Reusch Goalkeeper of the Month awards announced for January 2022
Fri 4th February 2022 | League Awards | By Alex Thrower
We are delighted to announce the Reusch Goalkeeper of the Month awards for January 2022. These have been confirmed by League Awards co-ordinator, Peter Stokes.
The awards go to; in the Premier, Morgan Bacon (Wythenshawe Town), in the First Division North, Jack Atkinson (Bury AFC), and in the First Division South, Kyle Haslam (Wythenshawe Amateurs). We'd like to congratulate all three keepers on their performances, which you can find out more on below.
Premier
Morgan Bacon kept three clean sheets in six matches as Wythenshawe Town maintained their pace near the top of the Premier. Conceding just four goals in January, Bacon has proved difficult to beat between the posts at Ericstan Park which has led his side to sitting in 3rd. His nomination was quick to praise the shot-stopper:
"Such has been the form of Wythenshawe Town in January that Morgan Bacon has been a spectator for most of the games. However, when he has been called into action he has performed faultlessly. It was in the two crunch games against Consett AFC in the FA Vase and against table-toppers Macclesfield in the League that he showed his real class. The early stages of the Cup-Tie belonged to Consett, but it was two point-blank saves by Bacon that kept them down to a single goal, It was a similar story in the second period with Bacon’s safe handling that negated the many crosses the hosts put into the box. As the visitors began to take control of the game it was the distribution and long, accurate balls out of the box that kept the pressure on the home side, leading to the equaliser when his accurate clearance found Matthew Bryan out on the right, and he found Brad Byrne whose cross was converted by Ionut-Casian Anghel. With Town taking the lead late in the game the eight minutes added time saw the visitors goal under heavy pressure as Consett threw everything at them in the hope of taking the game to penalties but at the centre of it all was Bacon whose calming influence saw Wythenshawe through to the next round. Next up was Macclesfield and the home crowd behind Bacon’s goal in the second half found a goalkeeper who was willing to exchange banter with them, but it was all very good natured. After conceding an early goal in the second period it was hard to remember any time Bacon was under pressure."
First Division North
Bury AFC shot-stopper Jack Atkinson picks up his third consecutive 'keeper of the month award as yet another impressive run of games kept his side clear at the top of the First Division North. Keeping four clean sheets in five matches, Atkinson has been the central figure of a remarkable defence this season and his nomination told of the admiration his team mates have for him:
"Jack has played a vital part in what has been an exceptional month for the back five. During the month, we played six league games, kept 4 clean sheets and only conceded 2 league goals. Remarkably Jack picked up the man of the match award in a game when a midfielder scored a hattrick. In the 9 league games since the halfway stage against the same teams, we have conceded 5 fewer goals, winning all 9 of those games, gaining an extra 4 points and remaining the only undefeated team in the league in the whole of the NWCL and the meanest defence in League One North."
First Division South
Last but certainly not least is Kyle Haslam, whose exceptional form has seen Wythenshawe Amateurs remain firmly in the play-off places and keeping up with the sides ahead of them. Haslam's clean sheet in January against Stafford Town in a match his side ran out 6-0 winners was typical of the form shown by the keeper. His nomination read:
"Kyle has been an unsung hero at the back, the defence are confident with him which allows us to play the ball from the back, ever present at training, helping the other keepers, including our youth keeper to compete for a first team spot, demonstrating the excellent squad spirit this club has. He has made some world class saves, especially at the FC Isle of Man match, the crowd were appreciative and won him the Man of the Match. A great lad who goes about his job quietly off the pitch, but on the pitch his voice can be heard encouraging the whole team, his presence has helped the team to a play off position at this stage, but he and the team know there is still a long way to go. With respect he would thoroughly deserve this award, an unassuming character."
Congratulations again to all three winners and the very best of luck for the remainder of the season!
Reusch Goalkeeper of the Month awards announced for January 2022
Fri 4th February 2022 | League Awards
By Alex Thrower
We are delighted to announce the Reusch Goalkeeper of the Month awards for January 2022. These have been confirmed by League Awards co-ordinator, Peter Stokes.
The awards go to; in the Premier, Morgan Bacon (Wythenshawe Town), in the First Division North, Jack Atkinson (Bury AFC), and in the First Division South, Kyle Haslam (Wythenshawe Amateurs). We'd like to congratulate all three keepers on their performances, which you can find out more on below.
Premier
Morgan Bacon kept three clean sheets in six matches as Wythenshawe Town maintained their pace near the top of the Premier. Conceding just four goals in January, Bacon has proved difficult to beat between the posts at Ericstan Park which has led his side to sitting in 3rd. His nomination was quick to praise the shot-stopper:
"Such has been the form of Wythenshawe Town in January that Morgan Bacon has been a spectator for most of the games. However, when he has been called into action he has performed faultlessly. It was in the two crunch games against Consett AFC in the FA Vase and against table-toppers Macclesfield in the League that he showed his real class. The early stages of the Cup-Tie belonged to Consett, but it was two point-blank saves by Bacon that kept them down to a single goal, It was a similar story in the second period with Bacon’s safe handling that negated the many crosses the hosts put into the box. As the visitors began to take control of the game it was the distribution and long, accurate balls out of the box that kept the pressure on the home side, leading to the equaliser when his accurate clearance found Matthew Bryan out on the right, and he found Brad Byrne whose cross was converted by Ionut-Casian Anghel. With Town taking the lead late in the game the eight minutes added time saw the visitors goal under heavy pressure as Consett threw everything at them in the hope of taking the game to penalties but at the centre of it all was Bacon whose calming influence saw Wythenshawe through to the next round. Next up was Macclesfield and the home crowd behind Bacon’s goal in the second half found a goalkeeper who was willing to exchange banter with them, but it was all very good natured. After conceding an early goal in the second period it was hard to remember any time Bacon was under pressure."
First Division North
Bury AFC shot-stopper Jack Atkinson picks up his third consecutive 'keeper of the month award as yet another impressive run of games kept his side clear at the top of the First Division North. Keeping four clean sheets in five matches, Atkinson has been the central figure of a remarkable defence this season and his nomination told of the admiration his team mates have for him:
"Jack has played a vital part in what has been an exceptional month for the back five. During the month, we played six league games, kept 4 clean sheets and only conceded 2 league goals. Remarkably Jack picked up the man of the match award in a game when a midfielder scored a hattrick. In the 9 league games since the halfway stage against the same teams, we have conceded 5 fewer goals, winning all 9 of those games, gaining an extra 4 points and remaining the only undefeated team in the league in the whole of the NWCL and the meanest defence in League One North."
First Division South
Last but certainly not least is Kyle Haslam, whose exceptional form has seen Wythenshawe Amateurs remain firmly in the play-off places and keeping up with the sides ahead of them. Haslam's clean sheet in January against Stafford Town in a match his side ran out 6-0 winners was typical of the form shown by the keeper. His nomination read:
"Kyle has been an unsung hero at the back, the defence are confident with him which allows us to play the ball from the back, ever present at training, helping the other keepers, including our youth keeper to compete for a first team spot, demonstrating the excellent squad spirit this club has. He has made some world class saves, especially at the FC Isle of Man match, the crowd were appreciative and won him the Man of the Match. A great lad who goes about his job quietly off the pitch, but on the pitch his voice can be heard encouraging the whole team, his presence has helped the team to a play off position at this stage, but he and the team know there is still a long way to go. With respect he would thoroughly deserve this award, an unassuming character."
Congratulations again to all three winners and the very best of luck for the remainder of the season!
