National North Round-up  29/08/2019

By Simon Hahn

National North Round-up  29/08/2019

The latest from around the league

We could only pick up one point from our two games this weekend with Altrincham and Bradford Park Avenue  which leaves us in 15th place in the league table, three points off the playoff places.

York City still lead the way at the top of the table after picking up four points over the weekend. On Saturday the Minstermen were very impressive winning 4-1 away at Spennymoor. Goals from Sean Newton, Kallum Griffiths, Adriano Moke and an own goal gave York the win with Ben Mckenna netting the Brewers goal. York then were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Gateshead, despite this they remain unbeaten. Jordan Burrow put them ahead just minutes in, but Connor Oliver levelled for the Heed right on half time.

Our next opponents King’s Lynn Town are the surprise team in the second place just a point behind York. They won both their games at the weekend and have now won five of of their first seven games after promotion. On Saturday they comfortably beat Curzon Ashton 4-1, before a 2-1 success at Farsley on Monday. Against Curzon they fell behind after Callum Saunders put the Nash ahead, but Adam Marriott and Michael Gash both scored twice to turn the game in King’s Lynn’s favour.  Gash was again on the score sheet on Monday along with Alfie Payne as King’s Lynn again won. Will Hayhurst pulled one back for Farsley, but it was not enough.

Chester are the only side other than York to remain unbeaten in third. They won both their games at the weekend, first a 1-0 success away at Kidderminster through a Matty Hughes goal. They then brushed aside Hereford as they won 4-1 at home. Akwasi Asante scored twice for Chester, along with further strikes from  Anthony Dudley and Daniel Elliott. Jordan Cullinane-Liburd did pull one back in the final minutes for Hereford but it was little consolation.

Alfreton were another to pick up six points from the weekend and they sit fourth four points behind the leaders. They won an enthralling game 4-2 at Guiseley on Saturday. Aaron Martin put the hosts ahead, but Alfreton led at the break through Bobby Johnson and  Josh Thacker.  Jamie Spencer levelled shortly after the interval for Guiseley, but two goals in the final twelve minutes from Amari Morgan-Smith  and Danny Clarke gave Alfreton victory.

Morgan-Smith again proved to be the match winner for Alfreton on Bank Holiday Monday scoring both the goals in their 2-0 win over Southport. It was Port’s third defeat in a row in the league having also lost on Saturday 1-0 at home to Telford thanks to a Andre Brown penalty.

 

Guiseley were able to bounce back from that defeat at Alfreton and remain level on points with them after a 4-1 victory at Croft Park against bottom of the table Blyth Spartans. Lee Shaw put the visitors ahead just before half time, with Aaron Martin netting twice more after the break.  An own goal added to Blyth’s woes, whose only plus point was a strike from Robbie Dale.

Spartans were able to pick up their first point of the season with a 0-0 draw at Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday, but remain in last place.

Spennymoor are the only side other than Blyth who are yet to pick up a win, but they do have two games in hand on the majority of sides in the division. After defeat against York they drew 1-1 with Curzon Ashton. Glen Taylor put the Brewers ahead inside the final twenty minutes, but Callum Saunders levelled just seven minutes later.

Leamington are up to sixth with back-to-back victories over Kettering and Telford both by a 3-1 score line. Jack Edwards put the Brakes ahead on Saturday against Kettering, before two goals from Josh March sealed the win. Daniel Nti scored a penalty in injury time for Kettering but the game was already won.  Leamington had to come from behind to win at Telford after Aaron Williams put the hosts ahead. March brought Leamington level, with two second  half goals from Ravi Shamsi giving them another victory.

Brackley occupy the final playoff spot and are now unbeaten in four. On Saturday Hereford took the lead against them early on through Rown Liburd, before James Armson earned Brackley a 1-1 draw.  Brackley then comfortably eased passed Gloucester 3-0, Armson grabbing a hat-trick with all three goals.

Kettering won on the opening day against Telford but have struggled since and concerned eight in their two games this weekend. After their defeat at Leamington, Kettering looked set to beat Kidderminster as they led 2-0 through Sam Cartwright and Joe Skarz after 57 minutes.  However, Harriers were able to turn it around, Ashley Chambers  and Cliff Moyo brought them level with twenty minutes to go. Connor Kennedy put Kettering back in front, but three goals in the final quarter of an hour through Richard Peniket, Kacy Butterfield and another from Chambers gave Kidderminster a vital 5-3 win.

Farsley continued  their solid start to life in the National North with a 3-0 victory at Gateshead on Saturday. Jimmy Spencer, Luke Parkin and Tyler Walton all scored in the second half to give Farsley their first away win of the season.

Boston are 13th in the league with nine points from their six games after winning one and losing one this weekend. On Saturday they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Gloucester.  Joe Parker scored twice for the hosts with Joe Hanks also scoring a penalty. The Pilgrims bounced back though on Monday with a 5-0 thrashing of Altrincham. Tom Platt and Dominic Knowles bagged two apiece with Luke Shiels grabbing the fifth late on.