Premier Division round-up: South Shields win on coronation day, Liversedge relegated

The Mariners wrapped up the title with a 1-0 victory at Whitby Town on Easter Monday, and two goals inside the opening 10 minutes from Tom Broadbent and Robert Briggs gave them a healthy cushion at a packed 1st Cloud Arena.

Yellows forward Luke Duffy capitalised on an error from Shields goalkeeper Myles Boney to pull one back before half-time, but the champions hung on to edge a hard-fought contest in the north-east.

As for Town, they remain in second and have now secured a home play-off semi-final, despite the result, as Bamber Bridge and Gainsborough Trinity both dropped points on Saturday.

The Brig were beaten 1-0 at Matlock Town, while Gainsborough Trinity came from behind to seal a point at fellow top-five hopefuls Radcliffe as top scorer Clayton Donaldson netted his 24th goal of the season midway through the first half.

In Greater Manchester, four goals in the space of 21 second half minutes saw Hyde United beat Marine 4-0 and mathematically end the Merseyside club's chances of securing a play-off spot.

A Manasse Mampala double set the Tigers in motion before the hour mark, and Adam Dawson and Jack Redshaw then put further gloss on the result with less than 15 minutes remaining.

Saturday's results have set up a tantalising final round of fixtures, with Hyde, Radcliffe and Matlock all still capable of claiming the final play-off spot.

Elsewhere in the division, FC United of Manchester fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Stafford Rangers, while Warrington Rylands celebrated manager Michael Clegg's new deal with three points as Matthew Sargent's well-taken finish shortly before half-time helped them to a 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Stalybridge Celtic.

At Nethermoor, Guiseley ended Liversedge's stay in the Northern Premier League as Courtney Meppen-Walter struck a late winner from the penalty spot.

Although Sedge are only six points from safety with two games still to play, Marske United's remaining fixtures against Stalybridge and Nantwich Town means they can no longer mathematically escape the drop.

A first half Charlie Bailey hat-trick helped Lancaster City to an impressive 4-2 win at Ashton United, and Whitby Town confirmed their Step 3 status for another season thanks to a 3-1 victory at Atherton Collieries.

Morpeth Town also came from behind to beat already-relegated Belper Town 2-1, and the day's only other fixture - a crunch relegation clash between Marske and Nantwich - was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. It will now take place on Thursday 20 April.

Results - Saturday 15 April

Ashton United 2-4 Lancaster City
Atherton Collieries 1-3 Whitby Town
Belper Town 1-2 Morpeth Town
FC United of Manchester 0-1 Stafford Rangers
Guiseley 1-0 Liversedge
Hyde United 4-0 Marine
Matlock Town 1-0 Bamber Bridge
Radcliffe 1-1 Gainsborough Trinity
South Shields 2-1 Warrington Town
Warrington Rylands 1-0 Stalybridge Celtic

Photo credit: Kev Wilson