Saturday's First Division North review

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's First Division North lost four of its matches on Saturday but leaders Warrington Town took advantage of Curzon Ashton's surprise home defeat to move three points clear at the top of the table, writes Pitcheros Steve Whitney.

The Wire beat Padiham 4-2 at the Arbories, taking a 31st minute lead through Ciaran Kilheeney and then doubling that through Richard Wright a minute before the break.

Kilheeney's penalty eight minutes into the second half extended the lead to three, but the Storks mounted a comeback to reduce the deficit with goals from Kieron Pickup a minute later and then Louis Mayers on 77 minutes. But Kilheeney completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute to make sure for Warrington.

Ossett Town travelled to the Tameside Stadium to take on a Curzon Ashton side who had won their previous seven outings. However, Ossett were in decent form themselves, having won nine from thirteen in all competitions.

Ossett struggled playing into the wind before the break with keeper Sam Dobbs only just clearing the halfway line with some kicks but started the second half well. The opening goal finally came on 53 minutes when a cross beat everyone but Town's Stephen Wakefield who had the easiest of tasks to fire home on his full debut.

Things got even better for Town and Wakefield six minutes later when he spotted keeper Hakan Burton out of position and he shot from 30 yards. He looked to have pulled the shot wide but Burton, who was stretching to reach it, only succeeded in pushing it into his own goal.

Farsley AFC are now second but will be disappointed to have shared the spoils at a wild and windy Throstle Nest.

They went into the game unbeaten in fourteen games and went 1-0 up on 13 minutes when Lee Ellington tucked the ball home from the edge of the area. Just before the half-hour mark Northwich equalised through Ashley Stott. And Vics took the lead on 35 minutes when a long range shot was parried and fell to Stott, who tapped home to score his second of the afternoon, despite a valiant attempt to clear it off the line.

With 19 minutes to go Adam Priestley scored Farsley’s equaliser when he received the ball in the box and fired into the bottom corner. In the end neither side could force a winner and both teams had to settle for a point.

Darlington 1883 passed also maintained their winning run in testing conditions at Parkside against Kendal Town.

The game passed a mid-morning pitch inspection, but was played in dreadful conditions with a freezing temperatures, horizontal rain and a strong wind, yet the Quakers battled back from going a goal down to win 5-1.

It was 1-1 at the break with Amar Purewal equalising Warren Beattie`s 16th minute penalty in the 30th minute. But second half goals by Stephen Thompson on 71 minutes, Jordan Robinson on 80 and two from Dale Hopson in the final four minutes completed the rout – Darlington`s tenth win in eleven games.

Lancaster City could have moved into the top five with a victory at Moor Lane against Salford City, but were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat.

That was despite taking a first-minute lead through Mark Jackson. Mark Battersby equalised from the spot on 26 minutes and then he scored what proved to be the Ammies` winner five minutes from time.

It was a similar story for Ramsbottom United, who could also have taken their place in the play-off spots, but were beaten 2-1 at Cammell Laird.

Jamie Henders gave the home side the lead a minute before the break. Gary Stoporth levelled five minutes into the second half, only for Lairds to restore their lead three minutes later through Craig Cairns – a lead they held.

Elsewhere, Mossley AFC earned a 1-0 win at Valerie Park against Prescot Cables, thanks to a 35th minute Tom Pratt effort.