It was a full week of fixtures for our players out on loan as multiple sides picked up crucial wins, with individual performances leading to Man of the Match and Team of the Week awards.
A constant performer for Curzon Ashton proved to be pivotal again as Dylan Boyle picked up another two starts for the National League North side, helping keep a clean sheet against Banbury United away from home before being named in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Week after his showing in the side’s 2-1 win over Chorley at the Tameside Stadium at the weekend.
It’s been another brilliant week for Will Johnson at Marine as he hasn’t missed a minute in the three games played, with the side winning two of those against Whitby Town and Southport respectively. First up was Gainsborough Trinity away from home, which ended in heartbreak after conceding the only goal of the game in the 90th minute to lose 1-0 at The Northolme.
Results took a positive turn after this as they travelled to Whitby Town on Saturday and walked away comfortable 3-0 winners. This form was carried into their Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final against Southport on Monday and not only did Johnson put on a Man of the Match performance, but he also got an assist in the 4-1 win which saw Marine advance to the final of the competition.
For Waterford FC, it was time for their Munster Senior Cup semi-final against Cork City and Tom Donaghy made his debut, where he made multiple crucial saves to keep the Blue in the game. Chris Conn-Clarke was also introduced from the bench and almost created a goalscoring chance for Connor Parsons, but it wasn’t meant to be as the forward struck wide.
Finally, it was a busy week at Alfreton Town for Connor Teale as he has been ever-present in their last three games over the last week, much like Boyle, and played a key role in the side from Derbyshire keeping two clean sheets in their 0-0 draw against both Southport at Haig Avenue and Kidderminster Harriers at Aggsborough.
They were soon back to winning ways though as they returned to the Impact Arena to play Spennymoor Town and they had the dream start as goals from Dwayne Wiley, Matt Rhead, and Dom Smith meant they would go into the break 3-1 up. Teale almost created a fourth for Rhead, but the forward couldn’t convert his cross.
Midfielders Akiel Raffie and Barry Baggley and defender Drew Baker weren’t in action this week, with the former yet to feature for Marine after joining them last Friday.
Next up: Alfreton Town (Teale) – Leamington (H) on 1 April, Bohemian (Baker) – Sligo Rovers (A) on 1 April, Curzon Ashton (Boyle) – Bradford Park Avenue (H) on 1 April, Marine (Johnson and Raffie) – Nantwich Town (H) on 1 April, Waterford FC (Baggley, Conn-Clarke, and Donaghy) – Finn Harps (H) on 31 March.