Conference North: October

It's been another eventful month in our featured division of the season - the Conference North. Here's the round-up for October.


Success in Cup for Northern quintet

Five Conference North clubs progressed through to the First Round of the FA Cup this weekend with Northwich landing one of the ties of the round against League One Charlton.

The Cheshire club will be featuring live on TV on Sunday lunchtime as they host the Londoners at the Victoria Stadium.

Also hosting higher-league opponents are AFC Telford United, who dispatched of Blyth Spartans to set-up a winnable tie against League Two strugglers Lincoln City.

Hinckley upset Conference club Histon to claim a trip to Rushden & Diamonds, and Ilkeston travel to one of Non League's giants in Cambridge United.

Finally, Fleetwood Town will be hoping for a decent pay day as they make the long trip from Lancashire to Sixfields to face Football League side Northampton.


Life a beach for Sandgrounders

Southport powered their way to the top of the Conference North in October as three wins and a draw saw Liam Watson's side take over at the summit. The run culminated in a 5-1 thrasing of fellow high-flyers Eastwood at Haig Avenue this weekend.

Big-spending Corby continued their fine campaign too with a similarly profitable month. The Northamptonshire side moved into second place ahead of former leaders Droylsden.

Making a move into the play-off picture for the first time this season too are Stalybridge. Defensive solidarity with just one conceded in their four games was the bedrock for the Bower Fold outfit to break into the top-five.




Top of the table:

................................P...GD...PTS
1. Southport..............15....16....31
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2. Corby Town...........15.....8.....30
3. Droylsden.............16.....20....28
4. Stalybridge...........15.....11....28
5. Eastwood Town.....16.....4......28
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6. Alfreton Town........15....12.....25
7. Fleetwood Town.....14.....10....25


Cry of the Tigers

Just one point from nine saw promoted Gloucester City drop into the relegation zone for the first time this season. Dave Mehew's side lost to fellow strugglers Gainsborough at the weekend but have two games in hand on sides around them.

It was another bad month for Harrogate too with five defeats from six matches seeing the North Yorkshire side plummet to the foot of the table and pile the pressure on rookie boss Simon Weaver.

Elsewhere, Farsley continued their upwards momentum since beginning the season on minus points by moving out of the bottom three.


Bottom of the table:

.............................P...GD...PTS
17. Solihull Moors....15...-10....15
18. Farsley Celtic.....16...-1.....13
19. Redditch...........14...-10....13
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20. Vauxhall Motors..16...-13...13
21. Gloucester.........14....-6.....12
22. Harrogate Town..16...-18.....11


More news from the Conference North at the end of the month in our review of all the action in November.