Brackley hoodoo hits Reds again
ALFRETON Town opened their Vanarama National League North campaign with a 1-0 defeat at home to Brackley Town – the Northamptonshire side’s sixth straight win against the Reds.
The first half stayed goalless although Matt Rhead and Shaun Tuton had chances with headers and Reds defender Adam Lund had to block a shot from Wes York.
Five minutes before half-time, Brackley striker Tawariq Yusuf was booked for fouling Reds keeper George Willis as they raced for the ball and he was sent off after 58 minutes, collecting a second yellow for hurling the ball to the ground in temper in front of the referee.
By then, however, Brackley had scored what proved to be the only goal, a tremendus 35-yard strike by Matt Lowe after 48 minutes.
Three minutes after that, Brackley keeper Danny Lewis had to tip over Bobby Johnson’s longdistance free kick but Brackley held on fairly comfortably.
MATLOCK Town made it two wins out of two at home with a strong second half display to see off Hyde United 2-1 in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
They went ahead after 61 minutes when Reece Kendall headed in a right-wing cross from Alex Byrne and made it 2-0 after 83 minutes when Ross Hannah crossed from the left and Lirak Hasani glanced in a neat header.
Liam Hardy netted a stoppage time goal for Hyde.
MICKLEOVER were also 2-1 winners in the division, thanks to a double from Dec Bacon.
Bacon took down a high ball and finished smartly to give Mickleover an eighth-minute lead.
Stuart Beavon was twice denied by keeper Greg Hartley just before half-time but Mickleover doubled their lead five minutes after the break when Andy Dales pulled the ball back from the bye-line and Bacon finished well.
It was a nervous finish after Tom Bentham stuck out a leg to divert in a volley from Liam Tomsett with four minutes left and Jack Redshaw hit the bar with a deflected shot with a minute left.
BELPER Town eased past Whitchurch Alport of the Midland League in the preliminary round of the FA Cup, winning 3-1 at home.
There was an early jolt for the Nailers when Joe Minshall volleyed Whitchurch in front after six minutes but it took them only four minutes to equalised when good work from Brodie Litchfield on the right resulted in him finding Danny South, who teed up Tom Wilson to score.
Only 13 minutes had gone when Wilson flicked in his second from Craig Nelthorpe’s corner.
Jonny Margetts converted Sam Wright’s driven cross to make it 3-1 just before half-time.
Margetts had a second-half penalty saved by visiting keeper Mason Springthorpe.
Also in the FA Cup preliminary round, Ilkeston Town won 2-1 away to Quorn. Charlie Wakefield put the Robins ahead in the 13th minute but Quorn equalised within a minute through Leke Shodunke.
The winner came in the 67th minute when Zak Goodson was fouled in the area and Alex Troke put away the penalty.
Long Eaton United went through with a 4-0 home win over Shepshed Dynamo, with goals from James Gale, Alex Marshall, Daniel Tuck and Daniel Gordon.
Gresley Rovers went out 2-0 at home to Leek Town, who scored in each half through Olly Harrison and Daniel Trickett-Smith.