22.04.23 – Local Non-League Football
Written by Hitmix Local News on 23 April 2023
Local Non-League Football
By Dave Johnson
Nantwich Town 2-1 Radcliffe
Nantwich Town failed to avoid the drop despite a terrific result against promotion hopefuls Radcliffe in their final fixture of the season thanks to a goal eleven minutes from time at Stalybridge Celtic’s Bowler Fold.
Results elsewhere meant that a win for Radcliffe would have seen them claim the final play-off place, but second half goals from Daniel Cockerline and Connor Evans put paid to that.
Sadly it wasn’t enough to prevent Nantwich from finishing in the bottom four. That was taken out of their hands elsewhere in the cruellest of fashions.
The Dabbers needed to win their match and hope their relegation rivals Atherstone Collieres failed to get anything from their game against Stalybridge Celtic. With the score at 3-2 for the home side, Marcus Cusani levelled the scores to earn his side a point and to save his side from the drop.
Ramsbottom United 2-1 Newcastle Town
Newcastle failed to live up to recent performances which ultimately saved them from the drop, suffering a disappointing defeat to bottom-of-the-table Ramsbottom United.
The home side, who finished the season ten points adrift of second-bottom Colne, went in front five minutes before the interval when Wealth Dasilva beat Joe Slinn in the Castle goal.
If Castle thought they could get themselves back into the game, they saw that become a more difficult task when Jordan Southworth netted a second in the 56th minute, putting the home side in command.
Just eight minutes later, the visitors were given hope they could pull things back to earn themselves a point from the game when Maxwell Chimenes pulled a goal back, but in the end they returned home empty-handed.
Clitheroe 1-3 Kidsgrove Athletic
Kidsgrove finished the season in style with a terrific away win against a Clitheroe side already assured of a play-off place, but who wanted to finish their final home league game with a win.
With half time approaching, the Grove went in front when Will Saxon beat home ‘keeper George Bristol in the 41st minute, putting the visitors in the driving seat.
It took the home side just six second half minutes to pull themselves level, Joel Byron grabbed his first goal of the season to give his side some belief they could see off the visitors.
Kidsgrove refused to lie down, however, and hit back with two further goals of their own, Will Byers netting in the 67th minute and five minutes later Lewis Bergin making sure of the three points.
Prescot Cables 4-0 Hanley Town
After an impressive run of seven unbeaten games helped see Hanley Town hang on to their place in the league, they went down to a heavy defeat at The Joseph Russell Stadium.
A very early injury to Hanley ‘keeper Ben Chapman didn’t help the visitors and he was beaten in the 16th minute when Charlie Glennon put Cables in front.
It was clear that Chapman was struggling, but Hanley stuck with him and he was beaten for second time in the 57th minute when John Murphy doubled the home side’s advantage.
Further strikes from Anthony Donaldson in the 64th minute and Jack Goodwin fifteen minutes from time wrapped things up for the home side, leaving Hanley to start planning for next season.
Leek Town 3-1 Skelmersdale United
Leek Town ensured they finished as runners-up with a 3-1 home win to make sure they go into the play-offs on a high, but they had to come from behind to do so.
Ollie Harrison scored an unusual brace, netting for both sides within the opening five minutes of the game. His own goal in the third minute gave Skelmersdale a shock lead, but two minutes later Harrison netted at the other end to level the scores.
The home side took the lead in the 39th minute through a Scott Wara strike and Leek went into the break with that 2-1 lead and ten minutes into the second half Tim Grice hit Leek’s third.
Now it is all about the play-offs. Everybody at Harrison Park will be fully focussed on attempting to ensure the side who finished the season in second spot joins Macclesfield in getting promoted.
Mossley 1-2 Macclesfield
It won’t come as a big surprise to anybody that Champions Macclesfield bowed out with a win to extend their unbeaten run to 22 league games.
Their last defeat came on a cold Tuesday night in November when they were beaten 2-1 by Runcorn Linnets and they finished the season as worthy winners.
Top goalscorer James Berry gave the Silkmen the lead on 27 minutes when he cut inside before sending a low drive beyond Matthew Corran for his 31st goal of the season.
Mason Evans restored parity just seven minutes later from the spot but Kane Drummond restored Macclesfield’s lead on the stroke of half time and in the 89th minute a Kai Payned own goal ended the scoring.
Congleton Town 4-4 Longridge Town
After a heavy defeat in midweek, which saw a much-changed Congleton side thumped when they conceded eight goals, they needed to get back on track in their final league fixture.
They conceded another four goals, but this time the Bears came out of the game with something to show after a late equalizer gave them a point.
The visitors went in front on 19 minutes but Aron Johns levelled in the 35th minutes, before Tom Hampton put them in front five minutes before half time.
Johns got his second of the game to level the scores after the visitors had levelled, but Longridge were back in it at 3-3 in the 69th minute. Ten minutes later they were in front, but Tom Pope rescued a point for the home side late on.
Stafford Rangers 3-0 South Shields
Champions South Shields came to Marston Road hoping to show everyone just why they had finished in top spot, but they came across a Stafford sie determined to finish the season in style.
It’s fair to say they did just that with a convincing win to give everybody hope that they can improve next season after showing they are more than capable of beating any team in this league on their day.
They got off to a great start when Ethan Stewart headed home a Tom Tonks corner to shock the Mariners with just three minutes on the clock.
Kaiman Anderson doubled Rangers’ advantage with a low finish after being found down the left of the area for his 13th of the season and substitute Callum Saunders wrapped up the win, scoring with his first touch on 79 minutes.
