The Non-League Football Paper

PONTEFRACT KEEP LEADERS IN SIGHT

Collieries stay in Morpeth’s rear-view mirror

- By Thomas Williams

PONTEFRACT Collieries made the most of Morpeth Town’s lack of action as a 6-2 hammering of Carlton Town helped them keep pressure on the East Division leaders. Morpeth’s clash with Pickering Town fell victim to the weather and the onus was on Collieries to close the gap at the top to eight points.

They did so sumptuousl­y, scoring four before the break, despite going behind early on.

Long throws caused early danger for them and Carlton made them pay just two minutes in, Tyler Blake opening the scoring with a header.

That was emphatical­ly eclipsed before the break, Jack Greenhough’s cross floating all the way in before the same man turned provider for Gavin Rothery two minutes later.

Greenhough scored yet another effort from out wide, before Chris Jackson’s double and Nick Guest’s goal wrapped up proceeding­s.

Pontefract weren’t the only high-fliers to prevail, with all the play-off contenders victorious by the end of the day.

Among them were thirdplace­d Brighouse Town, who put mid-table Lincoln United to the sword with a 4-0 win.

Zeph Thomas’ 20-yard thunderbol­t made it 1-0 before the break, with the game put to bed 12 minutes from time when Aaron Martin rolled the ball home.

Late goals from Iwan Heeley and Tom Robinson added gloss to proceeding­s for Brig’s 17th win this campaign.

Joining them on 17 victories were Tadcaster Albion, 3-0 victors at home to Spalding

United – despite being held 0-0 at the break. The deadlock was broken on the hour, Aiden Savory curling in from 12 yards, before the same man swept home soon after.

They weren’t done as Joe Lumsden had the simple task of tapping home his 22nd goal of the season from a perfectlye­xecuted short corner.

Ossett United are back in the play-offs after making the most of Sheffield dropping points, leapfroggi­ng them into sixth with a 3-1 win over Frickley . Adam Priestley, an own goal from Adam Liversidge and Aiden Chippendal­e were on the mark for Ossett, with Ousman Cham replying for Frickley on his debut.

Goals from Karl Demidh, on the stroke of half-time, and Ryan Robbins with 17 minutes to go gave Loughborou­gh

Dynamo a 2-0 victory over visiting Belper Town at the ADT Stadium.

Belper’s best moments came in the opening half and they retained hopes of a point until Robbins sealed matters.

Dynamo are now just four points behind their rivals in mid-table.

Bottom-side Gresley have had little to cheer this season, but they were certainly celebratin­g on Saturday, picking up just a seventh win of the season

with a 2-1 success over Wisbech.

All three goals came in the first half, Matt Smith and Devante Reittie grabbing the vital scores to narrow the gap to Stocksbrid­ge Park Steels to just one point.

With just two games possible in the West division, Atherton

Collieries’ lead at the top remains at four points, with each of the top four teams having played 30 games.

 ?? PICTURE: Ian Charles ?? WEATHER STOPS PLAY: The elements saw Atherton Collieries’ title charge put on hold
PICTURE: Ian Charles WEATHER STOPS PLAY: The elements saw Atherton Collieries’ title charge put on hold

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