5 days Ago
ROUTE One Rovers were their own worst enemies on Saturday, with two sin-bins proving costly in their 3-2 home defeat to AFC Blackpool. It leaves the Bradford side six points off safety in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, though they do have a game in hand. For AFC Blackpool, this was their fifth win in a row, but they had to work for it.
Luke Hepple’s penalty put the visitors in front, but Rovers quickly equalised through the prolific Zak Khan, whose return from Campion could be crucial to his side’s hopes of survival. Bobby Carter put AFC Blackpool back in front on the stroke of half-time. Ten-minute sin-bins for both Zak Arshad and Anees Younis did not help the Bradfordians, with Jacob Gregory scoring a late third goal for the away side to rub salt into the wounds.
Route One did have the final say, as substitute Umar Ali Zahoor netted in second-half stoppage-time, but that came too little, too late to save the hosts. The Route One Rovers bench can only watch on as they suffer yet another league defeat this season. (Image: Alex Daniel.
) Steeton, who are the side immediately above the drop zone in that division, had the weekend off, but neighbours Silsden were playing. They travelled to Campion for a Bradford District derby in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. And the Cobbydalers remain top of the table by two points after claiming a hard-fought 1-0 away win.
Casey Stewart scored the only goal of the game after 19 minutes, turning home Ellis Hudson’s cutback from close range at the end of a fine Silsden move. The defeat sees Campion drop to 13th, as their disappointing season continues, just a few months after reaching the play-off semi-finals. Albion Sports beat them in the last four back in April, before losing the final on penalties to Garforth Town.
But Albion are right back in the promotion mix this season, and they remain third after winning 3-1 at home to Barton Town on Friday night. The visitors took the lead, but Fernando Moke levelled the scores ahead of the break. Fernando Moke got Albion back level on Friday night and they went on to beat Barton Town 3-1 at Horsfall.
(Image: Alex Daniel.) Two second-half goals from the in-form Nathan Cartman wrapped up the three points for Albion. But their Bradford rivals Thackley slipped out of the play-off places with a thumping 4-0 defeat at Beverley Town.
The visitors even had a penalty saved on a thoroughly miserable afternoon, with the win taking Beverley above the Dennyboys and into fifth place. Mid-table Eccleshill United also lost, going down 1-0 at Rossington Main. Over in the Northern Premier League East Division, Brighouse Town slipped into the relegation zone, overtaken by Consett, who beat them 2-0 in West Yorkshire on Saturday with two goals in the opening 10 minutes.
Liversedge are only two points clear of the drop themselves, after their 2-0 defeat at mid-table Bishop Auckland over the weekend. In the NPL Premier Division, Guiseley have moved up to third after a 2-0 home win over promotion rivals Hebburn Town. John Lufudu and Jordan Thewlis both won second half penalties, Will Longbottom converting both to seal victory for the Lions.
Finally, Farsley Celtic moved into the third round of the Isuzu FA Trophy with a 1-0 win at Bamber Bridge. Darren Stephenson scored the only goal of the game, but the Farsley hero was Kieran Flavell, the keeper making a series of sensational saves to ensure his side went through..
