As with many fixture weekends, the Vanarama National League North does not often disappoint. FC Halifax Town produced arguably the most outstanding result at The Shay on Saturday afternoon as they battled back from a two-goal deficit to record a 4-2 win against Salford City. The Manchester side led 2-0 at the break, former Town midfielder Sam Walker dispatching a penalty and top scorer Mike Phenix firing home. A header from debutant Daniel Nti gave the Shaymen hope, and further headers from Liam King and Adam Morgan accompanied Matt Kosylo’s penalty in giving Billy Heath’s men a remarkable comeback victory, one which sees them leapfrog their opponents in the table. The two now sit level on points with Halifax’s narrowly superior goal difference from the result putting them 5th.
Alfreton Town and Worcester City played out a goalless draw down in the East Midlands, with the two sides remaining unclear from trouble. Tyler Weir saw red late on for Worcester in a game which could not gather a share of many goals across the league.
Boston United ran out 2-0 winners at relegation-threatened Bradford Park Avenue. Goals either side of half-time from Jay Rollins and Kalern Thomas secured an away win for Boston which sees them rise to 14th. Park Avenue remain 20th and four points adrift of safety.
Chorley got their home form back up and running as they cruised to a routine 2-0 success over bottom side Altrincham. Jake Cottrell and Jack Sampson both hit first half goals to condemn the basement boys to their 11th league defeat in 12 games, sitting on eight points and in big trouble. Chorley meanwhile sit third, six points behind leaders AFC Fylde.
The most surprising result of the afternoon came at the Tameside Stadium, where Curzon Ashton secured an impressive 3-2 victory over top side Fylde. Greater Manchester outfit Curzon sit 15th after goals from Niall Cummins, Matty Warburton and Ryan Hall handed Fylde just their third league loss of the season. Brendon Daniels and prolific top scorer Danny Rowe hit replies for the Lancashire visitors, whose lead at the summit is cut to six points.
In another survival ‘six-pointer’, Gainsborough Trinity and Stalybridge played out a 2-2 draw which sees the visitors stay 12 points adrift of their hosts, who deprived them of an opportunity to close the gap. James Reid gave Trinity the lead at The Northolme, but Kieran Dunbar and Fraser Horsfall turned the game in Stalybridge’s favour. The hosts salvaged a potentially crucial point late on through an equaliser from Ashley Worsfold.
Kidderminster Harriers continued their strong home run by beating AFC Telford by a goal to nil. A solitary strike with five minutes to play from Darryl Knights kept maximum pressure on Fylde, and rose Harriers to second. Telford stay 17th after their defeat at Aggborough, five points clear of the relegation zone.
A comeback from Brackley saw them come from two down to grab a draw at Nuneaton. Jordan Nicholson gave the Midlands outfit the lead early on, and they doubled the lead through Greg Mills. With 17 minutes remaining, Brackley managed to salvage a point through a double from Lee Ndlovu. The result sees the visitors slot into 9th with games in hand on every other team, with Nuneaton in 13th.
A thriller at Edgeley Park saw Stockport County denied a place in the playoffs by fellow chasers Darlington. A brace from Danny Lloyd twice gave home side County the lead in the first half, but the Quakers responded through Josh Gillies and Stephen Thompson. Jimmy Ball gave County the lead for the third time late on, but there was still time for top scorer Mark Beck to reply for the North-East side who are now 4th, three points above Stockport in seventh with a game in hand.
FC United and Harrogate finished all square as two equalisers from the home side saw the game end 2-2. Tom Platt opened the scoring for Harrogate after just three minutes, with Jason Gilchrist levelling before the interval. Kuda Muskwe rekindled the hope of three points for the Yorkshire side, but FC United struck again through George Thomson. The result sees the two sides remain six points apart with Harrogate 10th, and FC United in behind at 11th.
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