NLFA News - Fairclough Announces England Squad 01 Sep 2010

England `C` manager Paul Fairclough has named his sixteen-man squad for the side’s opening game of the season, a friendly with Wales at Newtown, on Tuesday, 14th September. The side includes nine new faces with a number of more established names being kept on stand-by as Fairclough takes at look at possible contenders for the vital International Challenge Trophy fixture with Estonia in Tallinn in October. Commenting on the season ahead, Fairclough said: “The side had a successful season in 200/10 culminating with the excellent performance and victory against the Republic of Ireland in Waterford. However, once again, that success has meant that the team will continue in the International Challenge Trophy without some of that squad. "Sam Deering and Matt Green have moved into the League with Oxford United and will be joined at the Kassam Stadium by Tom Craddock who signed on transfer deadline day. In addition, Rossi Jarvis has moved to Barnet, Andrew Fleming to Morecambe and Darius Charles to Stevenage. "The lads will be missed but, as always, this leaves the door wide open for the next batch of hungry cubs who will be eager to impress.” Fairclough added: “Prior to the next phase of the International Challenge Trophy in Estonia, we have the opportunity to bring in fresh faces for the Welsh clash. We have been busy checking out new arrivals to gauge the standard of players who either dropped out of the league or have been snapped up from the lower leagues to play Conference football. "The game against Wales will, as usual, be fiercely contested and the perfect game to assess players for the game in Estonia. "The nucleus of the squad from the game in Waterford are still intact and they will also be eager to impress in the early part of the season. "I am confident England `C` can progress to the next stages of the competition with several new names wearing the Three Lions with pride.” Full squad: Dale Roberts Rushden & Diamonds Pat Gambe Alfreton Town Sam Hatton AFC Wimbledon Aden Flint Alfreton Town Kyle McFadzean Crawley Town Greg Taylor Kettering Town Curtis Osana Rushden & Diamonds Danny Rose Newport County Charlie Henry Newport County Max Porter Rushden & Diamonds Steven Gregory AFC Wimbledon Jake Howells Luton Town Matthew Barnes-Homer Luton Town Ben Wright Crawley Town Michael Gash York City Michael Coulson Grimsby Town

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NLFA News - Crawley Town land York City striker Richard Brodie 01 Sep 2010

Crawley Town have completed the signing of York City striker Richard Brodie for an undisclosed fee, just three minutes before the August transfer deadline. The 23-year-old, who scored 26 league goals for York last season, teams up with joint top-scorer Matt Tubbs. The Red Devils have signed 17 players since May during a spending spree. Crawley manager Steve Evans said:"He's a goal-scorer, but he also works very hard for the team. He complements our squad very nicely." Evans says the plan to pair Brodie and former Salisbury striker Tubbs has been a summer-long project: "I spoke long and hard to our defenders, as well as seeking counsel from other people. "The defenders said Brodie and Tubbs independently were a right handful, and they would welcome having them on board. That's the biggest testament that you can have." But Evans also does not want any of his six strikers thinking they are automatic choices: "We still have Craig McAllister, we still have Jamie Cook, and we still have Ben Wright. "I'm an honest manager, and whatever two or three strikers start each game then they'll deserve to start on form and not based on reputation. "Naive managers would put those two together on Saturday, and that's not necessarily the case." York City manager Martin Foyle has expressed his disappointment at losing Brodie, although he felt it was the right decision. Foyle told BBC Radio York: "Obviously you're a little bit disappointed to lose your top goal scorer. "But from a club's point of view it was a decision to accept it. From my point of view you've got to get on with it. "You've got to look at all equations. You couldn't afford to make the same mistake as before with Clayton Donaldson who went to Scotland and the club got no fee for him. "So we've got to look at the books and the overall picture and it's probably the right decision that the club has got to make." Brodie joined York City from Newcastle Benfield midway through the 2006-07 campaign. The England C international scored 34 goals in total for City last season which is the third best tally in the club's history. Foyle said the decision to move to another Blue Square Bet Premier club was that of Brodie's. "I work for York City and can't get involved in that," he said. "I can give advice to certain players and try and help them with their careers but it's Richards decision at the end of the day and we've got to get on with it. "The loan window opens in over a week's time so that's something that I've got to use. "Hopefully we can get somebody in because we certainly need somebody in."

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NLFA News - Mansfield go top - Blue Square Premier review 31 Aug 2010

Altrincham 0-4 Mansfield Town Keigan Parker (pictured above) scored twice as Mansfield moved to the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table with a crushing defeat of sorry Altrincham. Adam Smith set up the first goal with a cross that Paul Connor headed home, and the winger added a low 25-yard drive. Parker converted Luke Medley's pass to put the game out of sight and added the gloss with a late penalty after Anthony Danylyk brought him down. Alty's best chance fell to Marc Joseph but he put his close-range header wide. BSP REVIEW - Mansfield Town moved to the top of the fledgling Blue Square Bet Premier table on Bank Holiday Monday after a comprehensive win at Moss Lane against bottom-markers Altrincham. Paul Connor headed home the opener for the Stags after 11 minutes, and winger Adam Smith added a 25-yard drive for number two 7 minutes later. Keigan Parker put the game out of sight with number three 9 minutes from time and added the gloss deep into stoppage time with a late penalty after Anthony Danylyk brought him down. A Craig Reid double helped Newport County to a good point at Kingsmeadow against AFC Wimbledon. A crowd of 3,828 saw Danny Kedwell's early penalty gave the Dons the lead on 16 minutes. Striker Reid levelled with a 25th minute penalty after Ismail Yakubu had brought down Robbie Matthews. Kedwell turned provider as Christian Jolley put the hosts ahead on 56 minutes but Reid's late 79th minute effort earned County parity. Matty Tubbs' penalty sealed Crawley Town's 1-0 win in a topsy-turvy match that saw two players on each side sent-off and a Forest Green Rovers` penalty saved. Four red cards were shown in 13 minutes after a quiet first half. Rovers' Scott Bartlett picked up a second yellow before Crawley's recent signing from Alfreton Town, Kyle McFadzean, saw a straight red for a bad challenge. Crawley keeper Michel Kuipers was then dismissed but replacement Nick Jordan saved from the spot before Tubbs scored 16 minutes from time after Gavin Caines also saw red. Andy Drury scored his first goal for Luton Town and was then sent-off as the Hatters came from behind to draw against Hayes & Yeading United at Kenilworth Road in front of a great holiday crowd of 6,354. Drury directed his header across goal and into the far corner to cancel out Brad Pritchard`s chip over keeper Mark Tyler. Pritchard had a second disallowed for offside, and he fired a chance wide late on as Hayes looked for the win. Luton's hopes ended when Drury was sent-off late on for a foul on James Mulley. Fleetwood Town kept up their good start to the season with victory over last season's play-off finalists York City. Gareth Seddon gave the Fylde coast outfit an early 7th minute lead when he nodded home Shaun Beeley's cross. Magno Vieira sealed the points on 83 minutes for the Cod Army when he lobbed home a fine finish from 12 yards. The Minstermen, who had chances through Michael Rankine and Jonathan Smith, scored a late 87th minute reply with Greg Young heading home Alex Lawless's cross. Ten-man Rushden & Diamonds took local bragging rights once again as they claimed a 1-0 win against Kettering Town at the Elgood`s Brewery Stadium. Ashley Westwood's 32nd minute own-goal proved decisive and Diamonds held on after the break, despite Justin Miller being sent-off for two bookable offence. Alan Connell scored twice as Grimsby Town came from behind to secure their first home win of the season against Histon at Blundell Park. Lee Wootton fired the visitors ahead after 23 minutes, seizing on a mistake by Bradley Wood, before home keeper Steve Croudson kept out an Omer Riza shot. On 39 minutes Connell levelled from the penalty spot after Oluwafemi Ilesanmi was ruled to have brought down Lewis Gobern. And, after twice going close, he volleyed in an 85th minute winner from Lee Peacock's cross. Jack Byrne struck an injury-time equaliser for ten-man Kidderminster Harriers as they battled to a draw with Tamworth at Aggborough. Keith Briggs put Harriers ahead just before half time when he struck from 20 yards but the visitors equalised almost immediately when Kyle Perry headed in a Mike Williams cross. The home side lost Mark Albrighton when he picked up a second yellow card 17 minutes from time and Perry fired in from the edge of the area to put Tamworth ahead 6 minutes later, but Byrne nodded in from close range to snatch a point for ten-man Harriers. Wrexham eased the pressure on under-fire boss Dean Saunders as the Dragons beat newly-promoted Bath City 2-0. Striker Andy Morrell headed Wrexham into a 28th minute lead as he pounced on a Curtis Obeng ball. Christian Smith extended the lead just before the hour, darting into the box to head Dean Keates' cross home and secure Wrexham's first victory in five games to leapfrog Bath in the table. Cambridge United eased to their first win of the season over Eastbourne Borough at the Abbey Stadium. Josh Coulson headed them into an early 7th minute lead from James Jennings' cross and Jennings made it 2-0 just before half time with a 25-yard free kick. Boro almost pulled a goal back but striker Andy Atkin's header rebounded off the bar. But their keeper Rikki Banks was a busy man and held three long-range efforts from Danny Wright, while he also denied Daryl Clare and Robbie Willmott.

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NLFA News - Fan spat galvanizes Luton Town boss Richard Money 31 Aug 2010

Luton Town boss Richard Money believes the fallout of a confrontation with Hatters fans after the 3-1 loss at Tamworth has galvanized his position. Money apologised in a statement after Saturday's defeat for over-reacting to supporters' criticism. He said: "I think it's strengthened it. I was a bit concerned overnight in terms of what the reaction might be." Speaking after Monday's 1-1 draw with Hayes & Yeading he added: "But I think the supporters have said it all. "There's always a right way and a wrong way to do things and that was obviously not the right way to voice my feelings. "I was really pleased with the level of support the team received today and the level of support I received." The Luton manager approached a section of Hatters fans at the Lamb Ground after being riled by criticism of Czech midfielder Pavel Besta, who was at fault for one of the Tamworth goals. At the time Money said: "I will always be fiercely protective of my players, no matter who I'm the manager of. "Pavel was distraught he had given the second goal away, but the comments when I took him off were unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. "I don't have favourites and I don't believe supporters should have favourites." But after the bank holiday stalemate with Hayes he admitted: "In hindsight it's regrettable. You'd like to think it wouldn't happen again. "I think it shows people I have a passion for this group of players and I believe if we stick with them they can achieve what we want to achieve."

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NLFA News - Red for Crawley and Forest Green 31 Aug 2010

Crawley Town 1-0 Forest Green Rovers Matt Tubbs' penalty sealed Crawley Town's 1-0 win in a topsy-turvy match that saw two players on each side sent off and a Forest Green spot kick saved. Four red cards were shown in 13 minutes after a quiet first half. Rovers' Scott Bartlett picked up a second yellow before Crawley's Kyle McFadzean saw red for a bad challenge. Crawley keeper Michel Kuipers was then sent off but replacement Nick Jordan saved from the spot before Tubbs scored after Gavin Caines left the field. Crawley Town: Kuipers, Mills, Wilson, Hall, Quinn, McFadzean, Rusk, Torres, Neilson (Hutchinson 77), Tubbs (Wright 81), McAllister (Jordan 71). Subs Not Used: Flood, Reason. Sent Off: McFadzean (68), Kuipers (71). Booked: McFadzean, Hall, Quinn. Goals: Tubbs 74 pen. Forest Green: Bittner, Bartlett, Caines, Luke Jones, Armstrong (Smith 89), Herring, Mike Fowler (McDonald 75), Lee Fowler, Else (Davies 79), Klukowski, Styche. Subs Not Used: Zak Jones, Grimes. Sent Off: Bartlett (61), Caines (74). Booked: Bittner, Luke Jones, Bartlett, Styche. Att: 1,458 Ref: S Cook (England).

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