Tuesday's First Division South review

By David Watters

The five matches in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League First Division South on Tuesday night produced a remarkable 28 goals, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The big match of the night saw second-placed Witton Albion completed the 'double' over play-off chasing AFC Rushden & Diamonds to move to within three points of leaders Shaw Lane AFC with a game in hand.

Steven Tames gave Albion a great start with the opening goal inside six minutes. But it wasn`t until 20 minutes from time when Witton doubled their advantage after Anthony Brown got the final touch following a corner.

Lincoln United travelled to The Novus Stadium to take on Kidsgrove Athletic looking for the points that would keep them in the top five race. However, Kidsgrove ran riot after Anthony Malbon and Kyle Diskin score braces to beat shocked United 7-2!

Grove took the lead in the second minute after Dan Skelton chested it down on the edge of the box and his half volley left Lincoln goalkeeper, Jake Turner rooted to the spot.

Lincoln equalised through Sean Cann in the fifth minute but the game changed in the 16th when Lincoln midfielder Danny Brookes was sent off and Diskin scored his first of the night from the resultant free-kick.

Goals followed at regular intervals after that, Malbon notching his first to make it 3-1 after 31 minutes and Harry Clayton adding a fourth eight minutes later to send Grove into the break 4-1 up.

Diskin added a fifth just eight minutes after the restart and Malbon the sixth just three minutes after that. Josh Barr-Rostron reduced the deficit for the ten-men on the hour-mark before Arron Johns made it 7-2 in stoppage time.

After seven games without a win, Sheffield FC ended that run in emphatic fashion, hammering visiting Market Drayton Town 9-0 at the Coach & Horses!

It was 4-0 at the break, thanks to Lee Cooksey, Alex Rippon, James Gregory and Danny South. Matt Roney then bagged a quickfire second half brace, South added his second and Rippon completed his hat-trick – and all after Club were reduced to ten-men in the second half!

Leek Town recovered from a run of six games without a win to move back to within two points of the top five after an emphatic 4-1 Harrison Park victory over fourth-bottom Carlton Town.

The hosts found themselves 3-0 up at half-time, courtesy of goals from Tim Grice after 21 and 30 minutes and one from Sam Grimshaw two minutes before the whistle. Kieran Walker reduced the arrears two minutes after the break, only for Grice to complete his hat-trick just shy of the hour-mark.

Stocksbridge Park Steels were the evening`s other winners, 2-1 at Bracken Moor against Belper Town.

The recently-returned Richard Stirrup bagged both of Steels` goals in the 10th and 86th minutes – Ruben Wiggins-Thomas having equalised in the 37th minute.

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Where next?

Tuesday's Premier Division action review Spennymoor Town, with eight games left, look to be the main challengers to EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders Blyth Spartans after second-placed Nantwich Town were held to a draw on Tuesday night, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.
Next generation lead the way Leek Town are hailing their next generation of stars after the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club's U18s lifted the Staffordshire FA Youth Challenge Cup.

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