NPL round-up | FC United claim first league win as Avro and Redcar continue to impress
It was another action-packed Saturday in the NPL Premier Division, with Cleethorpes Town and Avro still locked at the top of the division.
Both were victorious away from home on Matchday 9, clinching their seventh win of the season in the process.
Cleethorpes were 1-0 victors at Ashton United, courtesy of Lewis Hey's superb long-range strike midway through the second half.
For Avro, second-half goals from Harry Salt and James Simms were enough to see them to all three points at Gainsborough Trinity.
That result was all the more impressive given Gainsborough were unbeaten at home prior to Saturday's game, taking seven points from their opening three league games at the KAL Group Stadium.
Below the top two are Redcar Athletic, who continued their unbeaten start with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Leek Town.
A Hayden Campbell double had Leek in control heading towards half-time, but goals either side of the interval from Adam Boyes brought the Steelmen back into it.
Boyes rounded off his hat-trick with less than 20 minutes to go, completing a remarkable turnaround win for Redcar on home soil.
Both teams also missed penalties as the game wore on, but it did little to affect the scoreline.
Elsewhere, a fifth win in six for Guiseley saw the Lions climb to fourth in the table.
Ian Richards' side were convincing 4-1 winners at home to Quorn, thanks to two goals from Cameron Wilson and further efforts from Jordan Thewlis and Oliver Brown.
Quorn had taken the lead inside a minute at Nethermoor, but Guiseley's turnaround means they stay in the relegation zone with just one league win from their opening nine games.
In one of the games of the round, FC United of Manchester were 4-1 winners at home to Warrington Town.
Mark Beesley's side claimed their first league win of the season, with two of their goals coming courtesy of former Warrington players in Matty Grivosti and Niall Watson.
There were also wins for Greater Manchester sides Bury and Curzon Ashton, against Emley and Lancaster City respectively.
A strong first-half showing set Bury on their way to an impressive 4-0 victory against Emley, with Kai Evans scoring either side of the break for the Shakers.
For Curzon, late goals from Brad Holmes and Alex Curran mean they have now won three away games in a row in the league, scoring nine times and conceding just once during that time.
In the afternoon's other games, a Luke Hunter brace set Workington on their way to their fifth straight league win.
The Reds defeated Ilkeston Town 3-1 to climb up to eighth in the table.
3-1 was also the scoreline at the Project Solar Stadium, where Hyde United were beaten by Whitby Town.
The Seasiders came from a goal down to pick up all three points on their travels, after falling behind to Dan Gardner's 32nd minute opener which came direct from a corner.
After the break, Joey Phuthi, Callum Hickman and Stuart Rose were all on target for Whitby as they claimed their fourth league win of the campaign.
Sitting at the foot of the table on goal difference are Stockton Town, who came from behind to earn a point at 10-man Warrington Rylands.
The Blues had led through Harrison Wood's finish into the far corner shortly before the half-hour mark.
But Rylands' Calum Costello was sent off in first-half stoppage time for a handball on the line, and the resultant penalty was tucked away by Frank Nouble.
The Anchors pushed for a winner in the second half, but it was Rylands who came closest to grabbing the all-important third goal of the contest when they struck the inside of the post seven minutes from time.
The final game of the round saw Bamber Bridge end their five-game winless run in the league.
James Butterworth's header seven minutes from time proved to be the difference for the Brig, who earned just their second league victory this season.
Results - Saturday 12 September
- Ashton United 0-1 Cleethorpes Town
- Bamber Bridge 1-0 Alfreton Town
- Bury 4-0 Emley
- FC United of Manchester 4-1 Warrington Town
- Gainsborough Trinity 0-2 Avro
- Guiseley 4-1 Quorn
- Hyde United 1-3 Whitby Town
- Lancaster City 0-2 Curzon Ashton
- Redcar Athletic 3-2 Leek Town
- Warrington Rylands 1-1 Stockton Town
- Workington 3-1 Ilkeston Town
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