The local derby in front of 350+ fans did not disappoint as Kidsgrove finished worthy winners over their neighbours from down the road.

Kidsgrove welcomed back Lewis Bergin and Jack Bromfield who were missing from Saturdays draw at home to Colne and both had a big impact on the game.

Newcastle had the better start and for 15 minutes caused the home side some problems but without troubling Kieran Harrison in the Kidsgrove goal apart from a couple of hurried clearances.

The home side settled down and began to cause trouble for the visitors. Mooney in the Newcastle goal saved brilliantly from Adu Gyamfi’s shot on the turn from the edge of the area. A slip by Byers let in Gibbons for the visitors and his cross shot narrowly went wide with Harrison beaten.

Kidsgrove’s pressure paid off in the 36th minute when Diskin’s first time cross was met by Kieran Brown and Mooney appeared to make a brilliant save from his header but the linesman flagged that the ball had crossed the line. Five minutes later Adu Gyamfi collected the ball 25 yards out and crashed the ball over Mooney for a superb second for the Grove and his first goal of the season.

Early pressure from Newcastle in the second half never produced any final result and gradually Kidsgrove took complete charge of the game. On 58 minutes Byers and Diskin combined on the right and the full backs cross could only be parried by Mooney and Adu Gyamfi superbly volleyed into the top corner from 12 yards.

Newcastle looked a beaten side and five minutes later great combination work led to Brown coming in from the right and smashing the ball into the far corner of the net.

The home side never stopped working and never let Newcastle threaten in front of goal.

Kidsgrove: Harrison, Byers (Urwin 68), Bridge, Bromfield, Bergin, J. Lovatt (Hartshorn 66), Diskin, Blake (C Lovatt 76), Brown, Whieldon, Adu Gyamfi.
Unused subs: Twyford and Stubbs.
Newcastle: Mooney, Berks, Morley, Fishman (Arber 69), Askey, Dennis, Vale, T. Van Der Lann, Gibbons (Jarman 46), J Van Der Lann, Baxter (Howell 69).
Unused subs: Harrison and Kurasik