New Year's Day First Division South action review

Prior to their New Year's Day game against Hucknall Town, Loughborough Dynamo knew they needed three points to climb further away from the relegation zone in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's First Division South, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

They were not, however, expecting to have to face only eight players with the Yellows unable to put a full side out!

When Rob Norris netted the first goal after eight minutes the question was how many would Dynamo score? But the rest of the half turned out to be a largely frustrating affair thanks to Hucknall's keeper Alex Malone and the early heroics of the Yellow's outfield players.

Despite their resolute defending limiting Dynamo's attempts on goal, their second eventually arrived in the 35th minute when Norris headed home a Jake Dale-Brown cross. Carl Sibson then added a third in the final minute of the half with still no hint of what was to come.

Dynamo’s management must have let their players know they they'd under-performed in the first half as they responded brilliantly after the break, ruthlessly destroying Hucknall with six goals in the first nine minutes of the second half - Danny Davidson with two, Shawn Richards, Norris and Dom Brennan the scorers, Norris completing a perfect hat-trick by scoring with his left and right foot and head.

And the goals continued to arrive, Matt Langham in the 62nd minute, Dale-Brown in the 69th, Reece Lester in the 77th and new signing Tristram Whitman in the 85th. Adam Wykes was denied a place on the tally sheet in the final minute of the game when his shot came back off the post.

The entire game was played in a strange atmosphere. While Dynamo’s players went out and did their job, neither they nor Dynamo’s supporters celebrated any goals nor seemed to get any enjoyment out of the afternoon. In fact, the plaudits should go to the eight players who turned out for Hucknall. For the record books this was Dynamo’s largest goal tally at Step 4 of the football Pyramid and their highest score since the sixteen goals against Barrow Town in April 2004.

Elsewhere, leaders Coalville Town won their derby at The Moat against Gresley FC with goals from Callum Woodward after 33 minutes and Ryan Robbins on 65 – Marc Goodfellow replying for the Moatmen four minutes from time.

Sutton Coldfield Town are second, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by second-bottom ground tenants Romulus. Liam Francis gave the 'home' side a 29th minute lead that Kristian Ramsey-Dickson cancelled out 13 minutes from time.

A crowd of 749 at The Walks saw fourth-placed King's Lynn Town beat the side who started the afternoon in second, Stamford AFC. But the Daniels led through Andy Hall's 47th minute effort until the final 14 minutes when Shane Tolley bagged a brace to win it for the Linnets.

Carlton Town were beaten 2-0 at Rainworth Miners Welfare as they got off to a disappointing start to the New Year – the Wrens leap-frogging their opponents as a consequence. Goals either side of half time from Ian Holmes and Conor Higginson were enough for the home side, who were good value for the three points. Carlton struggled to create anything of note and home goalkeeper Ali Barcherini was not called upon to make a save until the last two minutes of the match.

There was also New Year's Day disappointment for Brigg Town as the Zebras were beaten 1-0 at Lincoln United - their first defeat in seven games. Simon Mowbray's 88th minute strike for the hosts was enough to settle a largely mediocre match which seemed destined to end goalless.

Leek Town lost back-to-back league games for the first time this season as they went down by the odd goal in seven against Northwich Victoria at Marston Road.

The Blues seemed to be suffering from a New Year's Day hangover as they went two goals down inside the first 10 minutes with Alex Taylor and Joe Bunney benefitting from some slack Leek defending. However, Town came roaring back into the game to lead 3-2 before half-time with a devastating three-goal burst inside 10 minutes.

Tim Grice started the fight back when he lashed home the ball from inside the box after being well set up by Matt Haddrell. Dan Shelley equalised on 36 minutes when he fired home superbly from 20 yards. Grice was set up again by Haddrell two minutes later and his angled shot went across the goalkeeper and in off the post.

On 59 minutes Northwich drew level when Danny Wisdom slotted home a well-taken goal into the corner of the net and the Vics were back in front 10 minutes from time - Daniel Lloyd-Weston's attempted clearance rebounding off a Vics player's head and falling invitingly for Scott Harries to shoot home.

Rob Stevenson scored the only goal of the game six minutes after half-time to earn Market Drayton Town the spoils at the Lyme Valley Stadium against Newcastle Town, while just up the road, Kidsgrove Athletic were dumped 4-1 at home by managerless Sheffield FC, for whom part of the caretaker team, Vill Powell, bagged a brace.

Halesowen Town and Chasetown shared the derby spoils at The Grove, with Ben Haseley's 25th minute opener for the Yeltz being cancelled out by Tesfa Robinson with just three minutes to go.

And Belper Town won the derby at Chrictchurch Meadow against Mickleover Sports with goals from Eric Graves after five minutes and a penalty from Jon Froggatt eight minutes into the second half.