Macron Player and Reusch Goalkeeper of the Month Awards - March 2018
Thu 5th April 2018 | League Awards | By Ian Templeman
MACRON PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - CARL GRIMSHAW OF CHARNOCK RICHARD
It is relatively easy to shine when a player is member of a winning side, but it is not as easy to shine when your team is struggling due to a dip in form.
Charnock Richard skipper, Carl Grimshaw, has stood out head and shoulders for the Mossie Park outfit during March, when due to a injury crisis, no less than eight first team regulars have been side-lined for the long term. However, Carl has continued to find the net with regularity despite the problems.
Indeed, the striker scored 7 goals from the 7 games in which he played during the month, including a hat-trick at Winsford United on the 19th March, and this was achieved despite the fact that he did not have the same strike partner alongside him for two consecutive games.
The goal he netted in the 1-2 defeat at home against West Didsbury & Chorlton on the last day of March was his 380th goal for the club in competitive football and was his 42nd of the current season.
What has made Carl's contribution to the club's cause during March all the more remarkable is the fact that as skipper, he has rallied his young and inexperienced colleagues, who have had to fill-in during the injury crisis, with sheer enthusiasm.
As always, he has led by example and been an inspiration to his team throughout a very difficult month for the club, which the results bear testament to.
DIVISION ONE - JACOB WOOD OF PRESTWICH HEYS
Centre-half and team captain, Jacob was immense in a busy March, scoring at Sandbach United in the away leg of the LWC Drinks Semi-Final, and then leading the team to four consecutive league wins over New Mills, St Helens Town, Eccleshall and Sandbach United before picking up an injury.
It is no coincidence that Woody's return to the team brought three clean sheets in the four league games played.
Jacob is a natural leader, and inspires both discipline and composure in his fellow defenders, and unusually for a centre-half, rarely picks up any cautions.
The busy schedule of fixtures has meant much squad rotation, but it is a testament to Woody that he can gel any combination of defenders into a cohesive and effective unit.
Jacob returned to action after injury by inspiring Heys to a 2-1 first leg lead over Sandbach United in the LWC Drinks Cup, weighing in with a rare goal leading by example at the back.
Heys went on to record three consecutive victories without conceding a goal, but their biggest test in the League came with the visit of Sandbach United, and Jacob was instrumental in ensuring the three points were collected.
Heys led 2-0 at half-time, but United came out in determined fashion in the second half and threatened to turn the game on its head.
Wood marshalled his defence magnificently, and whilst the visitors enjoyed the better of possession and territory, there were few clear chances, Michael Smith dealing with these with aplomb.
REUSCH GOALKEEPER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - BEN ASCROFT OF CITY OF LIVERPOOL
Ben played in seven matches in March, in which the team recorded five wins and two draws, and Ben kept three clean sheets.
Making his debut with a clean sheet in the hotly anticipated derby match against AFC Liverpool got him off to a good start, in a game where he organised his defence well, constantly on his toes to make sure that they held firm, restricting the hosts to the odd long range effort which he dealt with comfortably.
His next game was in the 8-0 win at Barnton, and although it was another quiet game for Ben in the COLFC goal, it would have been easy for Ben to have lost focus and not be alert to any counter attacks from Barnton or long balls pumped forward. However, once again, be commanded his goal area and back line when called upon.
Next up for the Purps was away to league leaders Runcorn Linnets, and although Ben was kept busy with pressure from the home side seeing numerous shots flying in, Ben made a number of good saves, the best being in the 50th minute, when Ben produced a brilliant dive to push a free kick out for a corner.
Three successive home games then followed, with three victories, starting with a 4-3 win over Padiham in which Ben continued his good form, and also played his part in the Purps' third goal when he sent a free kick from inside his own half, that was headed clear by Padiham but volleyed back into the net by Anthony Brown.
A second win in a row was achieved when the Purps came from behind to beat Ashton Athletic 2-1, with Ben dealing well under pressure late on as Athletic pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
The trio of victories, and Ben's third clean sheet of the month, was achieved with a 2-0 win over 1874 Northwich, with Ben busy in the first half keeping the visitors at bay, and making the save of the match midway through the second half. when 1874 should really have scored after a great move, only for a brilliant save by Ben to deny them.
Ben rounded off the month with another good performance in the 2-2 draw Runcorn Town, a difficult game for Purps after they were reduced to ten men in the first half. Again he saved his best for the second half, when on 70 minutes a fine shot was met with an equally wonderful diving save by Ben, and in the last minute of normal time, he produced another fine save as he stretched for a long range effort.
It was a fine opening month for Ben in his career with the Purps, and he has set a high standard to follow for the remainder of the season.
DIVISION ONE - BEN MORROW OF LITHERLAND REMYCA
Ben had another fantastic month, keeping four clean sheets in seven games played. Ben has been ever present between the sticks for the Remy this season and has gone from strength to strength.
Starting the month in a 2-0 win at Whitchurch Alport, Ben made some great saves when scores were level to give the team something to build on, also at 1-0 up saving twice to deny Alport an equaliser. Not many keepers go to Yockings Park and keep a clean sheet.
In the following game Ben conceded 4 goals in a 4-4 draw away to Chadderton, but he did save the day late on when denying a Chadderton forward from close range with his feet.
He again was impressive in a 2-1 win at home to Cammell Laird 1907 with another fantastic save at 1-1, and another clean sheet followed away to AFC Blackpool when Ben came out bravely to block at his feet to deny a goal at 0-0 in a "one-on-one".
At home to Bacup Borough in a 3-1 win, again Ben was in great form with some decent saves in the first half to keep the scores level, and commanding his area when needed as his confidence rose.
Two more clean sheets followed in a home win against Cheadle Town and then an away win at Atherton LR, when at 1-0 up Ben made a superb one handed save inside the six yard area from a header, not only getting a hand to it but pushing it away to safety.
Ben's confidence has grown so much over the season and it's now showing in his consistent performances.
Macron Player and Reusch Goalkeeper of the Month Awards - March 2018
Thu 5th April 2018 | League Awards
By Ian Templeman
MACRON PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - CARL GRIMSHAW OF CHARNOCK RICHARD
It is relatively easy to shine when a player is member of a winning side, but it is not as easy to shine when your team is struggling due to a dip in form.
Charnock Richard skipper, Carl Grimshaw, has stood out head and shoulders for the Mossie Park outfit during March, when due to a injury crisis, no less than eight first team regulars have been side-lined for the long term. However, Carl has continued to find the net with regularity despite the problems.
Indeed, the striker scored 7 goals from the 7 games in which he played during the month, including a hat-trick at Winsford United on the 19th March, and this was achieved despite the fact that he did not have the same strike partner alongside him for two consecutive games.
The goal he netted in the 1-2 defeat at home against West Didsbury & Chorlton on the last day of March was his 380th goal for the club in competitive football and was his 42nd of the current season.
What has made Carl's contribution to the club's cause during March all the more remarkable is the fact that as skipper, he has rallied his young and inexperienced colleagues, who have had to fill-in during the injury crisis, with sheer enthusiasm.
As always, he has led by example and been an inspiration to his team throughout a very difficult month for the club, which the results bear testament to.
DIVISION ONE - JACOB WOOD OF PRESTWICH HEYS
Centre-half and team captain, Jacob was immense in a busy March, scoring at Sandbach United in the away leg of the LWC Drinks Semi-Final, and then leading the team to four consecutive league wins over New Mills, St Helens Town, Eccleshall and Sandbach United before picking up an injury.
It is no coincidence that Woody's return to the team brought three clean sheets in the four league games played.
Jacob is a natural leader, and inspires both discipline and composure in his fellow defenders, and unusually for a centre-half, rarely picks up any cautions.
The busy schedule of fixtures has meant much squad rotation, but it is a testament to Woody that he can gel any combination of defenders into a cohesive and effective unit.
Jacob returned to action after injury by inspiring Heys to a 2-1 first leg lead over Sandbach United in the LWC Drinks Cup, weighing in with a rare goal leading by example at the back.
Heys went on to record three consecutive victories without conceding a goal, but their biggest test in the League came with the visit of Sandbach United, and Jacob was instrumental in ensuring the three points were collected.
Heys led 2-0 at half-time, but United came out in determined fashion in the second half and threatened to turn the game on its head.
Wood marshalled his defence magnificently, and whilst the visitors enjoyed the better of possession and territory, there were few clear chances, Michael Smith dealing with these with aplomb.
REUSCH GOALKEEPER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
PREMIER DIVISION - BEN ASCROFT OF CITY OF LIVERPOOL
Ben played in seven matches in March, in which the team recorded five wins and two draws, and Ben kept three clean sheets.
Making his debut with a clean sheet in the hotly anticipated derby match against AFC Liverpool got him off to a good start, in a game where he organised his defence well, constantly on his toes to make sure that they held firm, restricting the hosts to the odd long range effort which he dealt with comfortably.
His next game was in the 8-0 win at Barnton, and although it was another quiet game for Ben in the COLFC goal, it would have been easy for Ben to have lost focus and not be alert to any counter attacks from Barnton or long balls pumped forward. However, once again, be commanded his goal area and back line when called upon.
Next up for the Purps was away to league leaders Runcorn Linnets, and although Ben was kept busy with pressure from the home side seeing numerous shots flying in, Ben made a number of good saves, the best being in the 50th minute, when Ben produced a brilliant dive to push a free kick out for a corner.
Three successive home games then followed, with three victories, starting with a 4-3 win over Padiham in which Ben continued his good form, and also played his part in the Purps' third goal when he sent a free kick from inside his own half, that was headed clear by Padiham but volleyed back into the net by Anthony Brown.
A second win in a row was achieved when the Purps came from behind to beat Ashton Athletic 2-1, with Ben dealing well under pressure late on as Athletic pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
The trio of victories, and Ben's third clean sheet of the month, was achieved with a 2-0 win over 1874 Northwich, with Ben busy in the first half keeping the visitors at bay, and making the save of the match midway through the second half. when 1874 should really have scored after a great move, only for a brilliant save by Ben to deny them.
Ben rounded off the month with another good performance in the 2-2 draw Runcorn Town, a difficult game for Purps after they were reduced to ten men in the first half. Again he saved his best for the second half, when on 70 minutes a fine shot was met with an equally wonderful diving save by Ben, and in the last minute of normal time, he produced another fine save as he stretched for a long range effort.
It was a fine opening month for Ben in his career with the Purps, and he has set a high standard to follow for the remainder of the season.
DIVISION ONE - BEN MORROW OF LITHERLAND REMYCA
Ben had another fantastic month, keeping four clean sheets in seven games played. Ben has been ever present between the sticks for the Remy this season and has gone from strength to strength.
Starting the month in a 2-0 win at Whitchurch Alport, Ben made some great saves when scores were level to give the team something to build on, also at 1-0 up saving twice to deny Alport an equaliser. Not many keepers go to Yockings Park and keep a clean sheet.
In the following game Ben conceded 4 goals in a 4-4 draw away to Chadderton, but he did save the day late on when denying a Chadderton forward from close range with his feet.
He again was impressive in a 2-1 win at home to Cammell Laird 1907 with another fantastic save at 1-1, and another clean sheet followed away to AFC Blackpool when Ben came out bravely to block at his feet to deny a goal at 0-0 in a "one-on-one".
At home to Bacup Borough in a 3-1 win, again Ben was in great form with some decent saves in the first half to keep the scores level, and commanding his area when needed as his confidence rose.
Two more clean sheets followed in a home win against Cheadle Town and then an away win at Atherton LR, when at 1-0 up Ben made a superb one handed save inside the six yard area from a header, not only getting a hand to it but pushing it away to safety.
Ben's confidence has grown so much over the season and it's now showing in his consistent performances.
