NPL Round-up | Bury leave it late to win as Yellows and Steelmen earn huge away victories
There were goals galore on Matchday 5 in the NPL Premier Division.
Cleethorpes Town maintained their spot at the top of the table with a comfortable 3-0 win at Ilkeston Town.
Jamie Bramwell, Josh Walker and Liam Hughes were on the scoresheet for Craig Rouse’s side in Derbyshire. The high-flying Owls lead their nearest rivals Warrington Town on goal difference after accruing 13 points from the opening five games.
The aforementioned Warrington Town were hugely impressive in a 5-0 thrashing of Whitby Town at the Towbar Express Stadium - a result which leaves the Seasiders in 14th place.
The Yellows raced into a 4-0 lead by half-time, then midfielder Reece Daly scored his second and his side’s fifth late in the day to complete a dream away performance.
Whitby’s best chance came and went midway through the second half when Stuart Rose failed to convert from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile, newly-promoted Bury bounced back from a difficult defeat at Guiseley on Tuesday night with a late winner at Gainsborough Trinity.
Bailey Sloane’s 89th minute header from a Leo Graham corner was enough to separate the two sides at the KAL Group Stadium, as the Shakers provided the perfect response to a disappointing 3-2 loss last time out.
Much like the Shakers, both Avro and Redcar Athletic carried on their positive momentum with victories over Hyde United and Warrington Rylands respectively.
The Ro claimed a 1-0 win and Greater Manchester bragging rights against Hyde United, courtesy of an early Harry Showman finish, whereas Redcar were more convincing scoreline-wise in a ruthless performance away from home.
Carl Jarrett’s side climbed to fourth in the table with a resounding 5-0 victory over last season’s beaten play-off finalists Warrington Rylands, who slip to 12th in the table after suffering their third defeat of the campaign.
Despite trailing to an early Joel Amado header, Guiseley showed their fighting spirit to claim a 2-1 victory at Curzon Ashton.
Elliot Owen’s header levelled the scores after 27 minutes, before defender Lebrun Mbeka scored the winner with a close-range strike five minutes later.
Ian Richards’ side sit sixth after their second comeback win of the week, while the Nash are down in 16th on their return to the NPL Premier Division.
Over at the F. Ball Community Stadium, hosts Leek Town will feel huge relief after a brilliant 4-1 victory against Bamber Bridge secured their maiden win of the campaign.
They trailed 1-0 at half-time, but goals from Lucas Weir, Alex Panter, Jack Griffiths and Josh Bickerton ensured they had more than enough to overcome Jamie Milligan’s Brig side.
As Bamber Bridge now languish in the relegation zone in 20th position, Leek’s triumph sees them rise to 15th ahead of a trip to Avro on Wednesday night.
The same can be said for Stockton Town, who climbed out of the bottom four with a 2-0 win at home to Alfreton Town.
Stephen Thompson and Josh Scott scored the only goals of the afternoon to capture a first win for Michael Dunwell’s side, leaving Alfreton to lick the wounds of a second defeat in four days. The Reds lie 11th following a mixed start that includes two wins and three losses.
To remain in the play-off positions, Ashton United shared the spoils with hosts Emley in a 1-1 draw at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
The experienced Kurt Willougby opened the scoring for the visitors in the 59th minute, before Diego De Girolamo fired home his second goal of the season to equalise for Emley only four minutes later. With neither side able to find a winner, Ashton United sit fifth and Emley are just outside of the play-off positions in ninth.
The only other draw of the afternoon came at the Giant Axe as Lancaster City’s game against Quorn ended 2-2.
Jesse Friend scored inside six minutes for visitors Quorn, before Dylan Moonan tapped in from a rebound to level for the Dolly Blues on the stroke of half-time.
Although Jaiden Campbell-Ryce pulled the Methodists ahead once again, the hosts showed their resilience to come from behind for a second time and seal a point through Dom Lawson.
Quorn defender Elias Reaney was later sent off with 20 minutes to play, but his side did enough to hold on and double their points tally for the season to two. They do, however, remain in 21st position, three places below Jimmy Marshall’s Lancaster.
Finally, at Broadhurst Park, FC United of Manchester's unexpectedly slow start to the season continued with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Workington.
The visitors captured an invaluable first win of the season thanks to late goals from Luke Hunter and Dan Hopper, although they did concede a consolation own-goal in stoppage time.
While Mark Beesley’s side are rooted to the bottom with only one point from five games - a far cry from their promotion-challenging form last season - Workington are three places above in 19th as they prepare to face Warrington Rylands next up.
Results - Saturday 22 August
- Curzon Ashton 1-2 Guiseley
- Emley 1-1 Ashton United
- FC United of Manchester 1-2 Workington
- Gainsborough Trinity 0-1 Bury
- Hyde United 0-1 Avro
- Ilkeston Town 0-3 Cleethorpes Town
- Lancaster City 2-2 Quorn
- Leek Town 4-1 Bamber Bridge
- Stockton Town 2-0 Alfreton Town
- Warrington Rylands 0-5 Redcar Athletic
- Whitby Town 0-5 Warrington Town
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.