Local Non League Match Reports – 07.01.23
Written by Hitmix Local News on 8 January 2023
Local Non League Match Reports – 07.01.23 – by Dave Johnson
1874 Northwich v Kidsgrove Athletic – Postponed (Waterlogged Pitch)
Prestwich Heys v Congleton Town – Postponed (Waterlogged Pitch)
Newcastle Town 1 v 1 Hanley Town
Newcastle were left disappointed after dropping another two home points after leading until late in the game, when they conceded a penalty kick.
In what was a big game for both sides, each looking to lift themselves away from the bottom end of the table, it was the home side who struck first.
Castle were desperate to improve on their recent form, which had seen them pick up a paltry three points from their last seven games, and Callum Lovatt’s 35th minute opener was just the tonic they needed.
It was looking like they might go on to win the game, but in the 85th minute Kieron Brown was upended inside the box and a penalty was the outcome.
As cool as you like, Jake Twyford stuttered in his run up to strike the ball from the spot and sent Joe Slinn the wrong way to earn Hanley a point.
Macclesfield 4 v 0 Leek Town
Macclesfield inflicted a heavy defeat on their nearest challengers in the division’s match of the day with a first half display that destroyed any dream Leek had of leaving Moss Rose with anything in the bag and turned it into a nightmare.
Four goals down at the interval, Neil Baker’s men must have walked into the dressing room shell-shocked at how easy they had been taken apart, and quivering at the prospect of their manager’s half time team talk.
When the league’s top scorer James Berry netted the opener in the 28th minute, little did the visitors know they would all but collapse before the first half was over.
Five minutes later James Hardy’s volley into the top corner doubled the Silkmen’s advantage and Macclesfield then struck with a third goal just a minute on, when Berry grabbed his 23rd of the season.
Not satisfied with that, the home side hit a fourth, and it was that man Berry again completing his hat-trick on the stroke of half time to complete the double over their opponents and put them firmly in their place, moving eight points clear at the top of the table.
Stafford Rangers 3 v 4 Gainsborough Trinity
The only way to describe it is to say Rangers threw away three precious points after leading convincingly at half time, with Trinity looking dead and buried.
Stafford went in front on the stroke of half time when Joe Willis was brought down inside the box and Tom Tonks tucked away the resulting penalty kick.
Within nine minutes of the restart Rangers looked well in command after Luis Morrison doubled their lead and Kaiman Anderson scored their third.
Trinity, with one of the best away records in the league called upon all of their expertise, hitting back with four goals in the space of 18 minutes to leave the home side shell-shocked, taking all three points home with them.
Guiseley 2 v 1 Nantwich Town
The Dabbers recent revival is looking something of the distant past after their defeat at Guiseley leaves them with just one point from their last three games.
Nantwich got off to a good start when, in the 10th minute, James Caton lashed the ball past Guiseley ‘keeper Cameron Mason from just inside the box.
All of their hard work was undone in the 39th minute, however, when Andy Kellet bundled home from close range to put the home side on level terms.
Three minutes into the second half, Guisley got their noses in front for the first time in the game when Lewis Whitham fired past Tom Booth, and Nantwich were unable to get themselves back into the game, leaving Nethermoor Park empty-handed.
