East: Liversedge take pole position in title battle

By James Gordon

Liversedge won what could be an NPL East Division title decider away at Marske United on Easter Saturday.

The top two were level on points ahead of the match, which attracted an attendance of 1,474.

And it was the visitors who came out on top, thanks to goals in either half from Gavin Allott and Nicholas Walker.

It ended Marske’s 14-match unbeaten run in the league, and meant Liversedge pull three points clear with two games to play.

With Liversedge boasting a 14-goal better goal difference, they know a win at home to Brighouse Town on Easter Monday is likely to secure them the title and promotion to the Premier Division.

Marske are away at Stockton Town on Monday.

Alongside Marske in the East Division play-offs will be Cleethorpes Town, Stockton Town and Shildon.

Shildon beat Cleethorpes 3-0 to keep up their hopes of pinching third place.

Cleethorpes sit in the box seat at present on 65 points, with the other two behind on 62.

At the other end, still nothing is decided as Pickering Town kept up their survival hopes with a 1-0 win at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Bridlington Town were plundered in to the relegation zone by a 2-0 home defeat against Sheffield, while Frickley Athletic dropped to third bottom with a 2-0 loss at Tadcaster Albion.

Lincoln United distanced themselves from the bottom three with a 4-1 home win over Yorkshire Amateur, but they have now played a game more than everyone else and will have to watch nervously on Easter Monday.

East Division run-in

1. Liversedge 89pts +74 - Brighouse Town (H), Worksop Town (A)
2. Marske United 86pts +60 - Stockton Town (A), Ossett United (H)

3. Cleethorpes Town 65pts +24 - Worksop Town (H), Hebburn Town (A)
4. Stockton Town 62pts +36 - Marske United (H), Brighouse Town (A)
5. Shildon 62pts +27 - Yorkshire Amateur (A), Frickley Athletic (H)

15. Lincoln United 31pts -37 - Pickering Town (H)
16. Sheffield 29pts -31 - Stocksbridge Park Steels (H), Pontefract Collieries (A)
17. Frickley Athletic 29pts -35 - Pontefract Collieries (H), Shildon (A)
18. Bridlington Town 28pts -29 - Pickering Town (A), Dunston (H)
19. Pickering Town 26pts -46 - Bridlington Town (H), Lincoln United (A)

Where next?

Premier: Late drama sends levels up title race Dramatic late goals in two separate games at the top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division mean the title race will go down to the final day.
The NPL Show - Easter Part 1 A weekend so big, it needs two parts.

Match centre

Northern Premier League - Premier
Northern Premier League - East
Northern Premier League - Midlands
Northern Premier League - West

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