Saturday's First Division North action review

By David Watters

Warrington Town cemented their lead at the top of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's First Division North on Saturday with a win at Prescot Cables, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

At Valerie Park the Wire won 3-0, Ged Kinsella giving the leaders a 27th minute lead that Ciaran Kilheeney doubled right on the stroke of half-time. And then a second for Kilheeney from the penalty spot with seven minutes remaining sealed another vital victory.

Town are now 16 points clear of Spennymoor Town after the Moors beat fellow top five contenders Burscough 3-1 at the Brewery Field.

Mark Anderson broke the deadlock in front of a crowd of 461 to put Moors ahead immediately after the break. But the Linnets responded within three minutes through Michael Monaghan.

Andrew Stephenson restored the home side`s lead 15 minutes from time, with Craig Gott ensuring the points stayed in the North East with a third three minutes later.

Glossop North End are third after beating third-bottom Ossett Town 2-1 at home, thanks to Jason Carey after just three minutes and then Mark Reed 12 minutes from the end - David Brown replying from the spot a minute from time.

Previous long-time leaders Northwich Victoria have dropped to fourth with just seven games to go after Trafford earned a last-gasp point in a 2-2 draw at Shawe View.

Vics led through Alex Byrne`s early third minute effort, only for Chris McDonagh to level seven minutes later. Stuart Cook restored the visitors` lead on the half-hour mark and that looked like being the winner until Aaron Burns popped up with an 85th minute equaliser.

Clitheroe knocked Burscough out of the top five after winning 3-1 at Station View against second-bottom Harrogate Railway Athletic.

A Louis Mayers hat-trick saw off the strugglers – his goals coming in the 11th, 49th after on-loan Amar Purewal had levelled from the spot right on half-time, and then on 62 minutes.

Farsley Celtic`s top five hopes took a blow after they lost 2-1 at Throstle Nest to mid-table Mossley AFC, whose Tom Pratt gave them a 17th minute lead.

Leon Osborne equalised four minutes later but the visitors went back across the Pennines with the points thanks to a Kyle McGonigle penalty 12 minutes from time.

Ossett Albion also slipped up and have been overtaken in eighth place by Lancaster City after they lost 2-1 at Dimple Wells to Yorkshire rivals Brighouse Town.

Daniel Facey gave the visitors a 10th minute lead that Adam Muller levelled after 34 minutes. Leon Henry then won it for Town after 67 minutes.

Lancaster beat fourth-bottom Radcliffe Borough 4-1 at the Giant Axe to move above Albion on goal difference and only four points adrift of the play-off places.

Craig Carney scored the only goal of the opening half after 17 minutes. But five minutes after the restart Zach Clark doubled the Dolly Blues` lead and then Ryan Winder after 67 minutes and Bobby Langford five minutes later, stretched their lead – Sam McMahon netting a stoppage time consolation for Boro.

Bottom-markers New Mills went down to defeat number thirty-one, losing 3-0 at Parkside to Kendal Town, whose Alex Newby after 11 minutes, Adam Freeland right on half-time and Danny Forbes on 63 minutes, were on the mark.

Droylsden made it back-to-back wins since suffering that 9-0 defeat at the hands of Warrington with a 4-0 Butcher`s Arms success against Bamber Bridge.

Dan Parkinson after 11 minutes, Brandon Zibaka from the spot on the half-hour mark and Will Hasler-Cregg on 37 minutes, gave the Bloods a 3-0 interval lead that Parkinson added to with his second on 66 minutes.

Witton Albion ended Scarborough Athletic`s mini revival with a vital 1-0 Wincham Park win, thanks to a Danny Andrews penalty in stoppage time at the end of the game.

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Where next?

Reserves reverting to old name EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Spennymoor Town have announced that their second string are reverting back to playing as Coxhoe Athletic next season.
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