Wednesday's First Division South action review

By David Watters

Stafford Rangers received a massive boost to their EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's First Division South title hopes when second-placed Shaw Lane Aquaforce were held to a 3-3 draw by Goole AFC on Wednesday night, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The game, quickly re-arranged after being postponed 24 hours earlier, started well enough for the title-chasers when on-loan striker James Walshaw gave them an early ninth minute lead.

But Nick Guest equalised four minutes later for a Vikings` side who have hit some decent form of late. Jonathan Wafula restored the hosts` advantage on the half-hour mark and it looked all over for the visitors when Walshaw converted a penalty eight minutes later to make it 3-1.

But Goole, who held third-placed Coalville Town to a 0-0 draw last weekend, pulled a second back through Sam Colbear just past the hour-mark.

The Vikings then shocked the majority in the crowd when Guest popped up with his second of the night to earn them a share of the spoils and leave Shaw Lane six points behind Stafford with three games to go, compared to Rangers` two.

Wednesday`s other game saw Kidsgrove Athletic come from behind to beat Carlton Town 4-1 at Stoke Lane.

The Millers had taken the lead when Matthew Newton fired into the top corner on 17 minutes. But Grove were level within a minute when Nick Wellecome took advantage of hesitation in the Carlton defence to equalise.

Kidsgrove took command in the second period, with Jordan Johnson making it 2-1 on 49 minutes before Anthony Malbon hit a quick-fire brace on 58 and 66 minutes to secure a comfortable 4-1 outcome to move to fourteenth in the table.

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