On a day in which 18 teams participated in league fixtures, Spartans came away from a trip to the North West pointless, despite a Craig Hubbard hat-trick. The new father, returning from a suspension, grabbed a first half trio of goals in a game that saw Spartans concede four against Skelmersdale United at The West Lancashire College Stadium. The game was tied at half time, with the hosts having lead twice, before Kenneth Strickland netted 11 minutes from time to break the hearts of the travelling Spartans.
Tuesday’s opponents Ilkeston FC recorded a 1-0 home victory over Frickley Athletic, courtesy of an Arron Webster penalty, coincidentally scored 11 before the final whistle. Athletic were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes, after former Robin Joe Wilcox received a straight red card an elbow on James Reid. Five minutes layer Webster made up for his previous penalty miss, cooling tucking the spot kick into the back of the net.
Lee Morris and Lavell White both notched braces in their sides’ respective wins. Morris struck twice for Buxton in less than ten minutes at The Silverlands to ensure Spartans’ most recent Croft Park visitors Nantwich Town left empty handed. White’s two goals, added to a converted first half Daryll Thomas penalty ensure The Gladiators clawed back three points away at Stafford, despite Rangers going ahead after just one minute through Jermaine Johnson.
Grantham Town compounded the misery of bottom placed Droylsden, leaving the Butcher’s Arms Ground with three points, three goals and a clean sheet. The Gingerbreads dominated the game in front of 162 fans, and finished their scoring within the first 20 minutes. Romaine Graham notched after 7 minutes, Rhys Lewis doubled the visitors’ lead after 14 before Michael Towey made sure the game was out of reach for The Bloods.
Liverpool outfit Marine also recorded a 3-0 victory, at home against Stocksbridge Park Steels. Anthony Rendell opened the scoring at The Arriva Stadium five minutes from kick off, as Josh Sumner added his name to the scoresheet midway through the first half. William Jones finished the scoring after 78 minutes in a win that saw the home side climb to 23 points in the league, the same as Wade’s Spartans.
League leaders, and Blyth’s FA Cup conquerors, AFC Fylde consolidated their place at the top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League with the third three goal to nil victory on Saturday, against Barwell. The league’s current leading goal scorer Daniel Newton was neutralised by the visitors, as Matthew Blinkhorn opened the scoring after 26 minutes. Fylde then capitalise on a possible lack of concentration late in both halves, as Harry Winter and Jamie Rainford scored in the last minute of both the first and second period.
Elsewhere, a massive crowed of 1,440 watched Kings Lynn Town and FC United of Manchester both earn a hard fought point at The Walks, in a game in which FCUM captain Dean Stott was dismissed.
In the final result of the day Witton Albion shared the spoils when visiting Whitby Town in a game that ended as a 1-1 draw. Albion took the lead just shy of the half hour mark through Daniel Andrews. However, The Seasiders answered back just five minutes later after Graeme Armstrong scored in a game in which the home side were unable to gain retribution for last weekend’s 3-0 reverse scoreline in Norfolk.