A total of 32 goals were scored across nine fixtures on Bank Holiday Monday's afternoon of footballing action, which included two all-Derbyshire local derbies.
Chesterfield were dealt a fourth consecutive defeat in the National League after such a positive opening three outings, this time at Hartlepool United where it took just 17 minutes for Nicky Featherstone to score the game's eventual winner for the dominant hosts.
Fortunes appear to be heading in the opposite direction for Alfreton, though, with a third win on the bounce recorded by the Reds on Monday at home to Southport to earn a fourth win from five league outings. Tom Platt's early opener was cancelled out by Southport's Osbourne with 15 minutes to play, but only minutes later did the in-form Tom Denton tap home the winner before Bobby Johnson's late penalty sealed the win and pushed the Reds up to fourth in the National League North.
Buxton finally recorded their first win of the season in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, just managing to edge past visitors Hyde United in their first game at home on their new artificial turf, with striker Liam Hardy bagging the winner just after the break.
Matlock were involved in the highest-scoring game of the afternoon, although in the less desirable of fashions of it as the Gladiators were on the end of a 4-2 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity. Matlock pegged the hosts back twice through Jake Green and Shaun Harrad but were undone by two late goals within three minutes of each other.
Mickleover took a solid point away from home but remain winless on the road after three away outings, taking a 1-1 draw at Stafford Rangers.
The NPL East Division saw one of the afternoon's two all-Derbyshire derbies, and the crowd in excess of 350 spectators were not left disappointed by the entertainment on display with Gresley coming from two goals behind to snatch all three points in injury-time. Goals from Craig Nelthorpe and Nathan Curtis gave the Belper a two-goal cushion at the break, but the Nailers were punished in the second half when Martin Smyth and Kieran O'Connell brought the visitors back level with 20 minutes to play. Dexter Morris-Clarke completed the dramatic turnaround in injury-time, sealing a famous win for the Moatmen.
On the back of a draw in the FA Cup on Saturday, Glossop were unable to provide an improved performance and were heavily beaten by Colne on home turf in their West Division fixture. Tyrell McKenzie grabbed what proved to be nothing more than a consolation, and Alex Curran's penalty seven minutes later sealed a heavy 4-1 defeat for Glossop.
The other Derbyshire derby of Bank Holiday Monday took place in the Midland Football League Premier Division, and saw table-toppers Ilkeston thump South Normanton 4-1 at the New Manor Ground. Goals from Ilkeston's Lavell White and then South Normanton's Oliver Cox within the game's opening 11 minutes provided a lively start, before a brace from Elliot Reeves and a Jamie Walker spot-kick rounded off another convincing win for the Robins who cement themselves two points clear at the top of the tree, whilst South Normanton remain bottom and worryingly without any points.
Long Eaton finally recorded a first league win of the season after picking up just two points from five games, and the three points came from a close 2-1 win over Durkirk with Cameron Campbell and Tom Gamblen to thank for the vital goals.
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