Top bosses booked for presentations

Rushall Olympic's Neil Kitching, Cammell Laird's Tony Sullivan and Northwich Victoria's Lee Ashcroft are all looking forward to picking up their managerial accolades on the same day after being named as the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's top bosses for January.

The Evo-Stik NPL's first managerial awards of 2013 were announced on Thursday with all three managers set to be presented with their honours on Saturday 16 February.

Each will be presented with an inscribed certificate marking their achievements along with personalised items from the Errea benchwear range by representatives of the Evo-Stik NPL and sponsors Bostik, the parent company of league title sponsors Evo-Stik.

League representative John Beaumont will present Rushall Olympic's Kitching with the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division Manager of the Month Award before his side take on Blyth Spartans at Dales Lane. Kitching took the division's laurels after his team's unbeaten run in January of three wins from five outings. The Pics, currently in the wrong half of the table, ended January with a flourish by recording a stunning 4-3 victory away at second placed Hednesford in their final fixture of the month.

Lairds manager Sullivan will be handed his accolade by Evo-Stik NPL Operations Manager Alan Allcock before his team host Bamber Bridge at the Kirklands Stadium. Sullivan was named as the Evo-Stik NPL's First Division North Manager of the Month after also leading his side to four wins from five outings, the results lifting them to seventh in the table ahead of this weekend's action.

In league action Lairds beat Warrington away, Salford at home and drew away at Curzon Ashton. The highlights of their month undoubtedly came in the Doodson Sport Cup with Lairds beating Skelmersdale United on penalties at their place in the Second Round before knocking out Chorley with a 3-2 win at Victory Park in the Third Round earlier this week.

Northwich Victoria manager Lee Ashcroft will be rewarded for the work he's done since taking over at the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South outfit by League representative Mark Ogley before the Vics clash with Kidsgrove Athletic at Marston Road.

Ashcroft's guidance has seen the Vics climb into the top half of 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 on Wednesday.