Award leaves no room for doubt

If Lee Ashcroft ever wondered how he'd get on in Northwich Victoria's managerial hot-seat collecting the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's First Division South Manager of the Month award must have felt like ample evidence of his success so far.

Ashcroft was presented with January's managerial accolade on Saturday by League Representatives Alan and Mark Ogley, pictured, and representatives of Bostik, parent company of sponsors Evo-Stik, before the Vics drew 1-1 draw at Marston Road with Kidsgrove Athletic.

Ashcroft said: "I'd like to thank the players for the hard work and togetherness they’ve shown, all my back room staff and the chairman for bringing me to the football club."

Ashcroft left Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division Kendal Town at the end of November to take over at the Vics and was rewarded for their their progress on the pitch during the opening month of 2013.

Under his guidance, the Vics climbed the table with five wins from six games including a Cheshire Senior Cup win away at Crewe Alexandra and two Doodson Sport Cup victories, a 5-1 triumph at Chasetown in the Second Round and a narrow 1-0 win at home to Market Drayton Town in the Third Round. Their victory at League One Crewe's place also earned the club the Cheshire FA's Team of the Round award.

Like Rushall Olympic's Neil Kitching and Cammell Laird's Tony Sullivan, who also collected their respective Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division and First Division North awards last weekend, the Vics manager was presented with an inscribed certificate marking his achievement along with personalised items from the Errea benchwear range.

Lairds manager Sullivan collected his accolade from Evo-Stik NPL Operations Manager Alan Allcock before his side beat Bamber Bridge 3-2 at the Kirklands Stadium while League Representative John Beaumont honoured Kitching before his team's 5-2 triumph over Blyth Spartans at Dales Lane.