NPL round-up | Curzon hot streak continues, Avro slip up at home and Workington's unbeaten run ends
Saturday's latest round of fixtures in the NPL Premier Division certainly didn't disappoint.
Cleethorpes Town put in an impressive display at home to Warrington Rylands, defeating the Blues 3-0 to maintain their spot at the top of the table.
Josh Walker swept Craig Rouse's side ahead in first-half stoppage time, before taking his tally for the season to nine league goals to double the Owls' advantage 10 minutes from the end.
Liam Hughes added a third soon after, completing a perfect afternoon's work for the home side.
Redcar Athletic remain in hot pursuit after bouncing back from a midweek setback at in-form Curzon Ashton by thrashing Ilkeston Town 5-0 away from home.
There were two goals apiece for Adam Boyes and Oscar Fletcher, while Brad Fewster's first league goal since mid-August added further gloss to a big win for the Steelmen.
Carl Jarrett's side are now three points clear of both Guiseley and Avro, after the former came out on top in their clash at the Vestacare Stadium.
The only goal of the game went Guiseley's way with less than 20 minutes to go, Jordan Thewlis seeing his initial effort saved before slamming home the rebound.
The Lions have now won seven of their last nine in the league, while Saturday's defeat saw Avro's seven-game unbeaten run in the NPL come to an end.
There were no such issues for Curzon, who overcame Hyde United 2-0 to record their sixth straight league victory.
Alex Curran's opener two minutes into the second half was all that separated the sides until the 89th minute, when substitute Jimmy Spencer made sure of the points.
Another lengthy unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday as Workington fell to a 3-0 defeat at Quorn.
Terell Pennant, Billy Kee and Jayden-Samuel Lawrence-Lowther scored the all-important goals for the Methodists, who have staged a mini-resurgence of late by claiming three wins from their last five league games and losing just once in that time.
Saturday's triumph sees them rise to 15th in the table, while Workington drop a place to sixth.
Elsewhere, Bury moved to within a point of the play-offs after an entertaining 3-2 win at Alfreton Town.
The hosts came from two goals behind and looked destined to earn a point, until a special finish from DJ Pedro two minutes from time won it for the Shakers.
Gainsborough Trinity kept pace with Bury, moving onto 19 points after a comeback win at Emley.
Goals from Frank Mulhern and Harrison Beeden saw the Holy Blues overturn a one-goal deficit to collect maximum points on their travels for the fourth time in six games this season.
Both Bury and Gainsborough Trinity climbed above Warrington Town in the table, after the Yellows drew 2-2 at home for the second time this week.
There was no separating Paul Carden's side and Lancaster City at The GXO Stadium, with both sides leading at different points in the contest.
Goals from Ben Elliott and Reece Daly gave the Yellows the advantage, but Charlie Bailey's glancing header 20 minutes from time was enough to earn the Dolly Blues a point.
The spoils were shared in several other games further down the division, including in Staffordshire where Leek Town and Ashton United played out a 2-2 draw.
Having let slip a two-goal half-time lead against Warrington Rylands on Tuesday night, the Blues were forced to show their own powers of recovery here.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, Leek gave themselves a glimmer of hope through Jack Griffiths midway into the second half, before Alex Hurst netted a dramatic late leveller to earn his side a point.
It was also a 2-2 scoreline at the MAP Group UK Stadium as 10-man Stockton Town snatched a point at home to FC United of Manchester.
FC United led 1-0 through Adam Sudworth's goal, before Stockton's Stephen Thompson was shown a straight red card on the stroke of half-time.
Nevertheless, a Josh Scott penalty drew the Anchors back level at 1-1 inside the final 15 minutes, only for Adam Le Fondre to make his mark from the bench with a spot-kick of his own with 86 minutes gone.
But Stockton grabbed a point in second-half stoppage time, Adam Nicholson's header denying FC United just their second league win of the campaign.
The final game of the round saw Whitby Town and Bamber Bridge play out a goalless draw on the Yorkshire Coast.
Whitby end the weekend 16th as a result, while the Brig sit third-bottom.
Results - Saturday 10 October
- Alfreton Town 2-3 Bury
- Avro 0-1 Guiseley
- Cleethorpes Town 3-0 Warrington Rylands
- Curzon Ashton 2-0 Hyde United
- Emley 1-2 Gainsborough Trinity
- Ilkeston Town 0-5 Redcar Athletic
- Leek Town 2-2 Ashton United
- Quorn 3-0 Workington
- Stockton Town 2-2 FC United of Manchester
- Warrington Town 2-2 Lancaster City
- Whitby Town 0-0 Bamber Bridge
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.