East Round-up: Stocksbridge end away drought 



They were the only NPL side yet to taste victory away from home, and they finally managed it on Saturday, winning 2-0 at Pickering Town.

Perhaps even more remarkable was the fact that they did it with centre-half Liam McFadyen in goal for more than 80 minutes after goalkeeper Ed Hall was stretchered off with a knee injury.

McFadyen even survived a penalty, which Lewis Taylor put wide, early on and it was a penalty at the other end which gave Steels a 1-0 half-time advantage, Rory Coleman the scorer.

Scott Ruthven’s goal on 65 minutes gave them breathing space, but they didn’t need it as McFadyen kept a clean sheet and Steels went third bottom.

With seven sides currently separated by just four points at the bottom, it looks like being a gripping safety tussle in the East division where every point is critical.

So AFC Mansfield will be pleased with their 2-2 draw at home to rivals Wisbech Town, having gone down to 10 men inside the first 10 minutes when Pat Lindley was sent off for violent conduct.

As well as that, they had to twice come from a goal down to secure the point - Joe Iaciofano cancelling out Michael Frew’s opener for his 11th goal of the season, and Jordan Annable equalising late after Alex Beck had restored the visitors’ lead.

Gresley are now propping up the table after they became the latest victim of Cleethorpes Town’s surge up the table.

Goals from Paul Walker, Josh Batty and Brody Robertson, all in the second half, means the Owls are now just five points off the play-offs after their remarkable upturn in form.

Carlton Town will need to improve their home form if they are to avoid the drop, though there’s nothing wrong with their away form - and that continued with a credible point at Ossett United.

Riece Bertram scored a late equaliser to cancel out Tom Greaves’ opener, as Ossett’s perfect start to 2019 came to an end.

Carlton ended the game with nine men following a late fracas, which also saw Ossett reduced to 10.

On a busy day of goals, there was a remarkable win for lowly Spalding United, who hit seven past promotion chasing Pontefract Collieries in a 10-goal thriller.

After four straight defeats, it was a much needed win for the Tulips as it keeps them out of the drop zone.

They led 3-0 after Leon Mettam’s goal a minute in to the second half added to Brad Wells and Liam Marshall’s first half strikes.

You probably wouldn’t have predicted the final score when Wells made it 4-0 on 70 minutes, but then there were a flurry of goals.

Chris Jackson pulled one back for Colls, but within two minutes, Spalding had scored two more of their own, including one for Romario Martin and a hat-trick for Wells.

That was 6-1, and it became 7-1 on 84 minutes when new signing Martin added his second.

A minute later Spencer Clarke pulled one back for Colls, and then Connor Smythe added a third for them late on to at least save a bit of goal difference, though their third place in the table was preserved regardless.

Moving level on points with Pontefract are Sheffield, who won 2-0 at home to Stamford thanks to a brace on debut from Declan Bacon.

Belper Town drew at home for the sixth time in 13 outings as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Frickely Athletic.

They scored both goals as Piteu Crouz’s opener was cancelled out on the stroke of half time by captain Craig Nelthorpe putting through his own net.

With nearest rivals Brighouse Town not in action, Morpeth Town extended their lead at the top of the table to six points with a 4-1 win over Loughborough Dynamo.

They led early through Jeff Henderson before David Carson and Ryan Robbins exchanged penalties, and Liam Henderson made it 3-1 on the half hour mark.

Sean Taylor scored a fourth in the second half and Morpeth have now played the same number of games as second placed Brighouse and are in the box seat for the title and automatic promotion.

Elsewhere, Marske United added to Lincoln United’s woes with a 5-0 thumping.

Jamie Owens scored a hat-trick and there were also goals for Curtis Round and Brad Planet as they move within four points of the play-off places.

To view all the results from the weekend’s games, visit the EVO-STIK League results page, and check the latest league tables here.