Saturday's First North action review

By David Watters

Lancaster City`s lead at the top of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League First Division North table was cut to just three points on Saturday after the Dolly Blues suffered a 1-0 home defeat to second-placed Trafford, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

In front of a shivering crowd of 321 at the Giant Axe, the appropriately-named Alex Frost`s 23rd minute header at the far post from a free-kick proved to be the winner.

Ossett Town are level on points with Trafford after winning 3-0 at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds against second-bottom Goole AFC.

Recent loan signing from Harrogate Town, Marcus Day, bagged a brace for Town in the second and 81st minutes, with an Alex Peterson penalty in stoppage time rounding off victory.

Farsley Celtic are fourth, three points behind Ossett and Trafford but with games in hand.

They won 3-2 at in-form Colne to extend their winning run to four matches. Adam Clayton`s 31st minute opener for Celtic was immediately pegged back by Mark Ayres for the hosts.

Top scorer James Walshaw then restored Celtic`s lead two minutes before the break, only for the Lancastrians to respond quickly again, levelling three minutes after half-time through Oliver Wood. But a second for Walshaw with nine minutes remaining won it for the visitors.

Glossop North End remain fifth, despite their game being off, because sixth-placed Scarborough Athletic and seventh-placed Clitheroe both failed to win.

Boro were held to a 1-1 derby draw at eighth-placed Brighouse Town, whose Devonte Morton eventually cancelled out Billy Logan`s 27th minute opener for the visitors with less than two minutes to go.

Clitheroe, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw at Shawbridge by mid-table Kendal Town.

At the opposite end of the table, it`s looking bleak for bottom side Burscough, who are ten points adrift of the safety-mark after losing 4-1 at the Butcher`s Arms to Droylsden.

The Bloods only led 1-0 at half-time, courtesy of Stephen Hall`s 39th minute effort but, after Reece McNally had equalised 10 minutes into the second half, goals from Domaine Rouse three minutes later and a Tom Peers brace on 82 and 89 minutes sealed the Bloods` victory.

Third-bottom Prescot Cables picked up a useful point from a 1-1 draw at Ewen Fields against Hyde United, whose Matty Beadle equalised five minutes from time after Lloyd Dean had given Cables a 14th minute lead.

Elsewhere, Ossett Albion won 2-1 at home to Mossley AFC, thanks to goals from Adam Muller after just seven minutes and Ross Hardaker just before the break – Tom Pratt replying on 64 minutes.

Ramsbottom United leap-frogged Colwyn Bay into tenth spot after winning 2-1 at Llanelian Road with goals from Ryan Salmon after 71 minutes and then Josh Askew in stoppage time – Louis Corrigan having equalised in the 82nd minute.

And Bamber Bridge won 2-0 at Irongate against Radcliffe Borough, courtesy of Jordan Southworth after 19 minutes and Aaron Fleming 11 minutes into the second half.

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Where next?

Scarr completes his dream move Stourbridge's Daniel Scarr has completed his dream move from the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League to Championship giants Birmingham City.
Saturday's Premier Division action review Blyth Spartans remained six points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division table following a 7-1 hammering of Mickleover Sports on their own patch, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

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