Saturday's North Division action review

The top sides were all in action, with the game of the day being at Ewen Fields where leaders Hyde United hosted fourth-placed Bamber Bridge.

The Tigers were looking to bounce back following the unexpected defeat at Ossett Albion last Tuesday and Brig also needed to push for maximum points after their home draw to Droylsden on the same night.

The result was a nervy opening 45 minutes with both teams looking well below the sides who have played so well through the majority of the season.

But in front of a crowd of 437, Luke Porritt gave the hosts a 17th minute lead that Ali Waddecar cancelled out six minutes before the break. Hyde took the lead again with what proved to be the winner on 66 minutes when a corner from Janni Lipka was headed home off the inside of the post by Tyrone Gay.

South Shields remain favourites for the title though and are two points behind Hyde with three games in hand after winning 3-1 at mid-table Glossop North End.

Carl Finnigan gave the visitors a great start with the opening goal inside two minutes. Ben Richardson pulled the Hillmen level on the half-hour mark, only for Jamie Holmes to restore Shields` lead two minutes later. Robbie Briggs made sure the points went north-east with a 53rd minute third.

Scarborough Athletic`s challenge took a massive blow after being beaten 2-0 at the Flamingo Lane Stadium by Colwyn Bay, who are now ninth and just four points off a top six spot with games in hand.

In front of an extremely chilly crowd of 784 on the North Yorkshire coast, Elliott Rokka broke the deadlock to give Bay a 53rd minute lead that Jack Hindle doubled 18 minutes from time.

The result leaves Boro the title outsiders, seven points adrift of Hyde, although they do possess two games in hand on them and have played only one more game than South Shields.

Prescot Cables` excellent run continued with a 3-1 success at the Butcher`s Arms against Droylsden and they look virtually certain to keep hold a play-off spot, being ten points in front of current seventh-placed side Tadcaster Albion.

Chris Almond gave Cables an 11th minute lead that Valter Fernandes` 42nd minute own goal cancelled out. Another own goal, this time by the Bloods` Shaquille Antoine-Clarke, restored the visitors` lead with 20 minuets to go, and Josh Klein-Davies made sure with a third a minute from time.

Trafford now hold the final top six spot after defeats for Clitheroe and the team the Greater Manchester side beat, Tadcaster.

A goal from Danny Frost just shy of the hour-mark sealed Trafford's win, while Clitheroe became the latest side to suffer at the hands of a resurgent Ossett Albion side, who followed up their midweek win over Hyde by beating the Lancastrians 3-0 at Dimple Wells.

And again it was Gibraltar international Adam Priestley who did the damage with a brace in the 11th and then 86th minutes – the second from the penalty spot – Marcus Day adding a third two minutes later.

Bottom side Goole AFC remain seven points behind now second-bottom Brighouse after losing 3-0 at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium to Ramsbottom United, for whom Greg Daniels from the spot after 19 minutes, Phil Dean just before half-time and Zehn Mohammed a minute from the end, were the marksmen.

Radcliffe FC still require a few points to be safe after going down 2-0 at Stainton Park to Atherton Collieries, for whom this was a tenth game unbeaten, courtesy of goals from Jordan Cover in the fifth and 70th minutes.

The same can be said for Skelmersdale United but they did manage to beat Colne 2-0 with Scott Bakkor bagging a brace in the 38th and 44th minutes.

Elsewhere, Sam Staunton-Turner`s 34th minute effort proved enough for Kendal Town to take all three points at Parkside against Ossett Town.

Image courtesy of Jamie Holmes/nonleague.pitchero.com