Local Non League Football – 25.02.23

Local Non League Football

Saturday 25^th February 2023

By Dave Johnson

Newcastle Town 0 v 1 Skelmersdale United

Newcastle failed to take full advantage of playing on home soil allowing visitors Skelmersdale to take away maximum points.

The result, whilst moving Skelmersdale further away from the drop zone, leaves Newcastle with a lot to do in their remaining nine fixtures.

With the two sides going in at half time all square, it was difficult to see what the second period of play would bring and whether the home side could make it three home games unbeaten.

Within five minutes of the restart there was a good indication of how the game would go when Callum Lees put United ahead, and in the end his goal decided things.

Mossley 1 v 2 Kidsgrove

After three consecutive defeats, Kidsgrove seem to have turned things around with a third game unbeaten after coming from behind at Seel Park.

Still very much play-off contenders, the home side did their chances a real boost when Nicky Clegg put them in front in the 34^th minute, leaving Grove all to do.

Any conversations had in the Kidsgrove dressing room at the interval appeared to be working when, in the 68^th minute Jimmy Garlick gave them hope when he levelled the scores.

With a draw very much on the cards as the clock ticked, Grove were awarded a penalty and the home side reduced to ten men when Shane Killock was sent off – Lewis Bergin made the most of things, hitting the winner with the resulting spot kick to sew up the points for the visitors.

Widnes 1 v 0 Hanley Town

In a game billed as a six-pointer, Hanley came out of the game with nothing to show for their efforts and they are  now looking in dire straits down the foot of the table.

The win saw the home side leap-frog their opponents and gives them hope of avoiding the drop, whilst Hanley must be terribly concerned when they assess their own position.

Now sitting second from bottom with the end of the season getting closer and closer, Hanley need their luck to change, and fast, if they are to avoid relegation in their first season in this league.

Hanley’s hopes of coming away from The Select Security Stadium with something in the bag were dealt a blow as early as midway through the first half when Connor McCarthy netted the only goal of the game and Hanley were unable to hit back.

 

Leek Town 1 v 3 Trafford

For the second week in a row promotion challengers Leek Town dropped points, with their already slim chance of closing in on leaders Macclesfield fading fast.

It’s fair to say Leek were expected to win this one, but almost as a sign of what was to come, Trafford were awarded a penalty just 15 minutes from the kick off and reduced to ten men, with Ollie Harrison receiving a red card.

Mike Burke converted the spot kick, and eleven minutes later things went from bad to worse when Max Hazeldine doubled his side’s advantage with Trafford’s second.

Tim Grice gave the home side some hope when he reduced the arrears in the 39^th minute, but Hazeldine found the net again in the 53^rd minute to earn his side the win.

Workington 0 v 1 Macclesfield

There was little to separate two of the three top sides at Borough Park over the ninety minutes, but the Silkmen got the all-important only goal of the game.

The win, alongside Leek Town’s home defeat, gives the Silkmen an almost insurmountable nine-point lead at the top of the table. The title is drawing closer and closer.

Alex Curran kept his composure to stun the home side when he put Macclesfield in front after just 18 minutes of the game to give his side the upper hand.

Curran got a crucial touch on the ball ahead of an onrushing defender, kept his cool and rolled the ball past Jim Atkinson on the Workington goal.

Congleton Town 2 v 0 Vauxhall Motors

Congleton extended their unbeaten run to eight games as they secured their first home league win since Boxing Day to stun potential title winners Vauxhall Motors at the Cleric Stadium.

Level on points at the top of the table with a game in hand on top team Avro, Motors came into the game fairly confident of taking the prize.

Congleton soon sorted that one out when player-boss Richard Duffy netted the opener straight from a corner with barely a minute on the clock

If the Motors thought their chances had stalled, they were truly parked up and abandoned with no jump leads when, early in the second half, Shakeel Jones Griffiths got the Bears’ second.

 

Stalybridge Celtic 0 v 2 Stafford Rangers

As frustrating as Rangers can be at times, Stafford made it three games unbeaten as they took all three points for the second game on the bounce with a great win at Stalybridge.

The results leaves Stalybridge in trouble just outside the drop zone but helps dispel any talk about possible relegation at Marston Road as Rangers move eleven points clear.

After six consecutive defeats on their travels, Matty Hill’s side got off to the perfect start after a bit of pinball inside the Celtic box in the 6^th minute and Joe Kenton opened the scoring.

In the 63^rd minute Rangers wrapped things up after Kaiman Anderson was upended in the box and Stafford were awarded a spot kick, which was converted by Tom Tonks.

 

Morpeth Town 2-1 Nantwich Town

Make no bones about it, Nantwich Town are in trouble whichever way you look at it as, for the second time in a matter of days, they fell to defeat against fellow strugglers at the foot of the table.

After the game boss Ritchie Sutton said that his side conceded goals too easily and that was certainly the case, but it’s one thing talking about it and another rectifying things.

They conceded a penalty in first half stoppage time, which Connor Thompson duly converted to put the home side in front, leaving the Dabbers all to do in the second half.

Steve Hewitt equalised in the 59^th minute to give his side the belief they could get something from the game, but four minutes from time they were dealt a cruel blow when Harry Cornish fired in the decider from the edge of the box.