DABBERS ARE HELD AT HOME, BUT INCREASE THEIR LEAD AT TOP OF THE PREMIER DIVISION
NANTWICH Town extended their lead at the top of the Evo-stik League Premier Division to three points despite being held to a goalless draw by South Shields at the Weaver Stadium. Closest rivals Scarborough Athletic were beaten for the second consecutive week, this time at 2-0 at home to Hyde United. Robert Briggs had a shot deflected wide as South Shields pressed in difficult conditions, but then the Dabbers had the perfect chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute. Joe Mwasile played the ball through to Callum Saunders, but he was brought down in the box by keeper Liam Connell. Danny Glover blazed the spotkick high over the bar though, the second game running that Nantwich have missed a penalty. Carl Finnigan fired wide for Shields and then Louis Barnes curled a freekick just wide for Nantwich. In the 62nd minute Sean Cooke hit a shot from 30 yards that forced Connell into a good save, but in the end both sides cancelled each other out. STAFFORD RANGERS picked up a point from their 2-2 draw at Stalybridge Celtic, but it could so easily have been a whole lot better had they been able to hold on to a 2-0 lead. Theo Bailey-jones put Stafford 1-0 up in the 12th minute and when Luke Jones made it 2-0 on 57 minutes, it looked game over. However, Stalybridge came battling back and Andrew Scott made it 2-1 in the 72nd-minute and Neil Kengni completed the comeback with an equaliser in the 90th-minute, lobbing the ball over the head of Stafford keeper George Sykes-kenworthy from 25 yards. In the Evo-stik West Division, KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC are still seeking their first win in the league at home since August following a 2-0 reverse against Ramsbottom United. The visitors went in front in the 32nd minute. Nic Evangelinos beat three men in a mazy run down the right before having a shot that Dominic Kurasik parried, but Jamie Rainford was on hand to score from the rebound. Four minutes later it was 2-0 when Rainford scored with a rocket shot from 30 yards. After the break Grove came close to pulling a goal back when substitute Will Saxon hit a shot that was well saved by Sam Ashton. Grove fought hard but were unable to break down the Ramsbottom defence. LEEK TOWN’S home game with Colwyn Bay was abandoned after just 16 minutes with the pitch waterlogged and the scoreline goalless. Heavy rain began 20 minutes before kick-off and although playable at the start, the pitch soon had standing water in many areas and after a consultation with the two managers the referee decided to call proceedings to a halt. NEWCASTLE TOWN’S trip to Atherton Collieries was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch an hour before kickoff. It had passed an earlier inspection but the rain became incessant.
PHIL SHERWIN