A busy Easter Bank Holiday Monday for the Vanarama National League North rounded off the Easter weekend, as all 22 teams in our league were in action with the season’s end drawing ever closer.
For FC Halifax Town fans, the disappointing defeat to AFC Fylde on Friday was massively overshadowed with an emphatic 3-0 away victory against Harrogate Town.
The Shaymen went into the game as the favourites to snatch all three points, and this was seen early on as Dion Charles fired home inside the opening ten minutes to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Just a few moments later, Matty Kosylo doubled the lead in what was a stellar performance for both wingers on the day. The one goal was not enough for Kosylo, who ensured that the victory was coming back to the MBi Shay Stadium with less than fifteen minutes to go. A fantastic day for Town who took a step closer to ensuring their place in the play-offs.
Fylde, who eliminated Town’s chances of clinching the top spot last week, needed a 90th minute Blinkhorn goal to earn a point from their game against Bradford Park Avenue. The West Yorkshire side will feel hard done by after leading for the whole second half in what can still be seen as an impressive result.
Elsewhere, there was plenty of goal-fests to review around our league, starting with Nuneaton Town. After going 2-0 up early on, AFC Telford ensured the scores stayed level going into half time. However, Nuneaton were just too strong as both Greg Mills and Jordan Nicholson doubled their tallies for the day to hand the away team a 4-2 victory.
The next goal-fest comes at relegated Altrincham, who cancelled out Kidderminster’s early opener thanks to Damian Reeves. However, goals from Joe Ironside, Andre Browne and Emmanuel Sonupe means that Kiddy move to within four points of leaders Fylde.
Darlington do not seem too downhearted despite the recent news that they will not be able to achieve promotion due to ground regulations. The Quakers were 3-1 up against FC United by half time through David Ferguson, Mark Beck and Terry Galbraith before Thomas Brown pulled one back.
The second half though was Darlington’s to enjoy. A fourth goal courtesy of Gary Brown before FC United scored another consolation late on saw them rise to fourth thanks to that 4-2 victory.
The concluding goal fest came at Tamworth who entertained Alfreton Town at The Lamb Ground. Danny Newton’s double saw the home side 2-0 up at half time before Reece Styche made it three with ten minutes to go.
Andy Monkhouse scored what was to be a consolation for the Reds with a minute left, but Jed Davies netted his side’s fourth of the match just a minute later to add insult to injury for Alfreton.
The final match we look at in detail came at Boston United, who hosted Gloucester City at the Jakemans Stadium. An Adam Chapman goal cancelled out Kotwica’s early opener. Despite this, Gloucester regained the lead through Joe Hanks making his side 2-1 to the good going into half time.
The Pilgrims never gave up hope of grabbing an equaliser, and they did so with five minutes to go as Josh Robinson claimed a point for the home side.
The other results in our league were: Brackley Town 0-0 Gainsborough Trinity, Salford City 1-0 Curzon Ashton, Stalybridge Celtic 0-1 Chorley and Worcester City 0-0 Stockport County.
Results in full:
AFC Fylde 1-1 Bradford Park Avenue
AFC Telford United 2-4 Nuneaton Town
Altrincham 1-4 Kidderminster Harriers
Boston United 2-2 Gloucester City
Brackley Town 0-0 Gainsborough Trinity
Darlington 4-2 FC United of Manchester
Harrogate Town 0-3 FC Halifax Town
Salford City 1-0 Curzon Ashton
Stalybridge Celtic 0-1 Chorley
Tamworth 4-1 Alfreton Town
Worcester City 0-0 Stockport County
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