The Hatters’ stunning FA Cup victory at Barclays Premier League side Norwich City rounded off a month in which they also saw off Championship outfit Wolves in the same competition. The win at Carrow Road the first time since 1989 that a top-flight club had been beaten by non-league opposition. Buckle’s side secured successive 1-0 victories in the world’s oldest knock-out competition to earn a fifth round tie at home to Millwall. A win in that fixture would make them the first non-league club to reach the quarter-finals since the war. Priorities at Kenilworth Road still focus on promotion back to the Football League though and a 6-1 home win over Barrow and a point at Telford kept up their challenge for a top five place during the period, despite a defeat at Woking on the first day of the year. A win over Skelmersdale in the FA Trophy saw them go to Grimsby Town in a quarter-final tie in that competition, going down to a 3-0 defeat a few days after the Norwich success.

In the Blue Square Bet North the manager of the month award for January goes to Guiseley AFC manager Steve Kittrick. The Lions kept the pressure on runaway league leaders Chester with four wins from four matches during the month. Kittrick’s side scored 11 goals and conceded just four in the process. They began the year with a win in the Yorkshire derby at Bradford Park Avenue, followed by a long trip to Bishop's Stortford where they ran out 5-2 winners. Home wins over Corby Town and Oxford City extended their winning sequence to seven league games, starting February 16 points off the top of the table but with four games in hand and a highly-anticipated home fixture with Chester to come in April.

The Blue Square Bet South manager of the month award for January goes to Ian Allinson from Boreham Wood. Allinson’s side consolidated their position in the play-off zone with an unbeaten month including three wins. The highlight was a 3-0 victory over Hayes and Yeading United, including a 10th clean sheet of the season which took them to the top of the defensive charts. The Wood also won home games against Maidenhead United and Eastbourne Borough during the period. It’s the second time this season that the ex-Arsenal player has won an award, having scooped the honours for October of last year.

Joe Clarke from Wrexham has been named the Blue Square Bet Premier player of the month for January. The midfielder has been in fantastic form for his title-chasing side scoring four goals during the period and contributing to an unbeaten month for Andy Morrell’s team. His commitment to the cause was rewarded with a contract extension back in November and the faith of the manager has been paid back with outstanding displays in the Wrexham engine room. Clarke has gone on a four-game scoring streak starting with the winning goal at Alfreton, when Wrexham were down to 10 men. He went on to score in their next three games, including progression to the semi-final stage of the FA Trophy with strikes against Sutton United and Southport.

In the Blue Square Bet North the player of the month for January is Josh Wilson from Guiseley AFC. Wilson makes it a January double for the Lions having found the net four times during the month. The former Vauxhall Motors midfielder has improved for a switch to a forward role, which also caught the eye of England C boss Paul Fairclough. His most important strike during the period was the winner in the home game against Corby, but he also got on the scoresheet in games against Bradford Park Avenue and Bishop’s Stortford where he managed a brace.

The Blue Square Bet South player of the month for January is Jamie White from Salisbury City. The striker scored six times during the month and found the net in all but one of his games for the table topping Whites. Starting the year in fine style with a brace in the 5-3 home victory over Eastleigh on New Year’s Day. The highlight of the month a last minute winner in the 4-3 home win over Truro City.

2012/2013 Season — January Awards

MANAGERS
Blue Square Bet Premier: PAUL BUCKLE from Luton Town
Blue Square Bet North: STEVE KITTRICK from Guiseley
Blue Square Bet South: IAN ALLINSON from Boreham Wood

PLAYERS
Blue Square Bet Premier: JOE CLARKE from Wrexham
Blue Square Bet North: JOSH WILSON from Guiseley
Blue Square Bet South: JAMIE WHITE from Salisbury City

LINK: December Awards 2012/2013