Source: MEN

 FC United manager Karl Marginson hailed new dad Adam Jones after he helped the Rebels step up their Evo-Stik Premier promotion challenge with an 89th-minute winner at Marine, writes Tony Glennon.

Centre-half Jones, celebrating the birth of son Jacob, arrived unmarked at the far post to nod in Kyle Jacobs’ long free-kick to give FC a 2-1 victory which takes them to within four points of a play-off place in Evo-Stik North.

The Rebels trailed at the break to a Jonathan Goulding goal but Matthew Wolfenden hit a 54th-minute equaliser after great work by Mike Norton.

Marginson said: “It was great for AJ to get the winner. He’s always a threat at set-pieces and took the chance really well.

“With Marine lying immediately above us, the win was extremely important. Hopefully, the manner in which we achieved it will lift us as we approach the run-in.”

Meanwhile, Ashton United seized on the sixth-minute dismissal of Chorley manager Garry Flitcroft’s younger brother Steve to record their fourth successive victory.

Despite their one-man advantage, the Robins fell behind to a 24th-minute Matt Walwyn goal, but hit back to win 3-1 with Aaron Burns’ quick-fire double proving decisive after Matty Koslyo had levelled matters.

Homeless Northwich Victoria’s Wembley dreams were shattered as they slipped to a 3-2 FA Trophy quarter-final defeat to Newport County at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose in boss Paul Simpson’s final game in charge before he embarks on a coaching career in Portugal.

Vics looked like causing an upset when Ian Kearney and Ryan Wade put them 2-0 up.

They were still clinging on to a one-goal lead with five minutes remaining, only to be left heartbroken as Newport sub Jake Harris struck twice to send the visiting Welshmen through.

Curzon Ashton were knocked off the top of the Evo-Stik North First Division by AFC Fylde, who beat them 3-1, while Ramsbottom’s North West Counties League top-of the-table clash at Bootle finished 2-2.

Tony Glennon February 27, 2012