Walker back with a bang to regain lead (From York Press)

Walker back with a bang to regain lead

10:29am Saturday 21st April 2012 in Diary By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

JASON Walker has regained leadership of The Press Player of the Year contest after picking up his first points since October.

The former Barrow and Luton forward was the runaway pacesetter during the first three months of the competition but, having been reeled in by Scott Kerr and Matty Blair, he was overtaken by the latter last week.

His man-of-the-match performance at Cambridge United on Tuesday, though, saw Walker open up a three-point gap on Blair at the top of the standings.

Walker picked up three points after his match-winning display at the Abbey Stadium, while fellow attackers Ashley Chambers (two) and Blair (one) were also recognised for their efforts as our second and third-highest rated players respectively.

In Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Newport, the points went to man-of-the-match Chambers (three), Walker (two) and Chris Doig (one).

After the Cambridge game, Chambers won the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website to pick up the two Player of the Month bonus points, while that honour went to Blair for the Newport clash.

Dan Parslow is currently four points ahead in the April contest.

To be in with a chance of presenting the April Player of the Month with his prize at a City home game, vote for your man of the match after today’s trip to Braintree.

The Press Player of the Year standings (not including Player of the Month bonus points): Walker 33 points, Blair 30, Kerr 28, Smith 26, McLaughlin 24, Meredith 21, Chambers 19, Ingham 19, Parslow 18, Fyfield 16, Oyebanjo 14, Challinor 11, McGurk 10, Gibson 9, Moké 9, Doig 8, Reed 6, Boucaud 5, Pilkington 4, Blinkhorn 2, Henderson 1.

April Player of the Month standings: Parslow 11, Chambers 7, Walker 5, Blair 4, Doig 4, Gibson 4, Ingham 2, Oyebanjo 2, McLaughlin 1.

Goals: Walker 18, Blair 17, McLaughlin 13, Reed 12, Chambers 9, Smith 4, Challinor 3, Fyfield 3, Blinkhorn 2, Meredith 2, Moké 2, Oyebanjo 2, Pilkington 2, Ashikodi 1, Boucaud 1, Henderson 1, Kerr 1, McGurk 1, own goal 1.

Assists: McLaughlin 14, Chambers 13, Blair 9, Moké 8, Reed 8, Meredith 7, Pilkington 7, Walker 6, Challinor 4, Kerr 4, Oyebanjo 4, Potts 3, Blinkhorn 2, Bopp 1, Fyfield 1, Henderson 1, McGurk 1, Parslow 1, Smith 1.

Bad boys: Smith 10 yellow cards; McGurk, Meredith both 8 yellow; Challinor 7 yellow; Blair, Kerr, both 6 yellow; Walker 1 red, 4 yellow; McLaughlin, Reed both 5 yellow; Boucaud 1 red, 3 yellow; Fyfield 4 yellow; Parslow 3 yellow; Ashikodi, Moké, Oyebanjo all 2 yellow; Brown, Gibson both 1 red; Bopp, Chambers, Ingham, Potts all 1 yellow.