News Round Up - Updated 08.02.10

The Zamaretto League - News

Midweek Action

Red Insure Cup Fourth Round - A summary will appear here on Tuesday

Premier Division - A summary will appear here on Tuesday

Division One Midlands - A summary will appear here on Tuesday

Division One South & West - Paulton Rovers hung onto third spot when a goal in the final minute gave them a point from a 1-1 home draw against fourth placed Bridgwater Town who had taken the lead with a penalty fifteen minutes from time.

Weekend Matches

Premier Division - Top of the table Farnborugh scored a penalty in the second half seven minutes after going behind to secure a 1-1 draw at Oxford City while second placed Brackley Town also drew 1-1 when they scored in the dying seconds of time added at Tiverton Town to spoil the home side's celebrations of Manager Martyn Rogers' remarkable achievement of 1,000 games in charge. Cambridge City were held to a 2-2 draw at home when Bashley equalised from the spot two minutes after going behind allowing Nuneaton Town to take over their third place as a result of a 3-0 win at bottom of the table Rugby Town. Banbury United moved up two places when they scored twice in the last ten minutes, the first from the spot, to record a 3-1 home win over Merthyr Tydfil while Hednesford Town scored in the final minute to snatch a 2-2 home draw against Halesowen Town who had led from the twenty eighth minute and Leamington, a goal down to a first minute penalty, scored ten minutes from time to take a point from a 2-2 draw at Truro City. Stourbridge scored a first half penalty to record a 1-0 home win over Chippenham Town and Didcot Town scored with just eight minutes remaining to win 1-0 at Evesham United while second from bottom Hemel Hempstead Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home by third from bottom Clevedon Town. Bedford Town's match against Swindon Supermarine was postponed.

Division One Midlands - Hitchin Town scored a goal in each half to record a 2-0 home win over Romulus to increase their lead at the top to five points as second placed Bury Town were held to a 1-1 draw at play-off hopefuls Chesham United while third in the table Slough Town scored after just ten minutes to win 1-0 at Woodford United and fourth placed Burnham had a comfortable 3-0 home win over Bromsgrove Rovers. Sutton Coldfield Town recovered from going behind in the eighth minute to record a 5-2 home win over Biggleswade Town with three goals in the final fourteen minutes, Atherstone United gained a point fom a 1-1 draw at Leighton Town, and Arlesey Town won 3-1 at Bedworth United. AFC Sudbury recorded a comfortable 5-2 home win over bottom of the table Aylesbury United and Soham Town Rangers, after taking a sixth minute lead, scored three in the second half to win 4-0 at Beaconsfield SYCOB while Stourport Swifts secured a 2-1 home win over Marlow with a goal thirteen minutes from time. Barton Rovers game against Rothwell Town was postponed.

Division One South & West - While leaders Windsor & Eton were held to a 0-0 draw at Thatcham Town, second in the table AFC Totton, with four games in hand, closed the gap to a still formidable fifteen points with a 2-1 home win over Uxbridge but third placed Paulton Rovers were also held to a 0-0 draw at home by Bishops Cleeve allowing Bridgwater Town to make up ground when a goal in each half gave them a 2-0 home win against Cinderford Town. A goal two minutes after the break gave Cirencester Town a 1-0 home win over Frome Town while Gosport Borough, 3-1 up at half time, scored a resounding 5-1 win at Bedfont Green but VT FC, having taken an eighth minute lead from the spot, went down 2-1 at second fom bottom AFC Hayes who are now just a point behind Taunton Town with two games in hand after the Somerset side conceded three goals in the last fifteen minutes for the second game running to go down 4-0 at Mangotsfield United. North Leigh took a tenth minute lead but conceded an own goal fourteen minutes from time to draw 1-1 at home with Abingdon United while Hungerford Town raced into a 3-0 lead inside the first half hour on their way to a 4-0 win at Andover while Bracknell Town conceded two goals in each half to go down 4-0 at home to Yate Town and remain rooted at the bottom of the table following their twenty second defeat of the season.

Club News

Hednesford Town - After the managerial turmoil of recent weeks, newly appointed manager Bernie McNally has been busy this week strengthening his squad for the second half of the season. Bernie has brought back to Keys Park talismanic Portuguese defender Decio Gomes who was instrumental in the early season form, which took the Pitmen to the top of the Unibond Premier Division in the 2008/09 campaign. McNally has also signed former Manchester City and England Under-20 international Dorryl Proffitt from Buxton FC who will be another welcome addition to the squad.

Oxford City - Oxford City, a local FA Charter Standard Community Club, has become one of Oxfordshire’s first deaf friendly football clubs. The Club has recently joined the NDCS Deaf Friendly FC project and has committed to opening up the game to deaf people. Designed to make football more accessible for deaf children, the Deaf Friendly FC project was set up in 2007 and has so far attracted 56 football clubs in England, including giants such as Manchester United and Arsenal. Over the years the project revolutionised the game at all levels for deaf children, reaching nearly 1,000 deaf young players and training up over 400 coaches on how to communicate with them.

Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Sports and Leisure Activities Manager, explains, “We know there has been a severe lack of football opportunities available from grassroots to elite level for deaf children and young people in the past. Deafness makes it harder for children to communicate which can be very isolating. Many deaf children and young people find it difficult to participate in football because clubs are not set up to provide good communication. This project is revolutionising the sport at all levels for deaf children and young people. Every football club that shows its commitment to deaf children by agreeing to sign the pledge will meet with a NDCS dedicated football development officer and receive expert knowledge and resources to aid the club in being truly deaf friendly. We are delighted that Oxford City has signed the pledge, and committed to giving deaf people an equal opportunity to play football.”

City Chairman, Brian Cox says, “Oxford City is proud to have signed the Deaf Friendly Football Club Pledge. We played the skilful GB Deaf squad in a pre-season friendly and our interest and involvement has progressed from that point. We are looking forward to developing our playing and coaching opportunities for young deaf people in our community and ensuring we help them reach their full potential in the sport. We are committed to supporting deaf footballers and ensuring that the Club and its officials are deaf friendly.”

Resources that will be provided to clubs that sign the Pledge include the opportunity to take part in NDCS unique Coaching Deaf Footballers course, developed with support from The Football Association, a British Sign Language for Football course, a coaching DVD, practical support and assistance from NDCS volunteers, and help in promoting any deaf friendly football activities. The NDCS Deaf Friendly Football Club Project is being funded with the help of a grant from the UK’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation (FF), which invests money from its partners – the Premier League, The Football Association, and the Government – into good causes. A further funding of £129,623 has been awarded by the FF and the Football Association has provided £10,000 towards continuing the project in 2010-2011.

Deaf children and young deaf people who would like to join Oxford City should contact Colin Taylor on 07817885396 or email: ctoxford@btinternet.com

For more information on how you, your child or your club can get involved please contact NDCS Football Development Officer by email at football@ndcs.org.uk or phone: 0121 234 9820 (v/t). You can also find more details at www.ndcs.org.uk/football .

Tiverton Town - Tiverton Town are to celebrate Martyn Rogers' 1,000th match as the Club's Manager when they entertain second in the table Brackley Town on Saturday and are hoping for a bumper crowd to mark the occasion. Local schoolchildren are being encouraged to turn up and are being offered free entry and it is hoped that many past players will also attend to mark the occasion. Martyn, who reached the milestone recently at Banbury United, was appointed in 1992 and has taken the club to double success in the FA Vase, four Western Division Championships, promotion into the Southern League gaining their current Premier Division status in 2001, and also lifted the Southern League Cup in 2007. His outstanding achievement was also marked recently when he was invited to visit Manchester United's Carrington training ground and spent time with Sir Alex Ferguson.

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