Conference North: January

How is Soccer AM/MW's featured division looking after the first month of 2010?

Here are all the details about what's been happening in the Conference North in January.


Burr leaves Bridge

Play-off chasing Stalybridge have started the search for a new manager after Steve Burr left to take over the vacant job at Conference side Kidderminster Harriers.

He led Celtic to the play-offs in 2008 and had the Cheshire club challenging once more before answering the call from Aggborough.

Former Ashton United coach Benny Phillips has been installed as the caretaker boss at the Bower Fold.


Town take over at top

Four wins on the trot have seen Fleetwood Town take over as leaders of the Blue Square North.

Ilkeston, Farsley, Blyth, and Hinckley were all seen off at the club's Highbury ground to see the Lancashire outfit usurp long-time leaders Southport.

However, their rivals down the North West coast lie just three points behind with two games in hand, so a fierce fight for the title appears to have begun.

Elsewhere, it was a good month for Nicky Law's Alfreton side whose unbeaten run saw them move back into the top five.



Top of the table:

................................P...GD...PTS
1. Fleetwood Town.....27....33....57
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2. Southport..............25....32....54
3. Hinckley United......25....11....44
4. Eastwood Town......25.....6.....44
5. Alfreton Town........25.....15.....40
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6. Droylsden..............22....24....39
7. Stalybridge Celtic...19....12....35


Trinity of strugglers

Bottom clubs Vauxhall and Harrogate continued to struggle but it was big-spending Gainsborough who slipped back into the bottom three after losses to Stafford and Droylsden.

Trinity were overtaken by Hyde, but the Greater Manchester side remain just a point above the relegation places.

It was a good January for Northwich. The Cheshire side secured maximum spoils from their three games to move well clear of the relegation zone.

Three defeats for Gloucester though have seen the Tigers slip back down into the pack hovering just above the drop zone.



Bottom of the table:

.............................P...GD...PTS
17. Gloucester.........25...-11...24
18. Solihull Moors....25...-14....23
19. Hyde United......21....-21...19
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20. Gainsborough.....23..-18....18
21. Harrogate Town..23...-20...16
22. Vauxhall Motors..24..-28....15


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