Conference North: December

The final month's action from 2009 for our featured division this season - the Conference North. Unsurprisingly, the wintry weather led to the cancellation of many of the fixtures in December.

Fleetwood Track

Conference North high-flyers Fleetwood Town have found themselves immortalised in music thanks to a Californian punk rock band.

The Sex Presleys, who are signed to the Lancashire port's Raucous Records company, released a single after learning Town fans had used the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy In The UK" song as inspiration for their side's FA Cup run.

"I Wanna Be Cod Army," a reference to the nickname of the club's supporters, is a re-work of Elvis Costello's "Oliver's Army."

Band guitarist Nick Pistol said: "I really hope this leads us to having the chance to play a gig for the Cod Army the next time we come over to the UK."

It was also a good month for the North West outfit on the pitch. Their investment of £15,000 in pitch protection equipment helped them beat the big freeze and stage the arranged league games at their Highbury ground - winning both.


Fighting on the Beaches

Leaders Southport have seen their lead at the top cut to just three points after Fleetwood Town's haul of ten points over December.

The Lancashire port recorded home wins over Vauxhall, Northwich, and Stafford, and also picked up a point at AFC Telford to move up to second in the table.

However, it's Liam Watson's Sandgrounders who still lead the way. They demolished Town 5-0 in the first battle of the top two before Fleetwood exacted revenge with a 4-0 win on New Year's Day.

It was also a good month for Hinckley United. The Leicestershire side collected ten points as they went through December unbeaten and moved up to third.


Top of the table:

................................P...GD...PTS
1. Southport..............23....28....48
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2. Fleetwood Town.....23....26....45
3. Hinckley United......21....13....40
4. Eastwood Town......21.....4.....37
5. Droylsden..............20....22....36
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6. Corby Town............21.....3.....35
7. Stalybridge Celtic....17....15....34


Motors in reverse

Vauxhall Motors crashed to the bottom of the Conference North after losing both their fixtures in December.

The Ellesmere-Port based club went down to defeats to Fleetwood and Corby and saw themselves overtaken by Harrogate on goal difference.

Hyde United complete the bottom three at the moment, with two draws for previous incumbents Gainsborough seeing them move out of the relegation zone.


Bottom of the table:

.............................P...GD...PTS
17. Northwich.........18.....1.....19
18. Solihull Moors....22...-14....19
19. Gainsborough.....21..-13....18
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20. Hyde United......20..-21.....18
21. Harrogate Town..20...-20....13
22. Vauxhall Motors..20..-22....13


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