DAGNALL IS THE CELTIC WARRIOR
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC pulled off the bumper Boxing Day shock with a surprise 1-0 triumph at second-placed Hyde United thanks to a goal from Chris Dagnall.
The former Tranmere Rovers, Barnsley and Hibernian striker hit the only goal of the game at Ewen Fields with 11 minutes to play.
The result means South Shields are now three points clear at the top after a 4-2 home victory over Whitby Town in which Blair Adams scored twice.
Dillon Morse (21 minutes), Adams (42) and Tom Broadbent (45) gave Shields a 3-0 lead before Connor Simpson pulled one back four minutes after the break. Adams restored the three-goal advantage on 74 with Brad Fewster pulling one back with a minute to go.
Gainsborough Trinity, who were not in action, are now five points behind South Shields in third place.
FC United of Manchester are on the brink of the play-off places in sixth spot thanks to a 4-0 win over Ashton United. Their goals came from Regan Linney, Joe Rodwell-Grant, a Charlie Ellis penalty and Callum Gribbin.
Also well in the promotion push are seventh-placed Matlock Town, who thumped Belper Town 4-0 with a double for Eddie Church on 23 and 52 minutes, either side of Jordan Barnett’s second-minute opener and a penalty from Alex Byrne with 20 minutes to go.
A brace from Kaiman Anderson in the space of nine second-half minutes helped
Stafford Rangers push into the top half of the table with a 3-0 success against Nantwich Town in which James O’Neill scored Rangers’ opener.
Also 3-0 home winners were Guiseley who beat Atherton Colleries and they also had a double scorer in the shape of Callum Chippendale who followed up after George Smith had got the ball rolling.
Elsewhere, Lancaster City’s veteran midfielder David Norris snatched a 90th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw that dented the promotion hopes of Bamber Bridge. They netted first through a Sheldon Green goal.
There was deadlock between Warrington Town and Marine, two of the play-off contenders, as they drew 0-0 in the day’s other game.