Premier Round-up: Farsley and Warrington turn up the heat

The Yorkshiremen have won nine successive games in the league, with the Yellows winning their last seven, and they now sit just a point behind leaders Nantwich Town.

The Dabbers saw their eight game unbeaten run ended by Witton Albion, Will Jones’ solitary second half goal enough to secure victory for the visitors in front of a bumper crowd of 956 at the Weaver Stadium.

One goal was enough for Farsley to win at Hedneford Town, Nathan Cartman getting it on 35 minutes.

Warrington needed a first half penalty save from goalkeeper Charlie Albinson to keep them on terms with Bamber Bridge, but they eventually eased to a 2-0 win.

Striker Connor McCarthy scored both of their goals in the second half, his first back for the club since joining from West Division side Runcorn Linnets.

Previous pacesetters Scarborough Athletic continue to tumble after they suffered their sixth defeat in the last eight.

Adam Gell and Dale Hopson earned local bragging rights for Whitby Town, who ran out 2-0 winners in front of a 1,318 crowd at the Turnbull Ground.

One side that is quietly stringing the wins together and looking in an ominous place in the play-offs are South Shields, who made it 11 home wins from 11 on New Year’s Day.

They plundered six past North Ferriby United to win 6-2, bringing up a century of goals this season in the process.

Lee Mason scored a brace and there were goals for Gary Brown, Carl Finnigan, Robert Briggs and Nathan Lowe, as Shields remain four points behind the top three.

In the clutch of teams scrapping just outside the play-offs, Gainsborough Trinity pulled off a vital 2-0 win at Matlock Town, only the Gladiators third home defeat of the season.

Jonathon Margetts broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time and Simon Russell made sure late on to earn a welcome three points for Trinity, who had lost three in a row over the festive period.

It hasn’t been a great Christmas for any of the chasing pack, and Basford United followed their defeat to Warrington on Saturday with a 2-1 reverse at Grantham Town.

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Shaun Harrad scored the goals for the Gingerbreads, who faced up against a few of the players that helped them to the play-off final last term.

Buxton registered a seventh draw away from home this season as they were held 1-1 by Hyde United, leaving them seven points off the play-offs.

Tom Dean gave them the lead on the stroke of half time but Chib Chilaka earned Hyde a point, the Tigers now sitting two points behind Buxton in the table.

Lowly Marine picked up a welcome victory to kick-off the year in which they celebrate their 125th anniversary.

Glenn Steel put Lancaster City ahead but he then put through his own goal to bring Marine level at the break.

Charley Edge and Niall Cummins earned only a fifth win of the season for Marine, who are now just a point behind the Dolly Blues in the relegation zone.

That result leaves Workington in no mans land in the bottom three, six points behind Marine but six points ahead of bottom side North Ferriby.

The Reds did lead 1-0 through Bradley Carroll against Stalybridge Celtic, but an Andrew Scott brace turned it around for the mid-table side.

In the other game on New Year’s Day, Mickleover Sports came from two goals down to leapfrog Stafford Rangers in the table with a 3-2 win.

Theo Bailey-Jones and Joe Cuff looked to have got managerless Stafford off to the perfect start in 2019, but a Shaquille McDonald brace had Sports level on 77 minutes, before Nathan Jarman’s penalty five minutes from time stole the points.