Home comfort at last for Reds
ALFRETON Town celebrated their first home win of the season as they beat AFC Telford United 3-1 to climb up to 12th in National League North.
Indeed, the Reds scored their first goals at home this season to bag the three points, Tom Allan getting the ball rolling with a towering header from Adam Lund’s long throw in the 20th minute.
Debutants Ritchie Sutton and Yusifu Ceesay made a big impression for the Reds, the latter playing his part in the home side’s second goal after the break, back-heeling the ball for Josh Wilde to score.
And Ceesay was on the scoresheet in the 69th minute, storming in as Zak Lilly dwelt on the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, accepting the gift with aplomb.
Telford did scramble home an 84th-minute consolation when Jack Byrne followed up a Tyrell Hamilton shot to score.
Alex Byrne scored twice to fire Matlock Town to a 2-1 home win against Stalybridge Celtic in the Pitching-in Premier Division.
The Gladiators trailed at the break but rallied to climb up to second in the table, level on points with leaders South Shields but with a game in hand.
Celtic opened the scoring in firsthalf stoppage time, Scott Bakkor converting a penalty after he had been fouled by keeper Shaun Rowley.
But the second period was barely a minute old when Reece Kendall delivered a superb centre from the left which the unchallenged Byrne headed firmly home.
Now Matlock were firmly on the front foot, Byrne testing Celtic keeper Louis Hood with a low shot.
An intricate passing move, begun by Callum Chippendale, eventually released Byrne, who smashed a fierce and unstoppable shot past Hood to give Matlock the win.
Gladiators manager Paul Phillips said: “I told them we’d win the game if we did the right things in the right places.
“We scored two good goals and importantly got a reaction after last Saturday’s defeat by Belper Town. We found a way to win.”
Andy Dales gave Mickleover a first-minute lead in their home game against Whitby Town but the tables were turned in the second half.
Marcus Giles levelled in the 68th minute before Jacob Hazel scored what proved to be a 71st-minute winner in a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
Belper Town celebrated a 2-1 home win against Cambridge City in the NPL Midlands Division.
Danny South opened the scoring for the Nailers in the 54th minute before Alex Peterson made it 2-0 in the 69th, Jordan Gent grabbing a last-minute consolation for the visitors.
There were seven goals in Ilkeston Town’s home game against Chasetown but the Robins finished on the wrong side of a 4-3 scoreline.
Remaye Campbell gave Ilkeston an 11th-minute lead with the only goal of the first half.
But Joey Butlin scored twice in quick succession after the break to put the visitors in front.
And Jack Langston made it 3-1 to Chasetown in the 65th minute before Campbell scored his second in the 73rd. Two minutes later, Ilkeston were level when Charlie Wakefield pounced but Daniel O’Callaghan scored an 80th-minute winner for Chasetown.
In the Buildbase FA Vase, Gresley Rovers marched in to the second qualifying round as Steve Hart scored twice in a 7-0 home win against Dudley Sports.
Ryan Seal, Danny Munday, Alex Morris, Lee Butler and Mason Frizelle also scored for the Moatmen, who face a trip to Winsford United next.
Belper United are also through after a 2-1 away win against Bourne Town, while Heanor Town won 2-0 on the road against Rainworth MW.
But Borrowash Victoria lost 1-0 at Sherwood Colliery.