City of Liverpool 1 - 2 Newcastle Town (Staffordshire)
Attendance: 248
Newcastle Town travelled to Liverpool for their first game in two weeks and came away with all three points to put them within touching distance of the play-offs. The Castle made a bright start, with forward Jacob Lovatt opening the scoring after just two minutes with his sixth league goal of the campaign. City of Liverpool defender Adam Hughes equalised in the 35th minute but they were level for only four minutes as former Crewe Alexandra full-back Kyle Stubbs completed the scoring in the 39th minute. Newcastle Town goalkeeper Joseph Slinn was sent off, but his side held on to claim their third away win of the season which lifted them to 10th place and just one point behind Runcorn Linnets in 5th. The defeat leaves City of Liverpool in 17th, only one point above an automatic relegation place.
Clitheroe (Lancashire) 0 – 1 Runcorn Linnets (Cheshire)
Attendance: 658
Clitheroe lost ground in the promotion race and surrendered their spot in the play-offs to Cheshire rivals Runcorn Linnets who came away from Shawbridge with all three points after a feisty 1-0 win which saw both sides reduced to 10 men. Striker and Runcorn Linnets assistant manager Jamie Rainford scored the only goal of the game, turning in from a cross after 73 minutes. Clitheroe’s Danny Wilkins and Runcorn’s Ryan Brooke were both sent off within minutes of each other for separate incidents around the hour mark. The result was Clitheroe’s third home defeat of the season, and Runcorn’s third away win. Runcorn leapt from 7th to 5th, taking Clitheroe’s play-off place in the process, while the Lancashire side fell to 8th and are now one point behind Runcorn Linnets.
Colne (Lancashire) 1 - 1 Bootle (Merseyside)
Attendance: 270
Bootle ended a run of five straight defeats with a hard-fought draw at relegation rivals Colne. The Merseysiders led for most of the game with forward Jack McGowan opening the scoring after 19 minutes. Defender Ben Roberts was sent off for Bootle just after an hour, and his side were unable to hang on to claim all three points as attacking midfielder Craig Carney equalised for Colne in the 80th minute, with neither side able to find a winner. Colne stay 18th but the point prevented them from slipping into the bottom two with Widnes winning while Bootle rise to 15th, two points and two places above Merseyside rivals City of Liverpool occupying the last relegation play-off place.
Glossop North End (Derbyshire) 0 – 3 Workington AFC (Cumbria)
Attendance: 293
It was a worthwhile 300-mile round trip for Workington as they bounced back from their heavy midweek defeat to Macclesfield with a comfortable 3-0 win at Glossop North End who are now without a home win in over a month. Everton academy graduate Bobby Carroll opened the scoring after 26 minutes and defensive midfielder David Symington doubled the lead in the 61st minute, before substitute Steven Rigg sealed the win five minutes from time. With wins for all the teams around them, Workington stay 4th, while Glossop slip to 12th, three points and seven places off the play-offs.
Hanley Town (Staffordshire) 1 - 2 Trafford
Attendance: 104
Trafford continued their run of following up every defeat with a win stretching back to September with a 2-1 win at Hanley Town following their midweek defeat by Leek Town. Hanley Town came into the game looking to make it three wins in a row and took the lead through midfielder Kyle Blake after 32 minutes. Alex Morris was sent off for the Staffordshire side in the 54th minute and from then their fortunes changed. Trafford were awarded a penalty three minutes later which was converted by Jack Dorney, and former Stockport attacking midfielder Sajjad Elhassan won the game for Trafford in the 77th minute. The result moves Trafford up to 7th and only outside the play-offs on goal difference. Hanley Town stay 14th, a precarious three points above City of Liverpool in the last relegation play-off place.
Kidsgrove Athletic (Staffordshire) 2 - 0 Prescot Cables (Merseyside)
Attendance: 212
Kidsgrove Athletic made it three wins from four as they leapfrogged their opponents and moved up to 6th place now only outside the play-offs on goal difference. Defender Oliver Jepson opened the scoring after 26 minutes with striker Kieran Brown doubling the lead just before half time. A disappointing day for Prescot Cables was compounded when they were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after Liam Hollett received a straight red card. Kidsgrove Athletic’s third win in four games moves them up five places to 6th while Prescot Cables slip to 11th after their defeat to a side they did the double over last season.
Macclesfield (Cheshire) 1-0 Skelmersdale United (Lancashire)
Attendance: 3,308
Macclesfield manager Danny Whitaker made it two wins from two as his side overcame Skelmersdale at Moss Rose and kept four points between themselves and 2nd placed Leek Town. NPL West top scorer James Berry scored the game’s only goal in the 31st minute, his eighth of the campaign. The result ended Skelmersdale’s three-game winning run and means the Lancashire side slip to 13th, but they are still only three points off Runcorn Linnets in 5th and the final play-off place. Macclesfield have now won six home games this season, more than any other side in the division.
Mossley (Greater Manchester) 3 - 0 1874 Northwich (Cheshire)
Attendance: 474
1874 Northwich made it two defeats in two as Mossley kept their grip on 3rd place with a comfortable win at Seel Park. Central midfielder Mason Fawns opened the scoring for Mossley after just 13 minutes, and Jordan Butterworth doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half. Fawns completed his brace in the 90th minute, taking his tally in the league this season to an impressive seven making him the second top scorer overall. 1874 Northwich slip to 9th a point behind Runcorn Linnets in 5th, while Mossley are two points behind Leek Town in 2nd, but have played a game more.
Widnes (Cheshire) 3 – 1 Ramsbottom Utd (Lancashire)
Attendance: 127
Widnes leapfrogged Ramsbottom to leave their Lancashire opponents bottom of the table with a vital win at the DCBL stadium. Defender Tom Stephens opened the scoring after just four minutes and new signing Steven Irwin scored his first goal for the club on the stroke of half time. Ramsbottom were reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute when Lee Neville received his second card, but pulled one back in the 73rd minute through Oscar Radcliffe, though could not find another. Substitute Luke Sephton sealed the win for Widnes nine minutes from time to lift his side off the bottom of the table and confine their Lancashire rivals to their fourth defeat in a row and the ignominy of last place.
Witton Albion (Cheshire) 1 - 2 Leek Town (Staffordshire)
Attendance: 460
Leek Town continued their scintillating recent form and extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with victory over Witton Albion. Defensive midfielder Jordan Barrow gave Witton Albion the lead after 23 minutes, and the Cheshire side held the lead until half-time. However, it was only 2 minutes into the restart when Leek Town equalised through long-serving striker Tim Grice. Defender Oliver Harrison completed the turnaround in the 67th minute as Leek Town claimed their fourth win in a row. Leek Town stay second and 4 points behind leaders Macclesfield while Witton Albion, who were competing in the Northern Premier League last season, drop to 16th, just one point and one place above City of Liverpool in the final relegation play-off spot.
