Boxing Day Football Reports
Written by Hitmix Local News on 29 December 2022
Boxing Day Football Reports by Dave Johnson
Newcastle 1 v 2 Leek Town
Leek took all three points on a difficult surface to keep up their challenge at the top end of the table, but the performance was far from perfect.
The home side started the better of the two with plenty of possession early doors, but they rarely threatened the Leek goal and they were made to pay the price when Marc Grocott netted a pile driver from outside the area on the stroke of half time.
If Newcastle thought they had rescued a point when Jack van der Laan levelled from the penalty spot on 78 minutes after a handball by Louis Keenan they were to be disappointed.
Four minutes later Will Hugill squared the ball to the far post and Tom Carr was on hand to tap-in to earn Neil Baker’s man maximum points and the perfect end to the year.
Workington 3 v 0 Kidsgrove
In what was always going to be a tough Boxing Day encounter for the Grove, they missed the opportunity to push into the play-off places with a 3-0 defeat that saw the home side claim third spot in the table.
In an even start to the game, neither side managed to carve out any clear cut goal scoring opportunities, but on 32 minutes the home side finally broke the deadlock when Scott Allison put them in front.
Any belief that Kidsgrove could get back into the game was put firmly to the test early in the second half when, just two minutes after the interval Dan Wordsworth doubled the home side’s lead.
Grove desperately tried to get themselves back in it, but their uphill battle turned into a mountain to climb when Allison grabbed hie second and Workington’s third to make certain of the points with twelve minutes remaining.
Macclesfield 4 v 0 Hanley Town
Hanley always knew they were in for a difficult time when facing the leaders in front of a bumper crowd at the Moss Rose and it proved to be the case.
Things were looking fine up until the 29th minute when the home side were awarded a penalty when James Berry was upended in the box. He picked himself up and duly made no mistake from the spot.
Things went from bad to worse when the Silkmen hit a further three goals in a three-minute spell either side of half time to put the game firmly to bed.
Neil Kengni fired home from close range in the 43rd minute, then, right on half time, Nicky Maynard made it three. Kengri netted again a minute into the second half to round off the scoring.
Northwich Victoria 1 v 2 Congleton Town
Congleton’s terrific run of form continued with a well-earned three points at Wincham Park, a result which saw the Bears leap-frog Northwich in the table and into the top five.
Their record on the road hasn’t been all that impressive so far this season, but they got off to a great start when Ethen Hartshorn put them in front from a well-worked corned with just eight minutes on the clock.
Their lead didn’t last long, however, and the home side were soon back on level terms when, in the 14th minute, Matt Dudley finished off a smart Northwich move when he side-footed home the equalizer.
Despite a strong second half performance from Congleton it looked very much like they would have to settle for a point, but in stoppage time Ryan Read hit the winner to claim the victory.
Stafford Rangers 3 v 0 Nantwich Town
The form books were turned on their heads in a Boxing Day bonanza for Stafford Rangers at Marsden Road when visitors Nantwich Town were put to the sword.
The Dabbers had been in fantastic form going into the game, whilst the home side had hit a bit of a slump in recent weeks – you certainly wouldn’t have known as Rangers ran out comfortable winners.
Stafford went ahead in the 17th minute when a free kick was swung into the box by Alex Kiwomya and James O’ Neil was there to meet it, heading home the opener.
Kaiman Anderson managed to divert a shot by Jack Baxter past Nantwich ‘keeper Tom Booth in the 52nd minute, before Anderson took advantage
