Bayliss: Holt an inspiration for Cook

Barrow boss Dave Bayliss has indicated that former Bluebirds striker Grant Holt is someone who can inspire current forward Andy Cook.

Holt, now plying his trade in the Premier League with Norwich City, scored 36 goals in 73 league games for the Blue Square bet Premier club during two different spells and his success so far at the English top level, is an indication of what the current Barrow number nine can achieve according to Bayliss. Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria Bayliss said:  "He can go all the way, you only have to look at Grant Holt, he's the marker.”

Cook began his career with Npower League One outfit Carlisle United scoring 59 goals in two seasons for their youth side, but the striker failed to make a first team appearance for the Cumbrians and subsequently moved to Barrow in January 2011. Cook has scored 17 goals in 50 matches for the playoff chasers and Bayliss believes Cook has the ability to go as far as Holt. Bayliss continued: “Grant's not blessed with pace but he is very robust and puts chances away. He gets chances and creates chances, and like Grant the destiny is in Cook's feet, he can go as far as he wants to go.”

Bayliss, who has been named the Blue Square bet Premier Manager of the month for February, also admits that the criticism aimed at the 21-year old striker is unfair and unjustified. He added: “It was a big year for him this year, he's been unfairly criticised at times because he looks a bit ungainly, the kid is clinical, he's got a great attitude and he's working twice as hard, but he's still a baby.”

The former Rochdale defender’s manager of the month accolade came after a run of two wins in three matches this month which has propelled the Bluebirds onto the fringes on the playoff places. Kevin Wilkin, manager of Nuneaton Town, claimed the Blue Square bet North manager of the month prize, with Farnborough boss Spencer Day, taking the Blue Square South award.

York boss relishing Hatters tie

The semi-final draw for the FA Trophy has thrown up a clash between the two favourites for the competition and has left York City boss Gary Mills proclaiming the adverbial “bring it on” as his side get ready to face Luton Town next month.

The first leg will take place on the 10^th of March at York’s home ground Bootham Crescent, before the Minstermen travel to Kenilworth Road a week later for the return fixture. Mills is adamant that the tie will not have a bearing on the performance of his side despite the anticipated hysteria of a trip to Wembley on offer for the winner. “The tie doesn't faze me and it won't faze my team,” Mills told BBC Radio York. “Two big games and we know the prize at the end of the two games.”

The Blue Square bet Premier playoff chasers, claimed a semi-final place following a hard fought 1-0 victory at Grimsby Town, leaving Mills confident that his side can overcome the Hatters. Mills continued: “It's fantastic for our football club that we're in the semi-finals. It's a tie we're capable of getting through.”

The Minstermen’s run in this season’s Trophy has led to the postponement of three Blue Square Premier matches, with the trips to Bath City, Newport County and Cambridge United all having to be rearranged. However, Mills is undeterred by the potential fixture congestion that could hinder his side’s push for promotion. Mills added: “If you're successful this is what happens, we've got a fairly big squad now. If we have to rotate players because of the amount of games, I'll take it.”

York currently occupy one of the four playoff places which could see them once again compete against the Hatters for a trip to Wembley, along with the opportunity to reclaim their Football League status after a seven year absence. The possibility of two trips to Wembley is something that the York boss is savouring. He concluded: “It's fantastic that, as we speak, we're in a play-off position and in the semi-final of the Trophy and both end up at Wembley.”   

Can the Daggers avoid a second consecutive relegation?

Tipped as one of the favourites to make a quick return to Npower League One at the start of the season following relegation, things have not panned out the way most Dagenham & Redbridge supporters would have anticipated.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with fellow relegation candidates Plymouth Argyle has left the Daggers at the foot of the Npower League Two table and three points adrift of safety. But in manager John Still, the Essex club have someone who has experienced both the highs and lows whilst being in charge at Victoria Road. Since taking over in April 2004, Still has guided the Daggers to two promotion’s, firstly taking the Conference Premier title in 2007 and claiming the League Two playoffs in 2010, following two seasons of stability in the Football League.

However, Dagenham’s stay in the English third tier was a premature one, as they were relegated back into League Two the next season and with a third of this campaign remaining this time around, relegation could be on the cards once more.

With just one win so far this year things are looking bleak for Still’s men, a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of promotion chasing Cheltenham Town last Saturday prompted many fans to question whether the team were capable of retaining their Football League status. Saturday’s stalemate at Home Park does present a glimmer of hope as the noticeably, shambolic defensive display from last weekend was followed by a clean sheet and a vastly improved performance.

March could prove to be a pivotal month for the Daggers as they entertain other relegation contenders Northampton Town and Macclesfield in successive weeks amongst difficult trips to the likes of leaders Swindon Town.

Brabin undeterred by Barrow defeat

Following Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to mid-table Barrow, Luton Town boss Gary Brabin has not given up on the Hatters chances of catching the leaders at the top of the Blue Square bet Premier.

Last season’s beaten playoff finalists lie 14 points adrift of Fleetwood Town but Brabin believes his side can still gain automatic promotion by overhauling the menacing gap. Speaking to three counties radio Brabin said:  “We know we have made it even harder now with the disappointing performance and result, we're always playing catch up, but we certainly won't be giving up.”

Since the turn of the Year the Hatters have been in scintillating form taking 17 points from a possible 21, but defeat to the Bluebirds has left Brabin frustrated after conceding a 73-minute winner. He continued: “We've got to get stronger and certainly learn from this, because that wasn't good enough.  We've certainly got to be better than that if we've got aspirations of getting promoted.”

Can anyone catch leaders Woking?

Following relegation from the Blue Square bet Premier three years ago, table-topping Woking look set to make their return to the fourth tier of English Football.

Garry Hill’s men head into the final part of their Blue Square South campaign with a 13-point lead over their promotion rivals and Saturday’s hard fought victory over fellow promotion contenders Dartford, a victory described as “massive” by Hill, has left many in no doubt that the Cardinals will make their long awaited return. Speaking after Saturday’s success Hill said: “A massive three points it was a big six-pointer today, but there is a long way to go, there are a lot of other good sides in the league. There are lots of points still to play for.”

Woking have suffered heartache in the playoffs in the previous two campaigns, losing to Bath City two seasons ago in the final and to Farnborough last campaign, but this year the Kingfield Stadium club are well equipped to make the return automatically.

The Cardinals are in action again on Saturday when they make the trip to Hampton & Richmond and Hill is expecting a similarly tough match against the relegation strugglers. He added: “You’re playing against a team that is fighting for their lives at the bottom of the league and their trying to get points to get away from an area in the league where they don’t want to be.”   

Meanwhile promotion contenders Welling United are in action for the first time in almost month this evening when they take on Havant & Waterlooville at Park View Road. It’s not unattainable for the Wings to overhaul Woking; however they start this evening’s encounter a further 17-points behind the Surrey-based club, so it is looks more than likely that Jamie Day’s men will have to settle for a place in the playoffs.

With 13 league matches still to play, the race for promotion to the highest level of Non-League Football isn’t quite at an end. Three teams are ready to pounce if Woking were to slip up, so far now at least, the champagne is still definitely on ice for Hill’s side.

Young Gills delight Hessenthaler

Despite suffering a fifth consecutive league defeat, Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler couldn’t hide his admiration as his side came within nine minutes of claiming all three points against Port Vale at Vale Park.

The hosts scored twice late on to condemn the Gills to defeat, one that Hessenthaler feels his side didn’t deserve. Speaking post-match Hessenthaler said: “We have lost the game but we were the better team, we didn’t deserve to lose.”

In response to the Kent-based clubs recent dire defensive displays, The Gills boss fielded various youngsters, including former Dartford loanee Conor Essam, and the reaction has left Hessenthaler optimistic about the remainder of the campaign. He continued: “I asked for a performance, we changed it by putting some young ones in there and I thought they were outstanding, if they show that desire and commitment from now until the end of the season we will be ok.”

The defeat leaves the Gills 13^th in the table but Hessenthaler is refusing to rule out the possibility of his side squeezing themselves back into the playoff picture. He concluded: “We are six points behind 7^th with a game in hand. It’s not great but we still have to play Oxford and the other teams in there.”  

83 sterling supporters witness Barnet edge closer to safety

A 506-mile round trip on a cold, Tuesday evening is hardly ideal for any Football supporter especially on Valentine’s Day.    

But for 83 devoted Barnet supporters the trip was one certainly worth making as their side picked up a creditable point on the South-West coast against Plymouth Argyle. After a four-and-a-half hour journey, the Bees loyal fans could and maybe should have been rewarded with a fifth away win of the season but watched on as their side were twice denied by the woodwork as the honours were shared.

Midfielder Clovis Kamdjo struck the post in the first quarter hour before seeing his flicked header turned over the bar by The Pilgrims goalkeeper Jake Cole. The visitors were then deprived of a fifth straight league win by the cross bar in the second half. Lively, winger Jordan Obita was the unlucky man smashing a 35-yard free kick against the bar with Cole well beaten.

The point maintains the Bees’ unbeaten start to 2012 but they had to thank defender Paul Downing late on as his goal-line clearance prevented a first league defeat since late December.

Barnet’s home meeting with Shrewsbury Town will come as a relief to those ardent supporters, but you can’t bet against them being out in force again on Saturday.

- Read Friday's edition of the South London Press for the match report of Tuesday's Ryman Premier League fixture between Cray Wanderers and Tooting & Mitcham

Debutant Malcolm rescues vital late point

With five minutes left to play at Thurrock’s Ship Lane, Michael Malcolm salvaged a late point for relegation threatened Bromley to extend their mini revival to three matches.

In truth the visitors should have taken all three points back too Hayes Lane but a succession of first half missed chances almost presented Thurrock with their first home win of the season. Much acclaimed, midfielder Danny Waldren saw his goal bound free kick turned away by David Hughes, before Anthony Thomas fired wide when well placed.

In contrast, Thurrock were arguably the prominent force at the start of the second half and scored just their eighth home goal of the campaign. Defensive hesitancy allowed David Knight through on goal and the striker coolly rounded Joe Welch before slotting Thurrock in front.   

The hosts had chances to extend their slender advantage, Knight blazed over from a good position and Ben Hunt forced Welch into a good reflex save to keep Bromley within touching distance. Mark Goldberg made three changes just past the hour mark but with little effect as the visitors couldn’t force an equaliser.

Then, with time running out, came the decisive moment. Malcolm, who arrived from Ryman Premier League side Lewes at the start of the month, rose to covert Ali Fuseini’s cross and secure a dramatic point for the Lilywhites in their quest to avoid the drop.

They say that goals change games, could this last gasp leveller be a turning point in the Kent-based clubs season?

Wintry conditions frustrate Gillingham boss

The cold snap may not have much of an effect on the top clubs in the English game but for teams at the lower end of the Football League, the big freeze can be a major issue.

Saturday’s postponed League Two match between Burton Albion and Gillingham has left Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler aggravated by the lack of preparation that his side have had due to the sub-zero temperatures. “It has been a real frustrating few days” explained Hessenthaler. “We haven’t been able to train properly we haven’t got the facilities to train properly.”

With the Kent clubs recent defensive problems, it was hoped that the extended two week break without a game would give Hessenthaler the chance to tighten things up, however the inability to find a suitable location in which to train has put pay to any opportunity of improving upon the Gills defensive frailties. Hessenthaler continued: “We’ve tried to get on different areas, a full sized 3G pitch but we haven’t been able to do that because all the pitches are frozen over.”

Southend visit the Priestfield Stadium on Monday evening being one of only two sides to have played two league matches so far this month, and Hessenthaler believes that the Gills’ two week layoff will give the promotion chasing Shrimpers the upper hand. He added: “That’s not going to make it easy for us, to miss two weeks of games it becomes hard to readjust.”

After picking up just three points from a possible 12 throughout January, the Gillingham boss is fully aware of the importance of getting back on track in the playoff push. He concluded: “We’ve got 19 games to go, we have got to stay within the mix. We’re two points outside of the playoffs with a game in hand, our main priority is to get back into the top seven.”    

A statement on the club’s website reassures fan’s that the match will go ahead and that a pitch inspection is unlikely to take place unless there is any dramatic deterioration on the weather front.    

Youngster Mambo extends Fleet stay

Blue Square bet Premier side Ebbsfleet United have extended the loan of Charlton Athletic youngster Yado Mambo until March the 3^rd following a successful spell at Stonebridge Road which began in September.

The central defender has made 21 appearances for the Fleet and has been a key part of the Kent-based clubs resurgence into the comfort of mid-table after a slow beginning to the season. The Charlton Academy graduate has also made two appearances for the Npower League One high- flyers this campaign featuring in the first two rounds of the League Cup. However, forcing his way into the Charlton side would prove to be a tall order at this stage considering the Addicks have the best defence record in the Football League.

Mambo’s last appearances for the Fleet was a 3-0 home defeat to Mansfield Town and the 20-year-old’s loan agreement would make him eligible for next Tuesday’s FA Trophy clash with York City. Mambo is also likely to feature in Ebbsfleet’s next four league matches; trips to Bath City, Fleetwood and Gateshead and a home match with Southport.

Bees miss out on Wembley final

The Johnstone’s paint Trophy may not be considered the most glamorous of propositions but for League Two’s promotion chasing Swindon Town and mid-table Barnet, the Trophy provided them with an opportunity to reach the new Wembley for the first time.

In fact the only man on show who had ever experienced Wembley before was Barnet boss Lawrie Sanchez. But unfortunately the 1988 cup winner with Wimbledon couldn’t guide the North Londoners to a first visit to Wembley since 1972, as Paolo Di Canio’s Robins clinched a meeting with League One Chesterfield thanks to Alan Connell’s first half header, To win the tie 2-1 on aggregate.  

In spite of the 11 point gap to the top seven, Sanchez has challenged his players to pursue another route to Wembley via the playoffs  and with four victories in their last four league games, 2012 could still provide Bees fans with that desired trip to the ‘home’ of English Football.

Essam ready to grab first-team chance

Gillingham defender Connor Essam insists he is ready to take his chance and become a first-team regular in the heart of the Gills leaky defence.

The 19 year-old, is yet to make a first-team appearance for the League Two promotion contenders but an impressive loan spell at Blue Square bet South side Dartford, left Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler with no choice but to recall the youngster, as he looks for a solution to the Kent-based clubs recent defensive frailties.

Essam, who was also on loan at Bishops Stortford and Dover, told the clubs website that the loan spells away from the Priestfield Stadium have allowed him to develop different aspects of his game. Essam said: “I think I’m ready now, it’s the fittest I have ever felt and I think I’m playing the best football I’ve ever played. I’ll be ready as soon as I get my chance.”

The central defender played nine games for the Darts and boasts an excellent, undefeated record with seven wins and two draws. Despite his Football League inexperience, Essam is relishing the opportunity of pitching himself against high quality opposition. He continued: “It’s only two leagues difference. It’s hard to say when you haven’t played in one but I just think you get the odd couple of players in League Two that bring something different. But they’re both quite direct leagues, quite physical, strong leagues and that probably suits me.”

Hessenthaler had threatened to make drastic changes to his defence following the 4-3 defeat to AFC Wimbledon, and Essam is keen to remain in the Managers plans and earn a first start for the Gills. He added: “I’m back now and hopefully I’ll get the chance as soon as possible – hopefully at Burton.”

Goal machine Appiah joins Crystal Palace

Margate’s prolific top scorer Kwesi Appiah has joined Crystal Palace on a two-and-a-half year deal following an excellent goal scoring stint with the Ryman League club.

Appiah, 21, joined Margate at the start of the season after being released by Blue Square bet South side Thurrock and has netted 35 times for the Blues in just 33 matches.

The striker departs his former club with the Blues sitting just outside the playoff places, but Margate boss Chris Kinnear admits that the attention circulating around Appiah, would leave him with no option but to let the forward move on. After Tuesday’s defeat to Leatherhead, Kinnear said: “We are trying to (find a replacement). We’ve been trying for the last couple of weeks knowing that he probably would go but it’s not easy.”

Appiah’s remarkable goal scoring form could impact heavily on Margate’s chances of gaining promotion, but Kinnear insists that his side are not heavily reliant on Appiah and have more than enough quality to cope without him. He continued: “Kwesi is a one off; the top scorer in non-league football in the whole of the country and he’s difficult to replace. But, we’ve got other players in the squad and you can’t just feel sorry for yourself.”

Margate travel to Kingstonian on Saturday looking to get their promotion push back on track, whereas, Appiah will be hoping to make his first appearance for the Eagles when they make the trip to Championship high flyer's Middlesbrough.  

- Purchase Friday's edition of The South London Press to read Tuesday's match report of the London Senior Cup match between Dulwich Hamlet and Erith & Belvedere.