DANNY BOY IS FIRING AGAIN
HE’S the man who just can’t stop scoring! Fresh from hitting four last weekend, AFC Fylde goal machine Danny Rowe fired a hat-trick to take his season tally to a staggering 31 and help the National League North leaders to FA Trophy third round qualifying glory.
Dave Challinor’s Coasters came from behind to beat division rivals Gloucester City 3-2, with Rowe’s winner (right) coming in the 94th minute. Ryman Division One South South Park upset National League South side Oxford City 2-1, while Step 4 Hythe Town saw off Bishop’s Stortford 4-2.
FC Halifax Town began their defence of Non-League’s prestigious silverware, but the holders – who beat Grimsby Town in last season’s showpiece final at Wembley – were held by Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division side Matlock Town.
Meanwhile, Forest Green Rovers have seen their lead at the top of the National League cut to one point after a 3-1 defeat at Wrexham.
Lincoln City are hot on their heels thanks to a 2-0 win against Maidstone United.
And there was a nine-goal thriller in the north-west as Braintree Town beat Southport 5-4 on a topsy-turvy afternoon.
AN inexperienced Margate side put together a fantastic performance to draw with National League South rivals East Thurrock to the delight of boss Nikki Bull.
Having lost five first-team players in the last couple of days and after falling behind to Sam Higgins’s fifth-minute penalty, the writing looked to be on the wall for the Blues.
However, from that point onwards the makeshift side dominated proceedings and deservedly took the tie to a replay following debutant Victor Adeboyejo’s spot-kick.
Margate manager Nikki Bull was understandably ecstatic after the result, after months of misery at Hartsdown Park.
“In my 20 years in the game that’s the best result I’ve ever had in football,” he told The NLP.
“After the couple of months we’ve had here, I’ve lost 11 players in the last three weeks, it just goes to show if you’ve got the fight and the desire, then anything is possible.”
The struggles of the Kent side have been well reported recently with a number leaving for other clubs in midweek – but Bull explained exactly how bad they’ve become off the field.
“Eight of the players today weren’t even getting paid. I’ve told them they’ve got an opportunity to prove themselves and my God did they do that for me today.”
After shipping five goals in two home fixtures, Higgins’ penalty came early in the game, after Joe Gardner was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.
Margate didn’t let that hurt their belief as Adeboyejo tested
Lukas Lidakevicius from range.
Kane Rowland saw shots blocked and skim wide in quick succession, with Phipps and Jermaine Osei also narrowly missing the target for the hosts.
On the half-hour mark, Margate squandered a big chance when Adeboyejo was played through, but saw his effort half saved by Lidakevicius with Rowland denied by a recov- ering defender on the rebound.
Debutant goalkeeper Valerie Pajetat then kept his side in the game either side of half-time. Firstly he saved brilliantly from Gardner, with fellow debutant Cameron Heffernan clearing from under his bar and then he stuck out a big hand to thwart Gardner again from a deflected effort.
Those saves proved crucial as Adeboyejo won a penalty minutes later, burying an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
There was only one team who looked like winning from then on, with Keanu Williams coming close in the 94th minute, only to see his half-volley from 20 yards skim just over the bar. STAR MAN: Alfie Foster (Margate) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★