NCEL Match Review #58
15th March, 2009
A slip-up on-the-road by Mickleover Sports was seized upon by their title rivals as the race for the Premier Division crown gathers pace.
Sports needed an injury-time penalty from Dan Martin to claim a point in 2-2 draw at Winterton Rangers.
That was after they had taken the lead on the hour through Dave Middleditch but were quickly pegged back by a David Watson equaliser and then a second for Winterton on 84 minutes from Jonathan Plant.
Second-placed Selby Town closed the gap to nine points with two games in hand with a 1-0 win at home to Thackley.
Leigh Wood grabbed the only goal of the game on 16 minutes whilst Selby had to play for the last half-hour with ten men after Andrew Hart received his second yellow card.
Long Eaton United, who are third, are one point further behind but have played three fewer matches than Sports.
They kept in touch with a 5-0 hammering of Lincoln Moorlands Railway.
All the goals came in a twenty-one minute period at the start of the second half with Paul Gamble, Kevin Mabon, Paolo Piliero, Lee Sutton and Jared Holmes getting on the scoresheet.
Railway drop to the bottom of the table after that defeat as Eccleshill United made it three wins out of five to climb off the foot of the Premier Division for the first time this season.
They beat Dinnington Town 4-1 at home to claim their first double and only their fourth win of the season.
Andy Howland struck twice just prior to half-time before Gavin Allott pulled one back for Dinno at the start of the second period.
Tom Didd and Lee Cornforth, however, made sure of the priceless victory and top flight survival, that seemed impossible a month ago, is in Eccleshill's sights once more.
They are now three points away from eighteenth-placed Shirebrook Town with two games in hand after the Derbyshire side lost 1-0 at Nostell Miners Welfare.
Danny Highley grabbed the goal for Nostell in the 25th minute.
Shirebrook drop into the bottom three after Brodsworth Welfare's 4-1 home win over Hall Road Rangers.
Liam Wilkin struck twice whilst Jake Stanard and Jordon Shephard found the net before Rangers grabbed a last-minute consolation from Phil Jackman.
Meanwhile, back at the top end of the table, Bridlington Town consolidated fourth place as Craig Palmer's 86th-minute goal earned them a 1-0 win at Maltby Main.
They are now four points clear of Pickering Town and Arnold Town who both dropped points.
Daniel Sloane claimed Arnold a 1-1 draw at home to Armthorpe Welfare, his 61st minute strike cancelling out a Gary Jones goal for the visitors in the opening seconds of the game at Eagle Valley.
And, Pickering Town lost 3-0 at home to Hallam who climb to ninth thanks to a James Tevendale double and a goal from Gavin Hunter.
Parkgate move up to twelfth after a 3-1 win over visitors Liversedge.
All of the top three sides in Division One won to keep Scarborough Athletic's promotion party on hold.
The runaway leaders swept past visitors Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, 5-0, but Rainworth Miners Welfare's victory at home to Hemsworth Miners Welfare kept the champagne on ice.
But, Athletic know that a win at Barton Town Old Boys on Tuesday night will confirm their Premier Division place for next season.
Graham Botham opened the scoring for them against Worsbrough on twelve minutes but they had to wait until the second half to add to it.
James Waltham struck the second on 50 minutes before an Andy Darby own goal and a late double from Paul Routledge on his debut ensured the win.
Askern Villa stay 12 points behind them after their 2-0 win at Yorkshire Amateur, Curtis Walker and Michael Evans with the goals.
And, third-placed Rainworth stay a further ten points back as Mark Smith, Brendan Sweeney, Ant Lynam and Matt Draper gave them a 4-1 victory over Hemsworth.
The promotion hopes of Pontefract Collieries and AFC Emley took a blow as both lost at home, 2-0 to Teversal and 4-0 to Staveley Miners Welfare, respectively.
Brighouse Town won 3-1 at home to Tadcaster Albion whilst Rossington Main were 2-0 victors at Appleby Frodingham.
And, Glasshoughton Welfare drew 1-1 at Grimsby Borough, a result that confirms that Welfare will finish bottom of the table.