Conference North: November

All the latest goings on during November rounded-up in our featured division for the season - the Blue Square North.


Northwich Victorious

Northwich caused the sensation of the FA Cup first round as they knocked out League One giants Charlton 1-0 at the Victoria Stadium.

Live on ITV, the Cheshire club gave a battling display and teenager Wayne Riley's goal late on was enough to give them victory. Sadly, Andy Preece's side were unable to repeat their heroics, losing 3-1 to Lincoln in the second round.



'Port storming away at top

Liam Watson's Southport took control at the top of the Conference North after collecting 11 points from their five games in November. That included a thumping 4-0 win over play-off chasing Corby at Haig Avenue.

Droylsden and Eastwood continue to lead the chase on the Sandgrounders. The Greater Manchester club won both their games while the Badgers, who also won two, went down to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Workington this weekend.

Elsewhere in the play-off race, Alfreton and Fleetwood continued their good form to move into the top five, and three straight wins have seen Hinckley move onto the fringes of the play-off places.

Top of the table:

................................P...GD...PTS
1. Southport..............20....24....42
--------------------------------------------
2. Droylsden..............18....22....34
3. Eastwood Town......19.....6....34
4. Fleetwood Town.....17.....21...32
5. Alfreton Town........19.....12....31
--------------------------------------------
6. Corby Town...........18......2.....31
7. Hinckley United......17.....8.....30


Unholy Trinity

Struggling Gainsborough dropped back into the bottom three after defeat to fellow strugglers Gloucester at the weekend. The win hauled the Tigers above Brian Little's outfit, who join Vauxhall and Harrogate in the relegation zone.

Northwich's FA Cup exploits have seen them drop down the table due to inactivity, and financially troubled Hyde also remain in danger at the bottom. The North West club earned just two points from their four games during November.

Solihull made the most of their five games to move away from the drop zone and into the safety of mid-table as the mid-way point of the season approaches.




Bottom of the table:

.............................P...GD...PTS
17. Hyde United......19...-17....18
18. Redditch...........19...-21....18
19. Northwich.........15..//.4.....16
-------------------------------------------
20. Gainsborough....19...-13.....16
21. Vauxhall Motors.18....-18....13
22. Harrogate Town..19...-19....13


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