AFC Fylde remains top of the National League North, as there are also victories for Chorley, York City and Southport amongst others on a drama-packed day of sixth-tier action.
Fylde celebrated a convincing 2-0 win over Gateshead - Credit: @SteveMaxcPic
By Amos Murphy
National League North leaders AFC Fylde bounced back from last weekend's defeat with a 2-0 triumph over playoff-chasing Gateshead, to maintain their four-point advantage at the top of the table.
David Perkins opened the scoring after 20 minutes, before Joe Piggott made it two immediately after.
No second-half goals meant the three points were secured for Jim Bentley’s side, as they target a return to the National League.
York City finished what has been a fruitful October with a 4-0 victory over Blyth Spartans, whose National League North future hangs by a thread.
In Halloween week, the York attackers frightened the Blyth defenders throughout a blistering first-half performance, scoring three times through Paddy McLaughlin, Matthew Brown and Mackenzie Heaney.
A further fourth was added by Kurt Willoughby just after the break, with the win now meaning York have now lost just one of their last seven across all competitions.
There were bumper 5-1 wins for both Alfreton Town and Darlington over Bradford Park Avenue and Guiseley respectively.
Alfreton moved within touching distance of the playoff spots, with goals from Dayle Southwell, Yusifu Ceesay, Bailey Hobson, Elliott Reeves and Conor Branson securing a statement victory for the Reds.
Whilst in the North-East, Jack Lambert, Jake Cassidy, Will Hatfield, Jake Cooper and Junior Mondal were on target for an in-form Darlington, who now sit in 14th after their win over Guiseley.
Kidderminster Harriers sent out a statement to the rest of the National League North with a convincing 4-0 victory over high-flying Spennymoor Town.
Alex Penny opened the scoring in the first half, before goals from Omari Sterling-James, Sam Austin and Ethan Freemantle followed in the second.
The Worcestershire based club moved within one place and one point to Spennymoor in fifth and will now be targeting a playoff push.
Chorley and Brackley Town were both slender victories in their National League North encounters, keeping the pair within touching distance of leaders Fylde.
A first-half goal from Lee Ndlovu was enough for second-placed Brackley over Gloucester City, who were reduced to 10-men midway through the final 45 minutes.
Whereas Chorley were forced to come from behind against Farsley Celtic, with Billy Whitehouse and Alli Millenic the goal scorers for the Lancashire club.
Elsewhere in the division, Boston United piled the misery on relegation-threatened Hereford with a 2-0 victory.
Jordan Burrow opened the scoring in the first period for the Pilgrims, before Karl Byrne secured the win from the spot in added time.
Whilst Elliot Durrell’s goal for AFC Telford was cancelled out by Leamington’s Kaiman Anderson, as the pair shared the points in a COVID-19 affected rearranged fixture.
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