It was a full fixture list this weekend and the goals were flying in (which may be an understatement) around the National League North with some crazy matches and some shock results from around the division.
FC Halifax Town suffered from a midweek FA Cup hangover after their surprise 4-2 defeat away at an improving Curzon Ashton in a game what can only be described as bonkers. Curzon had three men sent off in the second half but still managed to see the game out.
Two goals in the last five minutes of the first half gave Curzon a commanding lead going into the break, with Niall Cummins and Adam Morgan grabbing the goals. Cliff Moyo responded straight after the interval to give Halifax hope. Morgan again and Joe Guest seemingly killed the tie but a freak Connor Hampson goal gave The Shaymen a pinch of hope but it wasn’t to be.
Table toppers AFC Fylde blew away Boston United after coming out 9-2 winners against the Lincolnshire side. Danny Rowe scored another four goals to add to his ever-growing goals scored, Brendon Daniels also grabbed a brace in the romp. James Hardy, Andy Bond and Josh Langley also got in on the act. Boston did in fact take the lead through Jay Rollins but the lead only lasted a whole five minutes, the Boston man did grab a second after half-time but that was overshadowed by the nine goals conceded.
Chorley kept on the pace with Fylde after their 4-1 triumphant at home to Gloucester City. They only sit four points off the top thanks to goals from Jake Cottrell, Marcus Carver in the first half. Luke Hopper did grab Gloucester’s only goal to bring it back to 2-1 but Chorley killed the tie thanks to Alex Samizadeh and Jason Walker.
Darlington 1883 were shocked at AFC Telford going down 2-0 at the New Bucks Head. Josh Wilson and Bradley Reid grabbed the winning goals in the second half as Darlo lost ground on Fylde.
Brackley kept up their good form against an out of form Harrogate Town, after their midweek FA Cup victory over Gillingham. Harrogate did take the on the stroke of half-time thanks to Simon Ainge, it didn’t take Brackley long to respond as David Moyo scored four minutes after the interval. It looked like the two sides were going to share the spoils before Matt Lowe got the winner in the 90th minute to put Brackley only a point off the final play-off spot.
Averting our attention to the bottom of the league with Bradford Park Avenue who once again claimed another impressive victory to make it nine points in three matches. Park Avenue overcame Stockport County thanks to a James Knowles goal in the dying minutes. Kayode Odejayi put County in the lead during the first half but former Peterborough United man Emile Sinclair levelled the scores before Knowles grabbed the three points to put them level on points with Nuneaton Town.
Nuneaton are a side looking over their shoulders after that Park Avenue victory and their 3-0 defeat to FC United of Manchester. Kieran Glynn and Jerome Wright sent the home side into half-time sitting on a comfortable lead. That wasn’t to be enough though as Luke Ashworth grabbed the third and final goal to move FC United up to 12th.
It was heartbreak at the death for Altrincham as they went down 3-2 at Alfreton Town despite taking the lead twice. Alty took the lead midway through the first-half thanks to Greg Wilkinson and looked comfortable until the last 15 minutes. Step forward Andy Monkhouse who grabbed a hat-trick to rob Alty of both three points and a single point. Jake Moult put the away side back into the lead on the 82nd minute after Monkhouse equalised 10 minutes before. The former Hartlepool man then turned the game around scoring two in four minutes to send Alty home pointless.
Stalybridge Celtic, another side at the bottom, lost once again after conceding two in two minutes. Scott Spencer gave them the lead in the first-half before Danny Newton and Greg Mills scored to move Tamworth up to fourth.
Kidderminster Harriers got back to winning ways against struggling Gainsborough Trinity. Elton Ngwatala, Tyrell Waite and Arthur Gnahoua scored the three goals which saw Kiddy move back into the play-offs at the expense of The Shaymen.
Salford overcame Worcester 3-0 45 minutes after the rest of the teams with the referee delaying the kick-off due to traffic congestion. The inform home side only sit one point outside the play-offs after that well deserved victory thanks to goals from Nicolas Haughton, Mike Phenix and Scott Burton.
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