It was a busy day at the top of the table with eight of the top nine sides facing off. As we know FC Halifax Town rose to sixth after a convincing performance away at Gloucester. But how did the rest of the league fair in what could prove to be a vital week over the course of the season?
It was a six-goal thriller at Kidderminster as they drew with top of the table AFC Fylde. The game was back and forth with both sides taking the lead at various points, but in the end, it was a Keith Lowe strike in the 86th minute that brought Harriers level.
Meanwhile, Darlington rose to second in the table with a 2-2 draw against fellow promotion chasers Brackley Town. Thompson put the Quakers ahead in the 26th before being pegged back courtesy of a Dean strike before half time. Ex-Gateshead and Carlisle man Josh Gillies put Darlington back ahead, but in the 74th minute, Byrne scored to level the game.
Draws for the sides around the top meant Chorley vs. Harrogate meant a win would be huge for either side. Chorley managed to secure the win, with the sole goal of the game coming from a Blakemen penalty after Luke Shiels sending off.
Salford were the lone side not facing a side around them in the table, but, in a repeat result from last week, Stockport County got the better of the Reds. County came from behind after Richie Wellens put the visitors ahead. It wouldn’t be enough however as strikes either side of halftime from Gary Stopforth and Max Cartwright saw Salford’s winless run extended to six in league and cup.
Meanwhile at the bottom of the table, Altrincham picked up their first win of the season by beating Stalybridge away from home. Two goals in the final five minutes sealed the deal and saw Altrincham leapfrog Celtic in the table –both sides remain in the relegation zone however.
Bradford Park Avenue ended a nine-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers, Telford. Avenue had lead, Chris Sharp bagging the goal –but the lead lasted only a minute as the joint lowest scorers in the league equalised, defender Ben Bailey with the immediate response.
That result meant that Curzon Ashton had the chance to move ahead of Telford with a result at Nuneaton. They achieved just that with a Niall Cummins proving decisive in the 23rd minute.
It was goals galore between sides in mid-table. FC United and Alfreton were involved in a seven-goal thriller which saw Alfreton come from three goals down, only to concede late on. The result was Alfreton’s third 4-3 of the season and the side with the leakiest defence in the league were left ruing errors again. Luke Ashworth’s 82nd-minute winner making all of Alfreton’s redemptive work to nothing.
Gainsborough’s impressive home form continued as they completed a comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Tamworth. Goals from Thewlis, Jarman and Templeton countered Newton and Briscoe’s quick strikes in the 40th and 43rd minute.
There wasn’t much to talk about in the game between Boston and Worcester. Neither side could find the net as the two sides remain languishing in the middle of the table.
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