RANGERS’ RUN OF DEFEATS GOES ON WHILE GROVE ROMP TO BIGGEST WIN
STAFFORD RANGERS slipped to a third successive defeat by being beaten 2-1 at Marston Road by thirdplaced Bamber Bridge in the Northern Premier League.
The Boro started the game well and Jake Charles had a shot tipped round the post by Mateusz Hewelt.
He wasn’t to be denied though as Stafford went in front in the 13th minute. A short corner routine led to the ball falling to Charles and he fired the ball into the net from close range.
Soon afterwards, they nearly scored again as a Tom Tonks long throw was headed against the bar by Theo Bailey-jones.
Bamber Bridge came more into the game after the break and equalised in the 65th minute as Rob Apter blasted a free-kick straight into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Apter was also involved in the winner 10 minutes from time as he burst into the area from the right and had a shot that was parried by Luke Pilling, only for Sheldon Green to score from the rebound.
In Northern Premier League West, KIDSGROVE
ATHLETIC romped to their biggest away win of the season, 4-0 at Kendal Town.
Grove’s John Johnston had a shot deflected onto the bar in the second minute but they only had to wait until the 10th to take the lead.
A cross came over to Anthony Malbon and although Oliver Lombard saved his header he knocked the rebound into the net. They doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Will Whieldon struck a long range effort that looped into the net.
The one way traffic continued as Kidsgrove added a third three minutes before the interval. It came from the penalty spot and Johnston made no mistake with a shot into the corner.
Kidsgrove remained in control and added a fourth goal in the 89th minute when a good through ball saw Danny Cocks break clear and he easily slipped the ball past Lombard.
NEWCASTLE TOWN moved up to 12th place in the table after a 2-1 win over Prescot Cables thanks to a late winner at the Red Industries Stadium.
Castle took the lead in the 17th minute when Ethan Vale struck a free kick straight into the top corner.
Eight minutes later Prescot restored parity when Jonathan Mafolo hooked the ball past Owen Mooney for a debut goal.
Castle had a chance to retake the lead on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a penalty. Leading scorer Jack Van der Laan took the spot kick only to see Mitchell Allen save his effort.
As the game entered the final minute Newcastle won it though. A cross came over from the left and Tommy Van der Laan rose highest to head the ball home.
LEEK TOWN dropped out of the play-off places following a 2-0 defeat by City of Liverpool at their Vauxhall Motors home.
The home side broke the deadlock six minutes before the break when a Jack Hazlehurst cross was backheaded into the net by new signing Josh Quarless.
Billy Reeves had a shot stopped on the line by Danny Taberner but Liverpool made the game safe in the 81st minute as substitute Xenon Bahula sent over a cross from the left and Quarless raced in to fire the ball into the roof of the net at the far post.
In the Midland League, HANLEY TOWN remain two points clear at the top despite being held to a 1-1 draw by fourth-placed Lye Town at the Payaro Stadium.
Lye took a shock 11thminute lead when, despite appeals for offside, Jack Pearlman steered the ball past Kieran Harrison, the first goal he has conceded in his fourth game for Hanley.
Louis Dodds had a shot saved before Hanley drew level a minute before the interval. Jake Avery, signed last week from Uttoxeter Town, pulled the ball to Carl Dickinson and his cross was headed home by Reece Jones on his birthday.
Jones almost snatched a late winner, hitting the bar in the last minute.
STONE OLD ALLEYNIANS put up a brave fight before going down 2-1 at home to second placed Lichfield City.
Stone took a 30th-minute lead when Sam Bowater was brought down in the box and Dave Ablewhite netted the spot kick.
Lichfield were awarded a penalty of their own 10 minutes later. Adam Alcock parried a shot and Max Dixon was brought down as he went for the rebound. Dan Lomas scored to level matters.
Lichfield went in front five minutes into the second half. Dixon had a shot parried by Alcock and Kyle Patterson slotted home the rebound. Stone battled hard but couldn’t force an equaliser.
UTTOXETER TOWN were beaten 4-0 at Whitchurch Alport.
The home side opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a corner from Ivan Urvantev wasn’t cleared properly and Alex Hughes drilled a low shot just inside the post.
Sam Skelton had a goal disallowed for offside as Whitchurch applied pressure and they scored again in the 37th minute. Skelton hit the post and Jud Ellis make no mistake from the rebound.
Hughes hit the post before crossing for Elikem Amenku to tap home their third goal. Celson Segunda rounded off the scoring five minutes from time.
In the North West Counties Premier Division,
CONGLETON TOWN ended a run of four successive defeats with a 3-2 home win over Lower Breck, thanks to a late penalty.
The Bears opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Jordi Nsaka sent over a great cross and Ethan Hartshorn headed it past Josh Molloy.
They doubled their lead three minutes before the break as Tom Pope played a crossfield ball to Jordan Johnson and he in turn fed Nsaka, who thumped the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
Lower Breck’s task was made even harder in the 54th minute when Kieran Halligan was sent off for a foul on Gary Roberts.
The 10 men rallied though and were awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute. Jamie Menagh sent David Parton the wrong way as he made the score 2-1. Lower Breck then drew level in the 69th minute when Nathan Corness headed home their equaliser.
Congleton were also awarded a penalty in the 80th minute when Molloy felled Aaron Bott in the area. Darren Chadwick showed no nerves to restore the home side’s lead.
In the South division, BROCTON picked up their first win in eight games with a 3-2 victory over Maine Road at Silkmore Lane.
The Badgers took the lead in the 18th minute when Jake Thomas rifled a shot into the top corner of the net.
Maine Road levelled on the half hour mark. A free-kick was swung into the box and Jamie Roe headed against the bar, but Ben Rooney was on hand to head the rebound past Tony Allsopp.
The visitors went ahead for the first time in the 60th minute. Allsopp parried an effort and Youssef Bellatar stroked the rebound into the net.
Enter Regan Smith, who drew back the years to when he scored 24 goals before Christmas for Brocton in 2019/20.
In the 75th minute, he smashed a free kick into the net to square things up at 2-2. Five minutes from time Smith won the game with a great finish from inside the area.
ALSAGER TOWN ended a run of seven consecutive home defeats to beat ABBEY
HULTON United 1-0. The Bullets broke the deadlock a minute before the break when Ben Darby played a good ball to George West and he scored his fourth goal in four games.
In the second half, Abbey Hulton were reduced to 10 men when Adam Catalano was sent off for receiving two yellow cards.
SANDBACH UNITED fell to seventh place after being held to a 1-1 draw by Barnton at the Sandbach Community Centre.
Sandbach took the lead in the 44th minute when a teasing cross was headed home by Bobbie Mcdonnell for his 15th goal of the season.
Barnton equalised in the 75th minute. Keeper Danny Hamlett miss-hit a clearance straight to Ross Avies and he steered the ball into the empty net.
ROCESTER lost their eighth game out of nine but put up a good fight in going down 2-1 at second-placed Abbey Hey after late heartbreak.
Abbey opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Dylan Fitzgerald turned and hit a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
The Romans hit back and they drew level on the stroke of half time. Hunter was brought down by ’keeper Ross Heywood to concede a penalty and skipper Cavan Holford scored the spot kick.
Abbey scored the winner in the sixth minute of time added on. Jordan Lazenbury played the ball to Ryan Clooney and he turned and hit a shot past Charlie Wood.
During the celebrations Abbey skipper Aaron Fleming was sent off for a second yellow card.
ECCLESHALL knew they would be up against it away to unbeaten leaders West Didsbury & Chorlton and they were beaten 5-0.
The home side took the lead in the 21st minute when a cross from Tom Westall was headed powerfully into the net by Dontai Gabbidon.
Three minutes into the second half West Didsbury scored again when Sam Heathcote thumped in a free-kick from 25 yards.
The Eagles were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute when George Woodroffe was sent off for a late challenge on Ezeikel Eme.
Ben Elliott made it 3-0 in the 58th minute after good work by Callum Jones then scored his second of the game 10 minutes later.
Aarron Grewal made it 5-0 in the 76th minute when he raced clear to score with a shot into the corner.
STAFFORD TOWN were blown away 6-2 at in-form FC Isle of Man in front of more than 1,800 spectators.
The islanders opened the floodgates in the third minute when Lee Gale hammered home a pass from Furo Davies.
Six minutes later it was 2-0 when Sean Doyle headed an Adam Mealin cross into the net and Isle of Man scored again in the 36th minute when a Mealin cross was scissor kicked into the net by Stephen Whitley.
The fourth goal duly arrived in the 70th minute when Chris Bass scored.
Stafford’s Tom Duffy scored a consolation in the 89th minute but Doyle scored straight away to complete his hat-trick with his 22nd goal of the season.
Tom Bowers then scored a debut goal for Stafford to make the score 6-2.
There was time for Isle of Man to hit the bar prompting ‘keeper Morris to kick the ball into the crowd and get sent off for his trouble.