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NPL round-up | Late goals galore as Hednesford and Hebburn return to winning ways

Hednesford Town ended a three-game winless run by striking late to keep their place at the top of the NPL Premier Division.

The Pitmen travelled to Stockton Town and won in dramatic fashion, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win in the final few minutes.

Michael Dunwell’s side led thanks to a Tom Coulthard effort, but recent signing Omari Sterling-James brought Hednesford back on level terms.

Then, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, an Akheem Rose penalty ensured that the points returned home with the league leaders.

Stockton, who were on a three-game winning run prior to Saturday’s defeat, slipped down to fifth and are now eight points adrift of the victorious visitors.

Gavin Hurren’s Hednesford are now two points clear of second-placed Hebburn Town, who climbed back above FC United of Manchester following another dramatic late win against Ashton United.

Ashton defended valiantly against the league’s top scorers with 10 men for over half the game, after Sean Newton was dismissed late in the first half.

But the pressure eventually told when Kian Foreman was felled in the box in the 94th minute, prompting Gary Martin to do the honours from the penalty spot and fire his side to all three points.

Elsewhere, FC United of Manchester came from two goals down at home for the second time in a matter of days as they rallied to earn a point against Warrington Town.

After goals in either half from Kallan Murphy and Reece Daly had put the visitors ahead, Jay Fitzmartin set up former Yellows striker Jordan Buckley to pull one back with 10 minutes to go.

Then five minutes later, after Buckley was brought down by Troy Bourne in the corner of the box, Fitzmartin converted from the penalty spot to earn his side a share of the spoils.

The Yellows missed out on the chance to go within two points of the top five and have now drawn four of their last five games.

Mark Beesley’s side also dropped to third and now have just a two-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed Warrington Rylands, after the Blues ended a brief two-game winless run at home against Guiseley.

Uncharacteristically for the weekend thus far, the decisive blow was struck inside the first seven minutes as Harrison Wood’s composed finish was all that separated the two sides.

Just outside the top five, Gainsborough Trinity were the big winners of the weekend, having ground out a 1-0 win at home to Morpeth Town.

Jack Leckie got the final touch as a long throw-in was bundled home with 10 minutes to go.

Russ Wilcox’s side moved up to sixth as a result, and are now just four points off a play-off place with two games in hand.

Morpeth, who started the day 18th in the table, just outside the drop zone on goal difference, remain there, despite Leek Town picking up a massive win to climb above them.

Once again, it was a late show in Staffordshire as Josh Brehaut’s side turned an early deficit around to beat Cleethorpes Town 2-1 and move three points clear of the drop, with the winner from Lucas Weir coming in the 94th minute.

It was Hyde United who replaced Leek in the relegation zone, after they were soundly beaten 4-0 away at Bamber Bridge.

Ewan Bange bagged a brace for the home side, with Olly Molloy and Jack Baxter also getting on the scoresheet against a Hyde side who ended the game with 10 men after Kieran Lloyd was sent off just past the hour mark.

Martin Coyne’s side are now nine games without a win, and are level on points with the side below them in Stocksbridge Park Steels, who picked up a crucial three points away at fellow relegation battlers Rushall Olympic.

The pace was set early on through Tommy Marshall, and second-half goals from Luke Rawson and Alex O’Connor meant that Harry Wakefield’s late effort for Rushall was no more than a mere consolation.

The Pics are now just two points ahead of Stocksbridge, who have won two of their last three to push themselves closer to safety.

Prescot Cables, another one of the four sides that started the day on 25 points, also picked up a win in their first league game in four weeks, downing Whitby Town 2-1.

Layton Watts had the Seasiders ahead at half-time, but goals within six second-half minutes from John Murphy and Tony Donaldson ensured a vital three points for Cables, who are now just three points behind the side they defeated.

And Lancaster City’s slide in form continued as they were beaten for the fourth time in five games, this time at the hands of Ilkeston Town.

A Sam Parker double followed by a L’Varn Brandy solo goal saw Ian Deakin’s side to a convincing 3-0 win, with Alfie Roberts saving a penalty late on to preserve his clean sheet.

Ilkeston moved into the top 10 with a win, having now picked up maximum points in three of their last six after a run of six straight defeats in all competitions had halted their progress in the weeks before Christmas.

Results - Saturday 17 January