Managerial hat-trick dedicated to team

Skelmersdale United's Tommy Lawson insists his players and coaches must take the credit for winning his third managerial award of the campaign.

November's Evo-Stik NPL First Division North Manager of the Month was presented with his accolade on Tuesday night by League Representative John Beaumont, pictured, before conjuring up another impressive result at the West Lancashire Community Stadium, Skem knocking Prescot Cables out of the Doodson Sport Cup with a 7-1 First Round hammering.

Judges had little choice but to allow Lawson to tighten his stranglehold on the division’s managerial awards after his side won six out of seven outings in November. The FA Trophy giant-killers drew just once at Boston United in the competition's First Round but went on to knock the Conference North oufit out in a replay.

With his in-form side already putting down earlier markers for their manager to be in the running for December’s honours, a delighted Lawson said: "Winning again was fantastic news. My players and the coaches around me must take the credit for the winning mentality that is bringing us success. The attitude instilled in the lads by our coaches is brilliant.

"Every time they go out to play they are striving to win and I am the one benefitting with all these awards so credit to them all."

Lawson was the first of November’s three divisional winners to pick up his award after they were announced last Friday.

North Ferriby United’s Billy Heath was voted the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division’s top manager after his side won four games in a row in November with three of the wins coming away at top six sides. Heath will pick up his second honour of the season on Saturday before the top-of-the-table Villagers take on Rushall Olympic.

Stamford’s Graham Drury was named Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Manager of the Month for the second time after his second placed Daniels won five out of their six outings. His presentation is due to take place before Stamford’s home game against Northwich Victoria on Saturday 15 December.

Winning managers are presented with an inscribed certificate marking their achievement along with personalised items from the Errea benchwear range by representatives of the league and sponsors Bostik, the parent company of league title sponsors Evo-Stik.