Step 4 round-up: Saturday 1 April

Macclesfield were crowned champions of the Pitching In NPL West Division after a 3-1 victory at home to Trafford.

Goals from Dan Sweeney, Alex Curran and Neil Kengni, coupled with second-placed Leek Town’s 1-0 defeat at Clitheroe, mathematically confirmed the Silkmen’s status at the top of the division.

It proved to be a day of mixed fortunes for the other teams near the top, as Workington fell to a late 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Widnes.

Runcorn Linnets edged Kidsgrove Athletic 1-0, while Witton Albion ramped up the pressure on their fellow play-off contenders with an enthralling 5-3 victory over Skelmersdale United.

Further down the division, it was a difficult day for Ramsbottom United, whose relegation from the NPL West Division was confirmed after a 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Colne.

Relegation ends the Rams’ 11-season stay in the Northern Premier League, two of which were spent in the Premier Division.

In the NPL East Division, a Liam Hughes hat-trick helped champions Worksop Town to a 4-1 victory at home to play-off-chasing Hebburn Town.

Second-placed Stockton Town were the big winners of the day as they routed Tadcaster Albion 5-0 at Bishopton Road West.

With Duston not in action after their game against Grimsby Borough was postponed, the teams above them cemented their play-off positions as Long Eaton United and Stocksbridge Park Steels both collected three points at home.

In the NPL Midlands Division, Stamford continued their charge towards the title as a Jonathan Margetts double helped them to a 4-0 victory over St Neots Town.

They are nine points clear of second-placed Halesowen Town with four games remaining.

Elsewhere, Daventry Town were on the receiving end of yet another heavy scoreline, with Sporting Khalsa claiming a 7-0 win to consolidate their spot in the top five.

A late Brad Roly goal helped Spalding United to a point away at fellow promotion chasers Boldmere St Michaels, while already-relegated Yaxley picked up just their sixth point of the campaign after a goalless draw at home to Hinckley.

Results - NPL East Division

Consett AFC 3-0 Sheffield
Lincoln United 1-1 Ossett United
Long Eaton United 4-1 Shildon
North Shields 1-2 Bridlington
Stocksbridge Park Steels 5-0 Tadcaster Albion
Workshop Town 4-1 Hebburn Town

Results - NPL West Division

City of Liverpool 0-1 Prescot Cables
Clitheroe 1-0 Leek Town
Colne 2-1 Ramsbottom United
Glossop North End 4-1 Newcastle Town
Hanley Town 4-0 1874 Northwich
Kidsgrove Athletic 0-1 Runcorn Linnets
Macclesfield 3-1 Trafford
Mossley 1-0 Bootle
Widnes 1-0 Workington AFC
Witton Albion 5-3 Skelmersdale United

Results - NPL Midlands Division

Bedworth United 1-1 Shepshed Dynamo
Boldmere St Michaels 1-1 Spalding United
Chasetown 2-0 Dereham Town
Corby Town 2-2 Gresley Rovers
Daventry Town 0-7 Sporting Khalsa
Halesowen Town 2-0 Coleshill Town
Harborough Town 2-1 Sutton Coldfield Town
Loughborough Dynamo 1-1 Cambridge City
Stamford 4-0 St Neots Town
Yaxley 0-0 Hinckley

Photo credit: Darren Murphy