A NIGHTMARE IN THE NORTH-EAST
BOXING DAY delivered a knockout blow for no fewer than THREE north-east National League North managers.
Darlington boss Josh Gowling left the Quakers following their 2-0 defeat at Scarborough Athletic.
A 3-1 loss for South Shields against Blyth Spartans then saw Julio Arca’s reign come to an end as their recent bad run stretched to six without a win.
And to top off a frantic week, Graham Fenton’s ‘reward’ for orchestrating Blyth’s derby delight was to be put on gardening leave with Jon Shaw now confirmed as his replacement (see back page).
Arca saw his Mariners side three goals behind inside 35 minutes. Nicky Deverdics opened the scoring on 11 minutes before Cedric Main fired in a fine low finish four minutes later. Finn Cousin-Dawson put Fenton in dremland against his former club, despite Paul Blackett pulling one back for the Mariners late on.
Arca was dismissed on Wednesday just hours after Gowling left his Darlington post.
Darlo are second bottom following their latest defeat at Scarborough.
The Seadogs led inside seven minutes when on-loan Gateshead forward Aiden Rutledge buried a penalty after the visitors were penalised for handball.
And Harry Green wrapped up the points on 77 minutes when he raced clear before finishing one-on-one.
Scunthorpe United stay top on goal difference following their 2-0 win over Farsley Celtic.
Jason Law slotted a low opener before claiming the assist for the second when Danny Whitehall slid in to help his goalbound effort over the line.
Tamworth, promoted from Southern League Premier Central last season, are level on points, however. The Lambs fell behind to
Rushall Olympic inside three minutes to Luke Badley-Morgan’s goal.
Pics keeper Jake Weaver then saved Chris Wreh’s penalty in a frantic opening ten minutes but Kyle Finn levelled just after the halfhour and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd’s flicked header won it after the break.
“We did it the hard way,” Tamworth manager Andy Peaks said. “At the end we were actually, not holding on, but under a lot of pressure with balls into the box. Overall, we played some good stuff. I looked out at 25 minutes and thought, ‘How are we losing this 1-0?’ We created a lot of chances, had a penalty, but it was a different way of winning today.”
Chorley made it three wins on the spin with a 2-0 win at Spennymoor Town.
Andy Preece’s side led through Mike Calveley’s fierce finish on 16 minutes.
Spenny had a way back into the game just 12 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty but Glenn Taylor’s spot-kick was stopped by keeper Matt Urwin.
And Carlton Ubaezuonu made the most of an error at the back to put the ball into an empty net before the hour to, ultimately, seal the victory. Supersub Andy Williams kept up
Hereford’s promotion charge. 2-1 down to Gloucester City, Williams headed in an 88th-minute equaliser before popping up nine minutes into stoppage time to snatch a winner in a 3-2 thriller.
“I don’t know if I want to do that every week — my throat’s gone, my hair is getting whiter,” manager Paul Caddis said. “It epitomises this group. The character in this dressing room is unbelievable.”
Curzon Ashton got back to winning ways in equally dramatic fashion, coming from 2-0 down against Southport to take the points.
Brad Holmes put the Sandgrounders in front after just 13 minutes before former Nash man Harry Flowers doubled their lead.
Stefan Mols pulled one back for Craig Mahon’s side before the break but it took until the 70th minute to equalise when Rhys Hughes smashed in.
And then Jimmy Spencer was in the right place in the 82nd minute to bank the three points and keep Curzon in the play-off places.
Danny Newton scored his 12th of the season to put Brackley Town into an early lead they wouldn’t relinquish at Banbury United.
They are ninth on goal difference from Boston United, who beat King’s Lynn Town 2-1 in a game marred by alleged homophobic and racist comments from the crowd with two men from King’s Lynn arrested.
Jimmy Knowles crashed the Pilgrims ahead off the underside of the bar on 51 minutes later and, just two minutes later, Jordan Richards fired in from 25 yards.
Ben Stephens cut the lead with minutes remaining but Ian Culverhouse’s side held on against his former club.
Lewis Salmon hit the winning goal as Alfreton Town beat Buxton 2-1, while Bishop’s Stortford are still bottom following their 2-0 home defeat to Peterborough Sports.