Saturday's First South action review

By David Watters

The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's First Division South title race took a twist on Saturday after a defeat for long-time leaders Shaw Lane AFC and a late win for second-placed Witton Albion, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Shaw Lane were beaten 3-1 at Christchurch Meadow by mid-table Belper Town, for whom Phil Watt after 43 minutes and Alex Steadman on 56 minutes had them two-up.

Gavin Allott pulled the visitors back into the game just past the hour-mark but a third from Ruben Wiggins-Thomas 20 minutes from time won it for the Nailers.

The Barnsley side still head the table by six points but Witton have two games in hand after edging a nervy 2-1 win at Butlin Road against a struggling Rugby Town side who had beaten the same opponents on their own patch last weekend.

Albion gained revenge with Steven Tames giving them a 21st minute lead that David Kolodynski cancelled out seven minutes later. Valley had Aaron Moses-Garvey dismissed on the hour-mark for violent conduct and Will Jones popped up with Witton`s winner three minutes from time.

The race for the play-offs looks now to be between Spalding United, Newcastle Town, Basford United, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Lincoln United after Leek Town suffered a fifth successive defeat to leave them floundering in eighth, five points adrift of the top five.

Leek`s latest defeat came at the hands of third-placed Spalding, who won 4-0 at Harrison Park, courtesy of first half goals from Bradley Wells, Nathan Whitehead, Jordan Lemon and Cenk Acar.

The Tulips are virtully assured of a top five finish as they now possess a ten-point cushion on sixth-placed Diamonds.

Newcastle lost ground as they went down 2-1 at Ashby Avenue to fellow contenders Lincoln United, a good day for the city seeing Rob Norris and Andy Robertson sandwich Dan Cocks` reply for Castle.

Basford were 2-1 up at the Oval against Bedworth United before an unfortunate own goal in stoppage time at the end of the game from Ashley Grayson saw the Nottinghamshire side drop two crucial points.

Earlier, Courey Grantham and Ben Hutchinson had cancelled out Elliot Parrott`s early sixth minute opener for the Greenbacks.

Diamonds suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Market Drayton Town to drop out of the top five.

An Andre James brace of penalties in the 50th and 54th minutes had the hosts in command. The visitors then had Callum Westwood sent-off before Nabil Shariff gave them a sniff of a chance with an 86th minute reply which, in the end, proved only a consolation.

The relegation places are down to the current bottom three to battle it out.

Now bottom-markers Loughborough Dynamo and second-bottom Northwich Victoria trail third-bottom Rugby by four points.

The Vics battled to a 1-0 home win over Carlton Town, thanks to a 17th minute Dave Short penalty, while Dynamo were edged out 3-2 at home by Stocksbridge Park Steels.

George Grayson and Joe Lumsden had Steels 2-0 ahead at the break. Louis Keenan reduced the deficit five minutes into the second half but Brodie Litchfield made it 3-1 with 17 minutes left. And although Sam Thorpe scored a second for the hosts, it came too late to make a difference.

Elsewhere, Reece Morris scored the only goal 17 minutes from time to see Gresley FC win 1-0 at the Zeeco Stadium against Stamford AFC, while Todd Evans, Ricky Hill and then Yohan Rutty-Smith were all on target for Romulus in a 3-0 win at Chasetown.

James Gregory put Sheffield FC ahead after eight minutes at Kidsgrove Athletic who fought back to win 2-1 thanks to Arron Johns after 41 minutes and Anthony Malbon 11 minutes from time.

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Where next?

Invite to tee off at inaugural event Ramsbottom United are looking forward to staging the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club's inaugural golf day.
Saturday's First North action review Lancaster City moved three points clear at the top of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's First Division North table on Saturday with 3-0 win at Radcliffe Borough, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

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