New Years Day preview

North Staffs Football kicks off the New Year with a full fixture list.

Stoke City look to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Fulham with another match at the Britannia against Everton.

Britannia Stadium

Tony Pulis has called for Jermaine Pennant to keep focused after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal from Spanish side Real Zaragoza.

David Moyes’s side are the visitors and boast just two wins away from Goodison Park, but the Toffees could prove hard to break down, having drawn six on their travels.

In League Two, Port Vale will have to put aside worries over Micky Adams departure as they travel to Yorkshire side Rotherham.

Rotherham would leapfrog Vale with a win, as Adams’s men look to bounce back from a second successive defeat to Gillingham on Boxing Day.

Burton Albion welcome play-off contenders Shrewsbury Town to the Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers have slipped down to 14^th and are in need of a win to boost their own play-off chances.

The Shrews are poor travellers for their league position and have notched just three wins.

In the Blue Square North, Stafford Rangers face a tough test at AFC Telford as Tim Flowers searches for his first league win at the helm.

Rangers sit 20^th and are desperate for a win to lift themselves out of the relegation spots, but having netted only twice on their travels so far this campaign the odds are certainly stacked against them.

In the Evo Stik Division One South, Kidsgrove Athletic and Leek Town battle out a North Staffordshire derby at the Seddon Stadium.

Grove will be hoping to push home advantage as they look to challenge for a top two finish this season, whilst Leek’s prerogative is merely survival. The Blues haven’t kicked a ball in anger since November 23.

Elsewhere, Newcastle Town travel to Market Drayton Town.

NSF predictions

Stoke City 1 Everton 1

Burton Albion 1 Shrewsbury 2

Rotherham 2 Port Vale 2

AFC Telford 3 Stafford Rangers 0

Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Leek Town 1

Market Drayton 1 Newcastle Town 3

Let North Staffs Football know your score predictions!

More postponements in big freeze

Burton Albion and Stafford Rangers have been forced to postpone today’s Boxing Day fixtures due to frozen pitches.

In the Evo Stik First Division South all fixtures have been called off for Leek Town, Newcastle Town and Kidsgrove Athletic, scheduled to be played tomorrow (December 27).

Harrison Park Pic: Hampton Productions

Only Stoke City‘s trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers will go ahead.

Weather permitting, Vale travel to Gillingham and Burton take on Stevenage at the Pirelli on December 28, Stafford Rangers have a home tie against Worcester and Stoke entertain Fulham at the Britannia Stadium.

Leek, Newcastle and Kidsgrove will have to wait until New Years Day before they next attempt to play.

Leek and Kidsgrove clash at the Seddon Stadium whilst Newcastle make the short trip to Market Drayton Town.

North Staffs Football brings you the news about games that have been called off as soon as we get it. Let us know your score predictions.

Festive period kicks off

With all of our side’s itching to play after postponements, the festive period kicks off with a Boxing Day feast.

Stoke City travel to managerless Blackburn Rovers in search of a win to leapfrog the Lancashire outfit.

In League Two, Port Vale have a home tie against strugglers Lincoln City and Burton Albion travel to an in-form Northampton side.

In the Blue Square North, Stafford Rangers have a home match against Telford AFC.

The Evo Stik First Division South will play their matches on December 27 where Leek Town host their match with Belper (34 days since they last kicked a ball) and Newcastle host a derby clash with Kidsgrove Athletic.

North Staffs Football will keep you informed of any postponements, but let us know your score predictions from our games.

Burton snap up ex-Hull midfielder

Burton Albion have signed former Hull City midfielder Bryan Hughes on an initial one-month deal.

The 34-year-old was released by the Tigers in the summer and has been training with the Brewers.

Manager Paul Peschisolido told BBC Radio Derby that he expects Hughes to be be a great signing for the League Two play-off chasers.

He said: “He oozes quality, he has excellent feet, great vision and awareness and a lot of experience.

“He has enjoyed his time training with us and it gives us a chance to have a better look at him.

“And it suits him as he has been at Hull in the Premier League where he played at the highest level and for one reason or another he hasn’t managed to get a contract and he wants to get back in the shop window.

“It helps us and if it helps him then great and we’ll see how it goes.”

Hughes played for Wrexham, Birmingham and Charlton before joining Hull in the summer of 2007.

All North Staffs matches called off

With an artic blast returning to our county, North Staffs Football has ground to a halt with none of our side’s playing any football this weekend.

Stoke City’s trip to the Emirates to clash with Arsenal is one of the shock postponements. Emirates staff has been unable to keep the walkways around the ground safe with heavy snow.

In League Two, Burton Albion’s match away to Accrington Stanley has been called off due to a frozen pitch following an earlier inspection. Port Vale’s home match to Barnet was also postponed after a 9am inspection. A date for the replayed fixtures has yet to be decided.

Cold snap puts a freeze on matches

Stafford Rangers’s trip to Guiseley in the Blue Square North has been postponed following a 3.00pm pitch inspection. The ground temperature was recorded at minus 3C with no chance of play. The re-scheduled fixture will be announced at a later date.

Kidsgrove Athletic boss Peter Ward has said their match against Stamford is highly unlikely to be on. The Seddon Stadium is currently frozen with no thaw due over the next 24 hours. A full inspection will be carried out on Saturday morning.

Leek Town and Newcastle Town have their matches called off as well.

Burton Albion look to turn around away form

Burton Albion travel to Accrington Stanley tomorrow (December 18) looking for their second win away from the Pirelli Stadium this season, writes Sam Worth.

Manager Paul Peschisolido has been hampered with the news that centre-half Tony James, 34, will be sidelined for the festive fixtures with a hamstring injury picked up in training.

Peschisolido told Sky Sports: “Tony tweaked his hamstring last Friday which is why he wasn’t on the bench against Southend.

“Fortunately, Ryan Austin was fit enough to come back and he gave us the cover we needed.

“The timing of Ryan’s return was perfect from my point of view because Tony could be out for two weeks, possibly a bit longer.”

Paul Peschisolido

James has been playing a supporting role this season, with Darren Moore and Nathan Stanton making the positions their own.

Aaron Webster capped a convincing 3-1 victory over Southend last time out with a superb curling effort from thirty yards; which also marked Albion’s 100th goal in the football league.

Burton now sit twelfth in the Npower League Two table just four points behind Torquay United who currently occupy the final play-off spot. And if the Brewers are set about mounting a play-off push then their away form has to improve.

This weekend’s trip to 19th place Accrington Stanley could be tough; similar to Burton, Stanley’s away form is letting them down, but on their own soil they have only succumbed to defeat in two of their eight games.

Albion have taken 12 points from their last six games and a lot of thanks will be going to manager Peschisolido who joined in 2009.

Peschisolido ruled out the chances of a move to Championship outfit Sheffield United after Gary Speed’s departure this week.

The current Brewers’ boss made 102 appearances as a player for the Blades, scoring 23 goals between 2001 and 2003.

Burton Albion boss hails gritty win over Southend

Burton Albion boss Paul Peschisolido has praised his side’s work rate after their 3-1 win over Southend United on Saturday (December 11), writes Liam Staley.

The Brewers lead the visitors 2-0 at the break through Jacques Maghoma and an own goal from Luke Prosser.

Blair Sturrock netted six minutes into the second-half to give the visitors a lifeline but Aaron Webster sealed the win with a superb curling effort.

Despite the win, Peschisolido admitted that the Brewers passing was poor, but praised his side’s persistence.

He told BBC Radio Derby: “It was satisfactory. I can’t say I was happy with the first half performance; in fact it was probably one of our worst. Our passing was poor but at least the work rate and endeavour was there.

Paul Peschisolido

“We closed them down well but we just kept giving them the ball – but at least we kept going.”

Peschisolido also hailed the performance of Congolese midfielder Maghoma, who played a starring role in securing Albion’s win with a goal and an assist.

He added: “I thought Jacques (Maghoma) was superb. That is two good games now and we have given him a challenge to keep going because on his day he is unplayable, but he’s got to be on his day every week.”

The opening exchanges of the game were scrappy as both sides lacked any fluency.

The Brewers won a penalty against the run of play on 12 minutes after former Shrewsbury centre-back Graham Coughlan fouled James Collins just inside the box, but the Aston Villa loanee squandered the chance and fired wide of the post.

Burton found their feet and should have opened the scoring when Andy Corbett’s cross was met by an unmarked Webster but he could only divert his volley straight at the Southend’s stopper Glenn Morris.

Collins missed another golden chance in the 28th minute after the striker played a neat one-two with Webster before shooting wide of the far post.

Pirelli Stadium

Eight minutes later, Albion’s goal did come through Maghoma. Russell Penn placed a low drilled cross into the path of Maghoma who on was on hand to fire home from close range.

Albion doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time thanks to an own goal. Scott Malone whipped in a long range free kick which Prosser diverted into his own net.

Southend started the second-half much brighter and were rewarded with a goal virtually straight away, made by two substitutes.

Ryan Hall was fouled by Adam Bolder and it was Hall’s free kick which found a rising Sturrock who headed past a sprawling Adam Legzdins.

The goal gave Southend some brief momentum as Legzdins was on hand to brilliantly palm away Barry Corr’s shot inside the box.

On 57 minutes the Brewers got the match-winning third goal courtesy of Webster. Collins intercepted the ball but it was Maghoma who broke away and found Webster in the centre. Webster then curled a sublime left footed shot into the top corner from 25 yards to bring up Albion’s 100th goal in the Football League.

Scott Malone nearly set up Albion’s fourth goal but substitute Shaun Harrad’s effort was excellently tipped around the post by keeper Glenn Morris seven minutes from time.

The win moves Albion up to 12th and four points off the elusive play-offs.

Did you go the match? Can Burton Albion compete to grab one of those play-off spots? Let North Staffs Football know your thoughts.

Burton Albion game passes initial pitch inspection

Burton Albion’s home game with Southend United has been given the go ahead after an initial pitch inspection, writes Jack Adams.

The fixture tomorrow (December 11) got the green light after a break in the recent bout of cold weather.

Pirelli Stadium

A statement released on the club’s official website said: “We have seen a significant thaw overnight and our ground staff will continue to work through the night to ensure that the pitch is playable tomorrow.”

If required, a further pitch inspection will take place at the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow morning.

Burton Albion vs Torquay United – OFF

Burton Albion‘s match against Torquay United has been postponed following a midday pitch inspection, writes Matt Wagg.

Albion were due to make the 180mile trek to the Plainmoor stadium, but The Gulls have confirmed that their ground is a victim of the cold conditions.

Bad weather has forced many league sides to postpone their matches for the coming weekend.

An alternative fixture between Torquay and Burton is yet to be arranged.

Weekend round-up as non-league side’s freeze

The weekend’s cold snap, with below-freezing temperatures and snow for some caused havoc for Saturday football matches.

Officials across the county have had to call a number of games off due to frozen pitches as temperatures as low as minus 7C hit Staffordshire.

In the Evo-Stik First Division South, Leek Town‘s charity match against Glapwell was postponed as freezing weather in Mansfield left officials with no choice but to call the game off.

Cold snap puts a freeze on matches

Stafford Rangers ‘s match at Harrogate Town also fell foul to the weather and was cancelled following a pitch inspection at 8.30am on Saturday (November 27) morning due to a frozen pitch.

 

Newcastle Town‘s trip to Belper Town was cancelled after a 9.00am pitch inspection due to a frozen pitch – in which Belper’s ground was under four inches of snow.

Kidsgrove Athletic‘s match at Shepshed Dynamo was also ruled out after a 10.30am pitch inspection.

Stoke City kept their game on against Manchester City and salvaged a point at the Britannia Stadium thanks to Matthew Etherington’s injury-time goal.

After a goalless first-half the visitors looked to have nicked all three points through Micah Richards’s superb strike, but Etherington latched onto Tuncay Sanli’s back-heel to smash the ball into the net.

In League Two there was better news for Crewe fans who made the trip to Lancashire-outfit Morecambe.

Clayton Donaldson fired Alex into an early lead four minutes in, and Byron Moore doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Morecambe halved the deficit through Chris Shuker but plaudits go to Alex stopper Rhys Taylor who saved Phil Jevons’s penalty to give Dario Gradi’s men all three points.

Burton Albion progressed to the lucrative third-round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win at the Pirelli against Chesterfield.

Aaron Webster and Jacques Maghoma sent the Brewers into a 2-0 lead at half-time, but Chesterfield made it a nervy end after Jordan Bowery’s late strike.

The match was sealed though as James Collins broke past the visitors defence and curled the ball around the Spireites keeper.

Port Vale were in action on Friday night (November 26) but they scraped into the third-round as well with a 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley, thanks to Justin Richards’s first-half strike.

Did you go to any of the games? Let North Staffs Football know what you think and listen to our weekend report below:
http://www.onmvoice.com/player/player.swf?a=34905&ap=0&color=default

Curzon Ashton Football Club, who play in the Evo-Stik Premier Division have their own way of combating the freezing conditions: