Rob Stevenson grabbed a hat-trick for Leek Town as they hammered Stalybridge Celtic 5-1 on their return to league action.
This was the Blues’ first league game since August Bank Holiday Monday when they played Kidsgrove Athletic. Since then they have been playing FA Cup and FA Trophy matches throughout September.
Stevenson got his first of the afternoon just two minutes into the tie when he caught Luke Hewitson out of position and lobbed the ball over him.
Stalybridge equalised on six minutes when Matty Bryant picked out Max Leonard who found the net at the second time of asking after Matt Corran had pulled off a stunning save to claw the ball from underneath the crossbar.
The pendulum of the game shifted in Leek’s favour on 18 minutes when Aaron Opoku was brought down by Connor O’Grady on the edge of the area. The defender was the last man and was rightly sent off. From the resulting free-kick, Dan Trickett-Smith forced Hewitson into a fine save.
Hewitson couldn’t do anything on 23 minutes to prevent Leek from retaking the lead as Stevenson cut inside and unleashed another ‘Stevenson’s Rocket shot’ from all of 20 yards out. It was as good as if not better than the one he scored against South Shields last weekend.
Just moments after the half-time break Leek went 3-1 up when Stalybridge substitute Greg Wilkinson saw his woeful back pass fall to Opoku. He saw his shot blocked but, Trickett-Smith was on hand to slot home the rebound.
Trickett-Smith got his second goal of the afternoon on 57 minutes as he hit the back of the net when he shot through a crowd of bodies. It put a bit of breathing space between Leek and their hosts who thought they had one back when Bryant stooped to head a free kick beyond Corran but, the offside flag was raised.
Stevenson got his hat-trick with just 12 minutes left on the clock when Saul Milovanovic whipped a cross in and the winger arrived at the back post to volley home his third of the afternoon.
It was the perfect warm-up for Josh Brehaut’s men as they prepare to head to AFC Fylde next weekend looking for a place in the 1st round proper of the Emirates FA Cup.
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After the game, boss Josh Brehaut spoke to Moorlands Radio about the victory.
We also caught up with hat-trick hero Rob Stevenson to his thoughts on the game.
Newcastle Town became the first team to lower Kidsgrove Athletic’s colours in the league as Dan Cockerline scored an injury-time winner at the Autonet Insurance Stadium.
The league leaders took the lead on five minutes when Kidsgrove broke down the right-hand side before crossing the ball to the returning Jordan Cole and he was able to slot the ball home at the back post.
However, the Grove were reduced to 10 men on 15 minutes when newly installed captain Josh Thorpe brought down Phoenix Lee as the Australian bore down on goal, leaving the referee no choice but to brandish his red card.
Castle were level just before the half-time break when Ollie Ritchie’s long ball found Cockerline. The former Nantwich Town man took one touch to steady himself before he unleashed a right-foot strike which found the back of the net via the far post.
The game was won in the final minute when a drop ball was kicked against Cockerline and, the quick-thinking forward nipped in to slide the ball under the body of Kieran Harrison to win the game for Newcastle.
That wasn’t the game’s final act as Newcastle’s Josh Jordan was sent off in injury time as he cleaned out Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi and was rightly dismissed by the referee.
In the Isuzu FA Trophy, Nantwich Town progressed away at Bradford (Park Avenue) 6-5 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Dabbers captain Troy Bourne had a chance to win the shootout with the Cheshire side’s final kick, but it was saved. Thankfully for Bourne, Lucas Odunston blazed Bradford’s eighth spot kick over the crossbar which allowed Ahmed Ali to step up and put Paul Carden’s men into the next round.
On the other hand, Hanley Town were beaten 1-0 at home to Macclesfield FC.
A goal from former Port Vale youngster Hayden Campbell won the game for the Silkmen with 10 minutes to go.
Hanley can count themselves unlucky to be out as Kyle Blake hit the post at 0-0, while Macclesfield goalkeeper Max Johnstone was in fine form.
For the second time in a week, Congleton Town scored six goals as they ran out 6-0 winners away at Bewdley Town in the Midlands Football League.
Two goals from Brian Barton and one each from Dan Needham, Peter Williams, George Sankey and Thomas Hampton won the game for the Bears.
They stay 2nd behind next week’s opposition Studley who got an injury-time winner at Whitchurch Alport.
An injury-time volley from Connor Russo wasn’t enough as Stone Old Alleynians lost 2-1 at home to Lichfield City.
It’s a result that leaves Luke Askey’s men in 10th place.
Buxton are into the playoff places in the National League North as they won 3-1 away at King’s Lynn Town.
Eoin McKeown put the Bucks ahead just after half-time, only for the Linnets to equalise through Cameron Hargreaves.
Craig Elliot’s men were to come away from Norfolk with all three points as two goals in the last 15 minutes from Diego De Girolamo and Scott Boden won the game for the travelling Bucks.
🚀⚽️ | “𝗢𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗱!”
PLAY. IT. BACK.
(Who put that pillar there?)#UpTheBucks | #TeamBuxton pic.twitter.com/b9NXKsxb1r
— Buxton Football Club (@Buxton_FC) October 7, 2023
In the North West Counties Football League First Division South, Sandbach United won 3-0 at Droylsden thanks to goals from Robbie Hatton, Niall Cope and Kieran Alley. Alsager Town drew 2-2 with Stafford Town thanks to goals from Jack Woolley and Ollie Pope.
Finally, Abbey Hulton United lost 4-1 at Winsford United, Harry Griffiths scored Abbey’s consolation goal with 17 minutes to go.
