Tuesday's Round-Up: Vanarama National League North

Kevin Wilkin`s side could be forgiven for having their focus elsewhere, but the win keeps the Northamptonshire outfit very much in the title race, fo9ur points behind top two Harrogate Town and Salford City.

Gainsborough worked hard to get the pitch playable after the heavy rain of the past 24 hours

And Nicky Walker rewarded them by giving Trinity an early 9th minute lead after a cross from Craig King.

The visitors equalised on the half-hour mark when Aaron Williams scrambled the ball home following a corner.

And a minute before half-time, Shepard Murambeszi’s first goal for the Saints took them into the break in front.

A fine save by Danny Lewis prevented Nathan Jarman from equalising but, Brackley held firm and Trinity remain second-bottom, three points from safety.

York City`s play-off hopes took a knock as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Aggborough to a Kidderminster Harriers side who are now just a point and a place behind them in fifth.

It was goalless at the break, but it was Harriers who broke the deadlock shortly before the hour-mark when Dan Bradley took advantage of some sloppy defending to put the hosts in front.

And then on 72 minutes, Bradley scored a second on the counter-attack after a York free-kick at the other end of the pitch.

Sean Newton grabbed a consolation goal 3 minutes into added time from the edge of the area, but it was too late to have an effect on the outcome.

The form team in the division are undoubtedly Southport, and they are now remarkably just a point behind the play-off places after recording a 3-0 win at the Merseyrail Community Stadium against relegation-threatened AFC Telford United.

It was Kevin Davies` side fifth successive win and, an even more unusual statistic is that it was the fifth consecutive time they had scored three goals – and the sixth time in seven games, having lost 3-0 at Kidderminster on January 27th!

The Bucks managed to hold their in-form hosts at the break, but just 3 minutes after the restart, Elliot Osborne broke the deadlock to give Port the lead.

Dion Charles added the second in the 72nd minute and a Jack Sampson tap-in from close range made it game over 4 minutes later.

And the Bucks' night got even worse when they had Amari Morgan-Smith dismissed with a straight red card for a rash challenge on Jordan Richards a minute from time.

Telford remain third-from-bottom.

The evening`s other game saw Tamworth and Darlington share a goalless draw at The Lamb.

The hosts came into the game having not won in nine games, so a point will be useful as they attempt to steer clear of the drop zone.

The Quakers remain in thirteenth place, but possess a nine-point cushion on third-bottom AFC Telford and have now lost only once in nine games.

The draw was about right on an evening when both teams spurned decent chances.

(Photo: John Rudkin)