Saturday's First Division North action review

Considering the lead that Northwich Victoria held until recently, it`s a remarkable achievement by Shaun Reid`s side, whose 1-0 win at Cantilever Park against Scarborough Athletic, courtesy of James McCartan`s 77th minute effort in front of a crowd of 502 was their fourteenth league game without defeat.

Vics were on the wrong end of a 5-0 home thrashing by the division`s other form team, Farsley Celtic, for whom this was a tenth win on the spin!

New boss Adam Lakeland`s first home game in charge turned into a nightmare as they conceded five in the second half, Chris Howarth in the first minute and then Lewis Nightingale with a hat-trick in the 56th, 65th and 88th minutes from the penalty spot, sandwiched by an 83rd minute Lewis Sugden effort.

Northwich do possess five games in hand on the Wire and the top two hold an eleven-point advantage over third-placed Glossop North End.

They won 3-1 at home to fellow top five contenders Lancaster City, for whom this was a first defeat in eight games. Astley Mulholland after 61 minutes, Tom Bailey four minutes later and Kieran Lugsden on 81 minutes were the Hillians` marksmen, Danny Carlton replying three minutes from time for the Dolly Blues.

Ossett Albion and Spennymoor Town occupy the other two play-off places, although only two points separate Moors from Lancaster in ninth.

Rob Bordman bagged a brace in the 72nd and 77th minutes as Albion won 2-1 at the Butcher`s Arms against Droylsden, whose Ben Barber had given them a 50th minute lead from the spot.

Spennymoor though were held to a 2-2 home draw by Trafford, the visitors taking an early a fifth minute lead through Nathan Fisher. Keenan Quansah equalised a minute before the break only for James Risbrough to restore the home side`s lead after 66 minutes. Lee Neville earned Trafford a point five minutes from time.

Burscough and Mossley AFC are the two other teams in the mix, with only the latter playing on Saturday and winning 2-0 at Valerie Park against Prescot Cables, courtesy of David Short after 31 minutes and Tom Pratt six minutes after the break.

Third-bottom Ossett Town suffered a 5-1 defeat at Ingfield by Clitheroe, whose Ross Dent after 11 and 68 minutes, Chris Lynch on 21 minutes and Sefton Gonzales in the 38th and 70th minutes, ensured David Brown`s stoppage time spot-kick was only a consolation.

Fourth-bottom Radcliffe Borough were beaten 1-0 at Brighouse Town, for whom Daniel Facey was on the mark with 13 minutes to go, while Kendal Town and Witton Albion shared a 1-1 Parkside draw.

Danny Andrews gave the visitors an early seventh minute lead that Charlie Bailey cancelled out after 28 minutes.

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