Saturday's action review

On a terrible Saturday that saw the whole of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division fixture list suffer a complete washout after heavy rain, only three games survived in the lower divisions, two in Evo-Stik NPL First Division North and one in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Amazingly, one of the games that got the nod after a late pitch inspection was at Seel Park, Mossley, where the leaders entertained lower mid-table Ossett Town.

Seel Park is normally a ground that suffers from bad weather, being on the edge of the Pennines. Having being able to get this one on, they must have wondered at half-time whether it had been worth it as the sides went in still goalless.

But new loan signing from Huddersfield, Connor Loftus, broke the deadlock by giving the leaders a 64th minute lead. That relaxed the home side somewhat and six minutes later they doubled their lead through Kayde Coppin.

Shane Kelsey caused a nervy finale when he pulled one back in stoppage time, but the home side held firm to move five points clear at the top of the table.

Mossley's Tameside neighbours Curzon Ashton were also in action as their game at the Giant Axe against Lancaster City also survived.

But it ended in disappointment for the ten-man visitors, who were looking to mount a Christmas holiday period raid on the play-off places.

It started well enough for Curzon when Tony Evans gave them an early fifth minute lead. However, just three minutes later City's Darren Green lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box to pull the Dolly Blues back on level terms.

Curzon were then reduced to ten-men, but still managed to re-take the lead when Jonathan Hunt netted following a goalmouth scramble.

But City eventually wore down the visitors and scored twice in two minutes around the hour-mark, firstly through Tom Kilifin from close range and then Ryan Elderton powerfully headed home Green's cross to make it 3-2.

The only game to go ahead in the southern section was at Ashby Avenue where fourth-bottom Lincoln United entertained a Chasetown side only a few places above them in the table.

A disappointing first half saw the sides go in still locked at 0-0, but less than five minutes after the restart Scott Coupland broke the deadlock by putting the hosts in front. And just a couple of minutes later they doubled their advantage through Jordan Hemptenstall.

The Scholars got back into the game four minutes later in somewhat fortuitous circumstances when Simon Brown's cross curled into the back of the net with the assistance of the strong wind. United looked like holding on for three crucial points until Richard Teesdale popped up with a last-gasp leveller.