Saturday's First Division North review

A soft penalty seven minutes from time condemned Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North leaders Warrington Town to a third defeat in December as they went down 1-0 at Clitheroe on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Substitute Ash Ruane was judged to have pushed Clitheroe's Ross Dent in the back inside the area with just seven minutes remaining, and although Josh Ollerenshaw got down superbly to deny Danny Wilkins from the resulting spot-kick, the taker reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.

Bottom-markers Ossett Albion were rather unlucky to lose 3-2 at home to second-placed Curzon Ashton, and if they had taken their chances, including a seventh minute penalty, they could have had taken at least a point from the match.

Luke Horrocks made Albion pay for that penalty miss six minutes before the interval before Darol Lucas grabbed the hosts' leveller seven minutes after the restart. Matty Kay made it 2-1 to the visitors with five minutes to go and Mark Bett made sure with a third in the last minute, before Albion manage a second in injury-time from Dales Kelly.

Farsley AFC and Bamber Bridge both had their matches postponed after their pitches were waterlogged and Darlington 1883 failed to take full advantage in fifth spot after being held to a dramatic 2-2 draw at home by Salford City in front of a crowd of 1,514.

A dramatic last 10 minutes saw Darlington salvage a point from a game in which they were 2-0 behind to goals from Matty Purcell after 32 minutes and Stuart Cook on 57. Stephen Thompson on 84 minutes and David Dowson in stoppage time rescued the Quakers and they could have won it were it not for a series of saves by Ammies keeper Daniel Fradd.

Lancaster City ended the year on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Ossett Town at Giant Axe. Jordan Connerton's early fourth minute neat finish just inside the box gave City the lead before Ossett equalised through Ryan Qualter's header in first half injury-time. Mark Jackson tucked in a shot off the post from the edge of the box to regain the lead on 63 minutes.

Kendal Town`s top five challenge took a blow as they were beaten 3-1 at Station View by Harrogate Railway Athletic, who scored three times in three minutes midway through the first half to blow the Mintcakes away. Colin Hunter started the sequence after 23 minutes and was quickly followed by Nathan Cartman and a Hunter spot-kick. Maisom McGeechan did manage a consolation for Kendal six minutes from time.

Northwich Victoria suffered a miserable 3-2 home defeat to a Wakefield side who moved out of the bottom two as a consequence. Having halted a run of three successive defeats with a 3-0 win over Cammell Laird on Boxing Day, Vics found themselves 2-0 down to goals from Rob Bordman after 34 minutes and an own goal by keeper Tim Deasy on 64 minutes. They fought back to level through Marc Joseph on 75 minutes and Thomas Moore four minutes later, only for Ferdinand Annor to win it for the Bears four minutes from time.

Cammell Laird have been struggling in front of goal all season but on Saturday they had six different scorers as they hammered Radcliffe Borough on their own Stainton Park patch. A 17th minute own goal from James Mullineux set up the Blues and when Craig Cairns was brought down on the stroke of half-time for Jamie Henders to fire home from the spot, the visitors were on their way. Freddie Potter made it three with a header on 70 minutes and further goals from sub James Foley, Danny O'Brien and Joe Evans sealed a 6-0 win.

In Saturday's final two fixtures, Phil Bannister netted a hat-trick as Prescot Cables beat Padiham 3-0 at Valerie Park. Bannister's goals came in the 36th, 54th and 70th minutes. Michael Brown gave Burscough a 31st minute lead at Seel Park against Mossley AFC, who conceded a second from Luke Robinson with 18 minutes remaining as they went down 2-0 at home.