LEADERS’ CHARGE IS SLOWED
IN THE BATTLE of the top two, Bedworth were just moments away from inflicting a first league defeat on runaway leaders
Basford in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Alex Troke gave the Greenbacks an early lead from the penalty spot on 14 minutes after Basford goalkeeper Saul Deeney had raced off his line to bring down Kieron Brehon – with Troke sending Deeney the wrong way.
Deeney then made a stunning close-range save from Levi Rowley’s volley, parrying it onto the bar.
Basford’s Kieran Fenton had a goal ruled out for offside but the home side looked likely to grab all three points until the sixth minute of added time, when Fenton scored.
There was also a 1-1 draw further down the division as Stocksbridge prevented Cleethorpes from gaining ground on Bedworth. Joe Lumsden’s incredible first-half strike had put Stocksbridge up 1-0. But Cleethorpes always looked dangerous and a free-kick in the last minutes of the game saw the ball pumped into the box, with Liam Dickens finally scrambling the ball home to rescue a point. The goals flowed as Frickley turned in an excellent performance away at Stamford to triumph 4-2. The home side took the lead when Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson smashed home a cross, but an Eliot Putman mistake at the other end allowed Jacob Hazel to equalise. Gavin Allott then put Frickley ahead, only for Stamford to equalise through Jake Duffy but Allott and Hazel went on to complete their doubles to seal an excellent win.
A 4-2 game was also played out between
Alvechurch and Belper Town as the Nailers grabbed an important away victory.
Leandro Browne, Dominic Allen and a Jamie Ashmore own goal gave Belper a 3-0 half-time lead.
Nathaniel Waite and Jordan Nadat then struck to threaten a comeback but Browne completed his double 15 minutes from time to put the result beyond doubt.
Goals were also the order of the day at the Nanpantan Sports Ground as Loughborough Dynamo blew a lead to draw 3-3 against Kidsgrove.
Skipper Ash Hodgkinson headed home to open the scoring and Paolo Piliero doubled the lead, but Kyle Diskin brought his side back into it, netting after his initial penalty had been saved.
Luke Smithson’s dipping effort put Dynamo 3-1 up, but Lee Cropper’s header pulled Kidsgrove back into the game and after Dynamo’s Carl Sibson had been red carded on 80 minutes, Diskin scored again to snatch the draw.
Carlton Town will be delighted with a 3-1 win away at Market Drayton, with Jordan Wilson getting them on their way after just eight minutes, sweeping home past debutant teenage keeper Mate Deczki.
Elsewhere, a first-half blitz from Chasetown saw off Newcastle Town’s challenge 3-0. Leek Town ran out 3-1 winners over Lincoln
United despite going behind to Philip Watt’s opener.
Darren Chadwick equalised for the hosts, with Jordan Johnson and Robert Stevenson scoring late on to settle affairs.
And Spalding drew 1-1 with Romulus.