Take a look at how our players are getting on away from the club
It was a busy Easter weekend for Town’s loan players with most teams playing twice over the bank holiday weekend.It was a particularly productive weekend for Ethan Jones who scored in both of Stourbridge’s games. He started the weekend off by scoring the Glassboys fourth in a 4-1 win over Frickley Athletic. Jones has been playing on the left wing in recent weeks and he cut inside before firing into the bottom corner. His second goal came in the two-nil win over Rushall Olympic yesterday. Luke Benbow had put Stourbridge in front from the penalty spot and Ethan secured the win early in the second half when he shot low past former Macclesfield Town ‘keeper Jose Veiga. The win means that Stourbridge are now certain of a play-off spot in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League.
Meanwhile, Shaun Rowley’s Slough Town will also contest the play-offs this season, this time in the Southern Premier League. Slough had their play-off hopes dented on Saturday as they were beaten 2-0 by Cirencester Town, but they secured their place with a one-all draw on Monday against Chesham. Slough will be looking to win their final league game of the season next weekend in order to avoid second placed Leamington in the play-offs.
Kaiman Anderson was back amongst the goals for Oxford City on Monday as he scored the only goal of the game against Gosport Borough. Anderson hasn’t managed to find the same form as he did for Halesowen earlier this season, but he pounced to score from 12 yards after Freddie Grant’s shot was spilled. Earlier in the weekend, Kaiman had played his part in a 2-0 victory over Chelmsford City as Ezra Forde scored both the goals for Oxford.
AFC Telford United’s difficult season continued as they managed to pick up just a point in their two Easter games. That point came against Stockport County on Friday night as Telford drew 1-1. Callum Burton was unable to stop Lewis Montrose opening the scoring for the hosts, as his shot went through a sea of bodies and nestled in the bottom corner, but an own goal 15 minutes before the end secured a point for the Bucks. The Telford defence then gave Burton even less protection against Nuneaton on Monday. Nuneaton went two-nil up within the opening 35 minutes, but the Bucks hit back before half-time to go in two-two at the break. However, Telford appeared to throw in the towel in the second half as they conceded just two minutes after the break and Nuneaton made it 4-2 with 15 minutes to go.
Up in Scotland, Jim O’Brien was involved in a thrilling two-all draw between Ross County and Champions Celtic. Celtic took the lead Kieran Tierney, only for County to equalise five minutes into the second half through Michael Gardyne. Celtic looked set to take home all three points Patrick Roberts scored with 12 minutes to go, but when O’Brien was substituted on 85 minutes, the game came alive. With less than a minute remaining, Alex Schalk won a spot-kick after diving in the penalty area and Liam Boyce converted. However, the drama wouldn’t end there as Celtic Captain Scott Brown saw red just before the end for a nasty lunge on Boyce.
Finally, Callum Grogan was involved in both of Skelmersdale’s games over the weekend. Grogan’s side are already relegated, but they produced a fantastic come back in the first game of the weekend against Coalville Town. Coalville has been two-nil up at the break, but United managed get it back to 2-2. Coalville then took the lead once more, but a 90th minute goal from Mooney gave Skelmersdale a point. Sadly, they couldn’t follow that up yesterday as they were beaten 3-0 by Marine.