MILLERS FACE THE MORPETH WRATH

MORPETH Town were the big winners of the day as they became solitary leaders at the top of the table.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side notched up their fifth straight league win as they demolished

Carlton Town 4-0 after a rampant second-half display at Craik Park.

Having been frustrated for over an hour the home side broke the deadlock when Iulian Petrache converted from Ben Sayer’s cross, capping off a man-of-thematch display.

Sean Taylor soon put the game beyond doubt with 15 minutes left and then substitute Joe Walton allowed the floodgates to open late on, netting Morpeth’s third from the penalty spot before setting up Liam Henderson to score in stoppage time.

Morpeth’s victory saw them displace Ossett

United as league leaders after John Chidlaw’s men were held to a 1-1 draw at home to winless Spalding United.

The match at Ingfield started at a frantic pace with neither side settling for the first quarter of an hour, but eventually United began to exert some pressure and after 18 minutes it was they who struck first.

Marko Basic did some good work on the edge of the Spalding box and put in a good cross which was missed by a couple of players, and as the ball was put back in a shot was deflected past visiting keeper Michael Duggan by Adam Priestley, who grabbed his fifth goal of the season in the process.

The remainder of the opening period was fairly even as chances were kept to a premium, but Spalding came out invigorated after the break and within three minutes they had been awarded a penalty, which Leon Mettam duly converted.

United had Chris Rawlinson’s men defending desperately thereafter and went close to restoring their lead on several occasions, with Tom Corner and Joe Wilkinson both striking the woodwork for the home side, but Spalding held strong to add yet another draw to their collection – their sixth in seven league games so far this season – and frustrate the erstwhile table-toppers.

Ossett were not the only high-flying side to suffer a surprise setback, though, as nine-man Pontefract Collieries also lost ground at the top by going down 2-1 at home to Tadcaster.

The visitors were determined to put a run of four defeats in five games in all competitions behind them and they opened the scoring through Lamin Colley on the half-hour mark, after home keeper Ryan Musslewhite parried out Billy Whitehouse’s effort into space.

It was the first goal Pontefract had conceded in over 200 minutes of football in the league and their response to falling behind was less than encouraging, Craig Parry and Craig Rouse’s side gradually lost their cool in a feisty second half.

Captain Jamie Williams received a straight red card on the hour mark for an aggressive foul on Whitehouse, moments after he had been booked for a coming together with Tadcaster goalscorer Colley.

With ten minutes left the visitors doubled their lead as Aiden Savory fired in a sublime volley, before Michael Dunn pulled one back for Pontefract and then saw red to be sent for an early bath in stoppage time.

The other game of the afternoon saw Belper

Town emerge victorious from a basement battle away to Pickering

Town, with goals from Alex Peterson, Craig Nelthorpe and Tyler Johal securing a comprehensive 3-0 success.