFE BOROUGH.

Having risen from the ashes of the former Football League club CHESTER FC started life as an Evo-Stik League club with a goal after just six minutes but were held to a 1-1 draw in their debut game at WARRINGTON TOWN in front in front of a crowd nudging 1,500. Elsewhere last season’s runners-up LANCASTER CITY continued their poor record at WOODLEY SPORTS when they were mugged in the fifth minute of stoppage time but one of last season’s strugglers HARROGATE RAILWAY hit six at GARFORTH TOWN.

Another side to have found the going tough in the last couple of campaigns, SALFORD CITY, seem bound for better things this term and their 2-1 win at PRESCOT CABLES gives them four points. There were home wins for TRAFFORD and WAKEFIELD whilst in the one other midweek fixture WITTON ALBION grabbed a late equaliser at AFC FYLDE.

The First Division South can boast five clubs with 100% records after two games with KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC setting the pace with two 4-0 victories.

Newly promoted BARWELL also won 4-0 in midweek to go second at this early stage on goal difference whilst two other clubs new to the league, NEWCASTLE TOWN and SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN occupy third and fourth. The latter were twice behind on Wednesday at MARKET DRAYTON TOWN before fighting back to win 4-3 whilst GRANTHAM TOWN haven’t been as prolific as the other clubs with a maximum but three goals in their two games with none conceded sees them with full points in fifth.

There were two notable come backs in Tuesday’s matches with GOOLE AFC seemingly having the points in the bag at SHEPSHED DYNAMO going 3-0 up inside the opening half hour before having to settle for a point whilst ROMULUS also had two points snatched from their grasp as QUORN scored twice in the last three minutes to draw 3-3. Only three clubs in this Division are yet to register a point with MARKET DRAYTON TOWN, LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO and STAMFORD all still to get on the scoreboard.

In the FA Cup the League lost eight of the 27 games against outside opposition whilst a further eight Evostik clubs have to replay against outside clubs LEIGH GENESIS, MARKET DRAYTON TOWN, MOSSLEY, OSSETT ALBION and RADCLIFFE BOROUGH all without a point in the league put their disappointing domestic form behind them to register their first wins of the season whilst LINCOLN UNITED did well to gain a replay against Boston Town after playing virtually the whole game without ‘keeper Craig Turner who was sent off in the third minute for hand ball.