SKIPPER Sean Newton has won the first Press Player of the Month award for 2017/18.

The utility man finished three points clear of nearest rival Louis Almond to take the August honours after scoring three goals during the team’s first seven contests.

Newton finished top after being The Press man of the match during last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Southport and our second-highest performer in the 2-0 home defeat to FC United of Manchester, earning three and two points respectively towards the standings.

He also scooped the two Player of the Month bonus points, as the winner of our Twitter man-of-the-match poll for the Southport draw.

The other points on Merseyside went to Alex Whittle (two) and Jon Parkin (one) as the Press’ second and third-highest rated performers respectively.

Against FC United of Manchester, Hamza Bencherif was The Press man of the match and topped the Twitter poll.

Jon Worsnop (one point) was recognized as out third-highest performer.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Newton 10, Parkin 4, Parslow 4, Almond 3, Bencherif 3, Heslop 3, Law 3, Morgan-Smith 3, Rankine 3, Moke 2, Whittle 2, Worsnop 2.

The Press Player of the Month standings for August: Newton 12, Almond 9, Bencherif 5, Heslop 5, Moke 4, Parkin 4, Parslow 4, Law 3, Morgan-Smith 3, Rankine 3, Whittle 2, Worsnop 2.

Goals: Newton 3, Heslop 2, Morgan-Smith 2, Rankine 2, Own Goal 1, Parkin 1, Parslow 1.

Assists: Almond 6, Morgan-Smith 2, Newton 2, Parkin 1, Whittle 1.

Bad boys: Bencherif, Heslop both one red card; Newton, Smith both one yellow.