Reds so close to win against leaders Fylde
ALFRETON Town’s and Vanarama National North leaders AFC Fylde put on an excellent advertisement for non-League football in a 1-1 draw at the Impact Arena.
The Reds, ahead from the 55th minute, almost ended Fylde’s unbeaten start to the season before conceding a late equaliser for their first draw of the season.
Only two minutes had gone when Bailey Hobson had a shot charged down and Dayle Southwell’s follow-up was held by Fylde keeper Chris Neal.
In the sixth minute, Reds keeper George Willis had to be alert when Steven Dobbie’s low drive took a deflection off Ritchie Sutton.
Willis produced two more outstanding saves in the first half-hour, thwarting Nick Haughton twice.
Haughton then saw his free kick hit the angle of bar and post but the Reds responded with Josh Clackstone going close from 30 yards before Evans had a shot charged down.
The Reds got better and virtually dominated the second half, taking the lead after 55 minutes.
Hobson scored from close range after Yusfu Ceesay, who caused plenty of problems, had hit the post.
Neal turned aside another shot from Ceesay before Southwell ghosted in to test the keeper with a stinging drive.
Alfreton’s defence was well marshalled by skipper Dom Smith and there is no doubt that the return of Sutton after injury is helping.
However, Fylde substitute Ethan
Walker saved a point for the visitors in the 84th minute with an angled drive that flew into the corner of the net after his first, weaker, effort had been partially cleared.
Still the Reds might have won it as, in stoppage time, substitute Elliott Reeves was sent clear but failed to test Neal.
MATLOCK Town remain on top of the Pitching In NPL Premier Division but they went down to a 2-1 defeat away to Atherton Collieries.
The only consolation, after the Gladiators conceded a late winner, was that second-placed South Shields lost their second successive game, going down 1-0 at home to Basford United.
Matlock, as against Mickleover in midweek, struggled to get going and fell behind seconds before half-time when Joel Amado headed in from a corner.
The 54th-minute addition of Callum Chippendale from the bench, for Matt Sargent, gave the Gladiators some impetus in the second half and it was he who equalised with a spectacular bicycle kick after 75 minutes, when Liam Hughes headed the ball down invitingly.
However, Atherton surged back and wonit with a controversial stoppage-time penalty as Gaz Peet went down under Jamie Cooke’s challenge and Matty Gillam scored from the spot.
IT WAS a chastening day for struggling Mickleover as they were hammered 4-0 at home by fellow strugglers Morpeth Town.
The game saw veteran Pablo Mills return to the Mickleover lineup but they fell behind after five minutes, Andrew Johnson scoring, and he got his second after 19 minutes.
Ben Sayer made it 3-0 after 27 minutes.
Lee Holmes was sent off for a second yellow card after 84 minutes before Sam Hodgson hit a last-minute fourth for the visitors.
BELPER Town slipped out of the FA Trophy in the second qualifying round after twice coming from behind away to Spalding United.
Danny South scored equalisers in both halves for the Nailers after Jordan Macleod had put the home side ahead but it was Macleod who had the last word, completing his hat-trick in the 86th minute to send the Nailers out.
IT was better news for Ilkeston Town, who went through 4-1 on penalties after battling to a goalless draw in normal time.
A brilliant save by Ross Durrant kept the Robins alive late in the game and he then saved Daventry’s second spot-kick, while they also hit one over the bar.
Alex Troke, Billy Bennett, Kieran Fenton and James Reid all scored their penalties.