Boxing Day Round-Up: Vanarama National League North

In front of a terrific crowd of 3,041, it was the Ammies who took an early 9th minute lead when Michael Nottingham clipped a ball to the back post and Ritchie Allen sent the ball into the bottom corner.

FC united pulled back on level terms on 29 minutes when Connor McCarthy reacted quickest to a initial block and headed past a helpless Max Crocombe.

But just 2 minutes later, Salford were back in front when an Ibou Touray free-kick was headed home by Lois Maynard.

However, immediately after half-time, Salford suffered a massive blow when they had Scott Burton shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Steve Irwin.

It wasn`t until the 74th minute that the Reds were able to take full advantage of their extra man when Zac Corbett hammered a fierce strike into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.

Then on 81 minutes, FC United`s player-manager Tom Greaves made the most of confusion at the back between Nottingham and Crocombe, leaving him with an easy header to score what proved to be the winner.

There was also plenty of drama in the game between Darlington and second-placed Harrogate Town at Blackwell Meadows.

Two red cards and two penalties ensured Harrogate ended 2017 with a defeat after both Warren Burrell and Terry Kennedy were given their marching orders.

It took just 8 minutes for the first penalty to be awarded as Lloyd Kerry’s late challenge on Stephen Thompson gave Reece Styche the chance to score from the spot.

Styche made it two after 26 minutes bundling home from close range after a goalmouth scramble that saw both post and bar hit.

Jack Emmett teed up Simon Ainge at the back post to reduce the deficit on 65 minutes, although any recovery was cut short when Burrell was shown a straight red card for a sliding challenge on 83 minutes.

Just 3 minutes later the hosts were awarded their second spot-kick, and Harrogate given their second red card as Kennedy pulled back Harvey Saunders allowing Thompson to score.

Third-placed Brackley Town weren`t able to take full advantage of Harrogate`s defeat after being held to a 2-2 at the New Windmill Ground by Leamington.

The deadlock was broken a minute before the break when Colby Bishop put the Brakes in front.

However, just 2 minutes after the interval, Glenn Walker pulled the visitors back on level terms.

Aaron Williams then gave the Northamptonshire side a 73rd minute lead which looked like it was going to be the winner.

Until Leamington grabbed a stoppage time equaliser with Jamie Hood being credited with getting the final touch, although it appeared to have gone in via a Brackley defender.

The top three hold a five-point lead now over fourth-placed Blyth Spartans after they lost the north-east derby at Croft Park to sixth-placed Spennymoor Town.

Nathan Buddle’s powerful header gave Blyth the lead on 22 minutes, before former Blyth striker Glen Taylor put Moors level on 38 minutes.

Kieran Green made the most of some poor defending to put Blyth back ahead a minute before the break, but Mark Anderson gave Spennymoor a deserved equaliser on 73 minutes.

With the game approaching its conclusion, Kallum Griffiths headed home a 90th minute corner to win it for the visitors.

Bradford Park Avenue are fifth, a point behind Blyth, after beating mid-table Curzon Ashton 3-1 at the Horsfall Stadium.

But it was an amazing game, with four goals inside the last 7 minutes plus stoppage time!

It was goalless until the 83rd minute when Wayne Brooksby broke the deadlock with a fine solo effort.

But on 88 minutes, Niall Cummins bundled a far post effort home to surely earn The Nash a point?

Just a minute later though, Adam Boyes struck the crossbar with a lob, but desperate defending from Curzon couldn't keep Avenue out as Brooksby prodded home the loose ball.

And 2 minutes into stoppage time, Oli Johnson beat two Curzon defenders before finding the bottom corner and make it 3-1!

Kidderminster Harriers hold seventh place, but had to make do with a point from a goalless draw at the New Bucks Head against fifteenth-placed AFC Telford United.

Chorley are just a point behind Harriers in eighth, but they too shared a 0-0 draw at Victory Park against a now second-bottom Southport, who at least stopped the rot of two straight defeats.

Southport dropped to second-bottom after Nuneaton Town manager Dino Maamria described his side`s 4-1 win against Tamworth at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium as “outstanding” as it moved them up a place.

Tom Elliott gave Boro an 11th minute lead that Jordan Nicholson doubled 10 minutes later.

Five minutes after that, Ashley Chambers made it 3-0 and the same player made it virtually all over less than 2 minutes later with number four.

A Jon Ashton own goal after 73 minutes `won` the second half for the Lambs.

Maamria continued: "I thought we were brilliant, that first half especially. I think the performance was there for all to see.

"I know the last couple of results have not gone our way against Barrow and Kidderminster, but people that watched those games they will that there is a team that is building certain habits.

"The results were always coming. That first half an hour especially we were outstanding, it could be seven, eight or nine. That is the type of performance that we can produce.

"The early goal will give you confidence always. I thought our game plan was terrific. We went with the diamond today, just to fit what we have got. We played to our strengths and they could not cope with us.

"We need them. I want our fans back. Nuneaton Town Football Club, I know the history of it, I know we have got a big fan base and I want those people back. I want to show them the type of football we play and produce."

With the teams above them now picking up points, North Ferriby United`s cause at the bottom of the table is becoming increasingly more impossible as the games go by, and Boxing Day`s 4-1 home drubbing by York City left the Villagers sixteen points adrift of the safety-mark.

Ferrby were punished for some poor defending as York’s experienced striker Jon Parkin gave them a lesson in how to finish.

He opened the scoring after 19 minutes and added a second 5 minutes before half-time.

To have been two goals behind at half-time would have been a difficult task, but worse was to come in added time when defender Jonathan Burn was allowed to run unchallenged inside the penalty are to flick the ball home from a free-kick.

Carl Stewart gave the home side a ray of hope when he reduced the deficit 3 minutes after the break, but any hope the Villagers had of salvaging anything disappeared after 87 minutes with Parkin’s third goal 3 minutes from the end.

Boston United earned Lincolnshire bragging rights and fourteenth place in tye table after a 2-0 Jakemans Stadium win over Gainsborough Trinity.

The Pilgrims now had a four-point advantage on Trinity, thanks to a goal a minute before the break from Jay Rollins and a second for Brad Abbott 17 minutes from time.

Alfreton Town are only out of the drop zone now on goal difference after they were beaten by play-off chasing Stockport County at Edgeley Park.

The only goal of the game came 4 minutes before half-time from Kallum Mantack.