Player And Goalkeeper Of The Month Awards
Sat 9th May 2015 | League Awards | By Ian Templeman
PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - ISAAC KUSALOKA OF ASHTON ATHLETIC
Isaac joined The Yellows early in the New Year and the month of April was certainly his finest. Playing in all six of the unbeaten fixtures Isaac recorded three goals.
A typically energetic performance away to Colne was followed up by a great all round display in the victory at home to 'Tenants' St Helens Town. It wasn't until the third game of the season, against long time league leaders Runcorn Linnets, that Isaac was on the score sheet.
He caused all kinds of problems to the experienced Linnets back line and finished superbly twice to record a much deserved brace.
Two fine performances against both 1874 Northwich and Abbey Hey proceeded a wonderful goal at home in the final game of the season against Bacup and Rossendale Borough which saw the team run out 2-0 winners. Typically, it was his pace that saw him one-on-one with the BARB 'Keeper and he coolly finished into the bottom corner.
Pace, power and fantastic hold-up play are just a few assets of the enigmatic striker and his performances during the month of April certainly contributed greatly to Athletic’s strong finish to the season.
DIVISION ONE - DAN COUNTER OF ECCLESHALL
Dan has been with the club for a few years now and is a wholehearted player who gives his all when turning out for Eccleshall.
As part of the defence, he is solid in the tackle and also a good header of the ball. He also contributed with a couple of goals during April, scoring a late consolation away at Barnton on Easter Monday and rescuing a point for Eccleshall with a 93rd minute equaliser at home to Holker Old Boys.
This goal was all the more remarkable given that he had been on the bench as he was carrying a knock and was a 'last throw of the dice' by manager Steve Lloyd to try and get something from the game. His long throw into the box in the final minutes led to another sub heading against the post and Dan had moved forward to lash home a loose ball for the late equaliser - an inspired substitution!
Dan also played his part in the final game at AFC Darwen where Eccleshall eventually lost to a 90th minute goal, but fully played their part in an entertaining game and gave Darwen a scare as they carried on their promotion chase. In the view of Eccleshall manager Steve Lloyd, Dan is a worthy winner of the April award.
GOALKEEPER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - JAY FOULDS OF ASHTON ATHLETIC
Athletic finished the season undefeated in the month of April and no player contributed more than Player/Manager Jay Foulds. A fantastic record during the month saw Jay play in all six games, keeping five clean sheets and a miserly goals against count of three! The team enjoyed three victories and three goalless draws, with three of the clean sheets coming against sides placed in the top four of the league.
The run started away at Colne in a game against one of Athletic’s closest rivals in the league this season. Little in the way of goalmouth action at either end saw Jay have a relatively quiet afternoon, however, his distribution and organisation of the players in front of him contributed to ‘The Yellows' leaving with their first 'shut out' of the month.
Second up was a tricky game against 'tenants' St Helens Town, who were themselves fighting for survival in the NWCFL Premier Division. Two early goals rocked Athletic and without two fantastic full stretch saves from Jay, the scoreline could have been 4-0 at half time and the game out of sight.
Ultimately those saves proved pivotal in the game, as early goals in the second half saw Athletic turn the game around, and run out eventual 4-3 winners.
The Millbank Linnets Stadium was next to witness Jay's outstanding form and with The Linnets unbeaten at home, he was expecting a busy day. It wasn't long before he was called into action, contorting his shape in mid-air and expertly tipping a powerful drive onto the bar. The raucous crowd had already started to celebrate a goal and had to quickly return to their seats.
The early pressure was relentless but Jay constantly organised his back line and they stood firm. In the second half his midfield and forward line relieved some of the pressure but when called upon he was there to protect the clean sheet. At the final whistle, Jay became the first keeper to keep a clean sheet in the league at the Millbank Linnets Stadium as Athletic ran out 3-0 victors.
Against 1874 Northwich Jay completed a hat-trick of clean sheets against a team who have scored 90 goals in 49 games during the season. He had to be alert to push a twenty yard strike round the post, and in the second half his performance was faultless as Athletic recorded their second no score draw of the month.
In the penultimate game of the month Jay picked up his fourth clean sheet, although he was made to work hard for it against a dangerous and well-organised Abbey Hey side.
With the players in front of him having something of an off day, Jay had to continue his top form as Abbey applied pressure with a series of testing efforts. A thunderous shot from outside the box forced an excellent save low to his right just before half time, keeping his side in the game.
The second half continued much the same as the first as Jay was repeatedly called into action to thwart the dangerous Abbey Hey attack.
The final game of April, and of the season, saw Bacup and Rossendale Borough visit Brocstedes Park looking for the victory that would maintain their top flight status.
BARB forced lots of early pressure and Jay was called into action as early as the second minute to producing an excellent stop low to his left. With the game delicately poised at 0-0 Athletic gave away a penalty in the dying minutes of the first half.
It was left to Jay to produce a stunning stop, readjusting his body to turn the ball over the bar. His side went on to win the game and Jay recorded his fifth and final clean sheet.
Jay has once again had another fantastic season between the sticks and the month of April will certainly be remembered as one of his best!
DIVISION ONE - AARON ASHLEY OF DAISY HILL
Aaron returned from his spell as a first team player at New Mills in the Evo-Stik League at a crucial time for Daisy Hill.
He played in all the club’s games during April, and turned in consistently outstanding performances during a period where the team began to pick up points after a run of results that had seen them drop out of the play off places. His return helped the club in their push to gain a top six finish which was in reach until the last game of the season.
The team went on an unbeaten run of five games during April, and Aaron was instrumental in the team’s performances at a crucial time of the season.
Alongside quality displays in general, highlights of Aaron’s form during the month all came against teams at the top end of the table. He made a penalty save against Holker Old Boys in a 1-0 home win, kept a clean sheet against free scoring Atherton Collieries in a goalless draw, and made some fantastic saves in helping the team to a 2-1 win against Barnton.
Additional draws against Ashton Town and Oldham Boro meant that Daisy had an unbeaten run right up to the close where it became mathematically impossible to reach the top six, and Aaron played his part in cemented the back four at a crucial time and gave them the professionalism needed to finish the campaign on a good run.
Player And Goalkeeper Of The Month Awards
Sat 9th May 2015 | League Awards
By Ian Templeman
PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - ISAAC KUSALOKA OF ASHTON ATHLETIC
Isaac joined The Yellows early in the New Year and the month of April was certainly his finest. Playing in all six of the unbeaten fixtures Isaac recorded three goals.
A typically energetic performance away to Colne was followed up by a great all round display in the victory at home to 'Tenants' St Helens Town. It wasn't until the third game of the season, against long time league leaders Runcorn Linnets, that Isaac was on the score sheet.
He caused all kinds of problems to the experienced Linnets back line and finished superbly twice to record a much deserved brace.
Two fine performances against both 1874 Northwich and Abbey Hey proceeded a wonderful goal at home in the final game of the season against Bacup and Rossendale Borough which saw the team run out 2-0 winners. Typically, it was his pace that saw him one-on-one with the BARB 'Keeper and he coolly finished into the bottom corner.
Pace, power and fantastic hold-up play are just a few assets of the enigmatic striker and his performances during the month of April certainly contributed greatly to Athletic’s strong finish to the season.
DIVISION ONE - DAN COUNTER OF ECCLESHALL
Dan has been with the club for a few years now and is a wholehearted player who gives his all when turning out for Eccleshall.
As part of the defence, he is solid in the tackle and also a good header of the ball. He also contributed with a couple of goals during April, scoring a late consolation away at Barnton on Easter Monday and rescuing a point for Eccleshall with a 93rd minute equaliser at home to Holker Old Boys.
This goal was all the more remarkable given that he had been on the bench as he was carrying a knock and was a 'last throw of the dice' by manager Steve Lloyd to try and get something from the game. His long throw into the box in the final minutes led to another sub heading against the post and Dan had moved forward to lash home a loose ball for the late equaliser - an inspired substitution!
Dan also played his part in the final game at AFC Darwen where Eccleshall eventually lost to a 90th minute goal, but fully played their part in an entertaining game and gave Darwen a scare as they carried on their promotion chase. In the view of Eccleshall manager Steve Lloyd, Dan is a worthy winner of the April award.
GOALKEEPER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - JAY FOULDS OF ASHTON ATHLETIC
Athletic finished the season undefeated in the month of April and no player contributed more than Player/Manager Jay Foulds. A fantastic record during the month saw Jay play in all six games, keeping five clean sheets and a miserly goals against count of three! The team enjoyed three victories and three goalless draws, with three of the clean sheets coming against sides placed in the top four of the league.
The run started away at Colne in a game against one of Athletic’s closest rivals in the league this season. Little in the way of goalmouth action at either end saw Jay have a relatively quiet afternoon, however, his distribution and organisation of the players in front of him contributed to ‘The Yellows' leaving with their first 'shut out' of the month.
Second up was a tricky game against 'tenants' St Helens Town, who were themselves fighting for survival in the NWCFL Premier Division. Two early goals rocked Athletic and without two fantastic full stretch saves from Jay, the scoreline could have been 4-0 at half time and the game out of sight.
Ultimately those saves proved pivotal in the game, as early goals in the second half saw Athletic turn the game around, and run out eventual 4-3 winners.
The Millbank Linnets Stadium was next to witness Jay's outstanding form and with The Linnets unbeaten at home, he was expecting a busy day. It wasn't long before he was called into action, contorting his shape in mid-air and expertly tipping a powerful drive onto the bar. The raucous crowd had already started to celebrate a goal and had to quickly return to their seats.
The early pressure was relentless but Jay constantly organised his back line and they stood firm. In the second half his midfield and forward line relieved some of the pressure but when called upon he was there to protect the clean sheet. At the final whistle, Jay became the first keeper to keep a clean sheet in the league at the Millbank Linnets Stadium as Athletic ran out 3-0 victors.
Against 1874 Northwich Jay completed a hat-trick of clean sheets against a team who have scored 90 goals in 49 games during the season. He had to be alert to push a twenty yard strike round the post, and in the second half his performance was faultless as Athletic recorded their second no score draw of the month.
In the penultimate game of the month Jay picked up his fourth clean sheet, although he was made to work hard for it against a dangerous and well-organised Abbey Hey side.
With the players in front of him having something of an off day, Jay had to continue his top form as Abbey applied pressure with a series of testing efforts. A thunderous shot from outside the box forced an excellent save low to his right just before half time, keeping his side in the game.
The second half continued much the same as the first as Jay was repeatedly called into action to thwart the dangerous Abbey Hey attack.
The final game of April, and of the season, saw Bacup and Rossendale Borough visit Brocstedes Park looking for the victory that would maintain their top flight status.
BARB forced lots of early pressure and Jay was called into action as early as the second minute to producing an excellent stop low to his left. With the game delicately poised at 0-0 Athletic gave away a penalty in the dying minutes of the first half.
It was left to Jay to produce a stunning stop, readjusting his body to turn the ball over the bar. His side went on to win the game and Jay recorded his fifth and final clean sheet.
Jay has once again had another fantastic season between the sticks and the month of April will certainly be remembered as one of his best!
DIVISION ONE - AARON ASHLEY OF DAISY HILL
Aaron returned from his spell as a first team player at New Mills in the Evo-Stik League at a crucial time for Daisy Hill.
He played in all the club’s games during April, and turned in consistently outstanding performances during a period where the team began to pick up points after a run of results that had seen them drop out of the play off places. His return helped the club in their push to gain a top six finish which was in reach until the last game of the season.
The team went on an unbeaten run of five games during April, and Aaron was instrumental in the team’s performances at a crucial time of the season.
Alongside quality displays in general, highlights of Aaron’s form during the month all came against teams at the top end of the table. He made a penalty save against Holker Old Boys in a 1-0 home win, kept a clean sheet against free scoring Atherton Collieries in a goalless draw, and made some fantastic saves in helping the team to a 2-1 win against Barnton.
Additional draws against Ashton Town and Oldham Boro meant that Daisy had an unbeaten run right up to the close where it became mathematically impossible to reach the top six, and Aaron played his part in cemented the back four at a crucial time and gave them the professionalism needed to finish the campaign on a good run.