Conference North: August

A month into the new season, and we take a look at what's been going on in Soccer AM/MW's featured division of the season... it's only the Conference North!

Little appointment for big-thinking Trinity

Ambitious Gainsborough have appointed former Leicester and Aston Villa boss Brian Little (right) as their new manager. Trinity, who sacked Steve Charles four games into the new campaign, have secured Little on a two year deal.

The Lincolnshire outfit, who currently sit 20th in the league, have won just one of their opening seven games.


Promoted duo get off to flyers

Seven games in, and it's last season's Unibond Premier winners Eastwood Town who top the Conference North. The Badgers, who reached the second round of the FA Cup last season, have won five games, including impressive away wins at Harrogate, Gloucester, and Gainsborough.

Also nestled in the top-five following promotion last season are Corby Town. The Northamptonshire outfit had topped the league after winning their first three games, and have performed similarly well on their travels.

Elsewhere, former Conference club Droylsden have put last season's disappointing campiagn behind them and look set to challenge for a return to the Conference Premier after dropping down in 2008.

And it's been a good start for two North West coastal towns, with both Southport and Fleetwood Town sitting in the play-off places after the first month of action.


Top of the table:

................................P...GD...PTS
1. Eastwood Town.......7....6......16
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2. Droylsden...............7....9......14
3. Southport...............7....5......14
4. Fleetwood Town......7....6......13
5. Corby Town.............7...4.......13
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6. AFC Telford.............7....3......12
7. Ilkeston Town..........7....1......12

Vics and Celtic play catch-up

Northwich Victoria and Farsley Celtic have both wiped out their points deficits as they look to make ground on the rest of the division.

Both sides began the season on -10, but Northwich's 1-1 draw with Southport saw them move into positive numbers. Celtic remain on zero however, as defeat at Ilkeston saw them failing to register their first point on the board.

Elsewhere, new boys Gloucester have found the step-up tough, and Redditch United and Darren Edmondson's Workington have also got off to a struggling start. The biggest surprise is big-spending Gainsborough though, who sit in the bottom-three after a woeful start to the campaign.

Steve Charles lost his job after they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose at Hyde, and the Blues will be hoping new boss Brian Little can turn fortunes around quickly for the promotion hopefuls.

Bottom of the table:

...........................P...GD...PTS
17. Gloucester.......7....-4......6
18. Redditch..........7....-5......6
19. Workington......7....-7......5
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20. Gainsborough...7.....-7.....4
21. Northwich........7....-2......1
22. Farsley Celtic...7.....0......0

And we'll bring you all the latest news from the Conference North at the end of the month in our September review.