Macclesfield Town and Stockport County both suffered defeats in the National League, but there was FA Cup success for Cheadle Town as they caused an upset by beating Northwich Victoria.
In the Hallmark Security league, New Mills scored six but it was defeat for Stockport Town.
National League: Sutton United 2 Macclesfield Town 0
Macclesfield Town suffered a 2-0 defeat at Sutton United as they chased back to back victories on the road.
First-half goals from Ross Stearn and Bedsente Gomis and a second half red card for Andy Halls saw John Askey’s men head back north without even a point for their troubles.
The Silkmen started the game well with Chris Holroyd wasting an early chance when shooting straight at Ross Worner in the home goal.
Craig Eastmond and Roarie Deacon missing chances as the home side retaliated.
Jamie Collins then heading Kingsley James’ effort over his own bar as the visitors applied pressure.
The home side opened the scoring as Stearn prodded home a loose ball, the points being secured minutes later as Deacon and Gomis combined with the latter making no mistake to make it 2-0.
Both sides came close to adding to the score line before Halls saw red after a challenge on Gomis which effectively ended the game as a contest.
National League North: Stockport County 2 (Lloyd, Thomas) Brackley Town 4
The Hatters slumped to suffer their first home defeat of the season as Brackley Town dominated a first half to take the points mainly thanks to a three-goal burst within nine first-half minutes.
Danny Lloyd did pull a goal back for the hosts but The Saints added a fourth, with 12 minutes remaining, meaning Adam Thomas’ late goal was merely a consolation.
The visitors looked dangerous from the off and were soon two goals in front, Lee Ndlovu and captain Gareth Dean bagging within minutes of each other.
Lloyd gave his side some hope with a fine solo effort to reduce the arrears only for Ndlovu to restore the visitors two-goal lead within two minutes.
After the break the home side were denied two efforts, both from John Marsden, the referee indicating that one was judged offside, the next for a foul on visiting goalkeeper Laurie Walker.
Marsden again went close and Lloyd saw an effort beat Walker but unfortunately the upright too before Brackley ensured that they would leave with all three points.
Alex Gudger headed home at the far post from a corner kick. Thomas then completed the scoring as he bundled the ball home from a County corner in the last minute.
FA Cup: Northwich Victoria 2 Cheadle Town 4 (M Sherrington 2, Noar, Magida)
Cheadle Town claimed their place in the next round of the FA Cup with a tremendous performance to knock out one of last season’s big ‘giant killers’ after gifting the home side an early lead.
Terry Hincks’ team replied to Vics taking the lead as strikes from Sam Noar and Mike Sherrington took the underdogs in at the break 2-1 ahead, Noar finishing well after good work from Liam Tongue while Sherrington netted after a solo run.
With the hour mark approaching Sherrington fished off good work from Luke Pearson, substitute Thabiso Magida added the icing on the cake with a fourth late on.
An added-time penalty from Vics wasn’t enough to take the gloss off a great day for the Park Road club.
Hallmark Security Premier Division New Mills 6 (Foulds 2, Douglas-Pringle 2, Johnson, Hopper) Barnton 1
The Millers claimed their first five-goal win for over two years and in the process lifted themselves up to third in the early league table.
Last season the two sides were three divisions apart and it was the Millers that showed that they have adjusted better to life at the new level with a four-goal blast before half-time.
Haydn Foulds, Daniel Douglas-Pringle and Dan Johnson gave the home side a 3-0 lead within the first 10 minutes, Douglas-Pringle grabbing his second before the break to end the game as a contest.
Chris Smith briefly gave the visitors hope with a strike after the break before Foulds grabbed his second after an error from Matt Conkie in the visitor’s goal.
Skipper Ryan Hopper ended the scoring with a late penalty.
Hallmark Security 1st Division: City of Liverpool 4 Stockport Town 2 (Abreu, Latham)
Friday night saw The Lions lose their second game of the season as league new boys continued to set the early pace, claiming their fourth win from four games.
The home side took the lead early in the first half as Woods headed home from a corner, the striker adding a second just before the break.
Adam Latham missing the visitor’s best chances of the half, heading over from an Andy Graham cross and again when played in by Jack Beswick.
Stockport’s woes already added to by the loss of centre half Joe Armstrong after just quarter of an hour.
Two second-half goals in the space of eight minutes, with Woods claiming a hat-trick, ensured that the home side would claim the points.
Ruben Abreu and Latham added two replies late on to give the home side a nervy closing few minutes.
