Month: November 2020

Ebac Northern League – Resumption of Fixtures

Today we have received the following from the Northern League on the resumption.

“As you will all be aware the current lockdown ends at midnight on the 2nd December 2020 and will be replaced by a three tier system based on total number of Covid cases in an area; the number of cases in over 60s; rate at which cases are rising or falling; the proportion of test results coming back positive and pressure on the NHS.

Decisions made by the Government will unfortunately see 36 of the league’s 40 clubs placed in areas covered by Tier Three restrictions which would allow football to be played at Steps 5/6 but would require them to be played behind closed doors thereby removing significant income streams for all our clubs.

Although the FA has stressed that their key objective is to conclude the 2020/21 season and implement promotion and relegation, either through completion of the fixtures schedule or by a mathematical formula if the season is incomplete, it is the feeling of the LMC that it at this stage it’s simply not financially viable to ask clubs to play without spectators being present.

Consequently, at an emergency LMC meeting held earlier this morning it was decided that the league would be suspended for a further two weeks until 16th December 2020 when the Government will be undertaking the first of its fortnightly reviews of the tier areas.

We will also review the situation at this point.

In the meantime the league will be carrying out a consultation exercise with its member clubs over the next week as to how we can fulfil the FA’s objectives and still comply with the Government restrictions without putting our clubs’ existence at risk.

Any decision regarding league fixtures does not include the FA Vase or the County Cup competitions which do not fall under our jurisdiction.”

We await the decision on the FA Vase.

 

Bootle 0 Shildon 2, Match report by Adam Gill

Shildon progressed to the FA Vase Second Round as they beat Bootle 2-0 away from home at the Berry Street Garage Stadium.

Joe Posthill gave the away side the lead in the 54th minute after cutting inside from the right wing before firing home.

Chay Liddle sealed the win for the Railwaymen in the 72nd minute when his shot nestled into the bottom corner.

With the wind behind them, Bootle had the most chances in the first half, however Shildon had some chances of their own.

The home side had the first chance of the game, when Steven Hoy saw his long range effort equally matched by Shaun Newbrook.

Dean Thexton nearly gave Shildon the lead, when he drove inside before seeing his whipped effort saved by Ryan Jones.

Bootle almost took the lead just before half-time, when Kieran Halligan’s long range strike was well turned away by Newbrook.

Shildon took the lead in the 54th minute, when Posthill cut inside with a neat stepover before curling his effort into the bottom corner past Jones.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 72nd minute, when Liddle picked up the ball on the edge of the box, before firing a pinpoint effort into the bottom corner.

Michael Sweet nearly added a third for the away side, however his low effort was brilliantly saved by Jones.

Bootle pushed forward trying to get back into the game, however anything Bootle threw forward, Shildon threw back.

The whole Shildon team produced a fantastic performance – Daniel Moore in particular – as they capped off a great display with a win and a clean sheet that sees them go into the next round of the FA Vase.

Photos of the game can be viewed here

Interview with Mark Hudson

Interview with Daniel Moore