WITTON Albion missed out on an opportunity to take over top spot in the Northern Premier League when they went down at Coalville on Saturday.

Steve Towers scored a decisive goal for the Ravens after Rob Hopley had cancelled out Tom McGlinchey’s opener before the break.

It marks a first defeat away from home for Carl Macauley’s men this season.

Fortunes were mixed for mid Cheshire sides in the North West Counties League.

Barnton let slip a two-goal lead at City of Liverpool, where James McShane and Jack Woolley both scored inside the opening 20 minutes.

However the Purps rallied to level before the break and second-half goals from Karl Noon and John McGrath sealed a 4-2 win.

Northwich Victoria included three new signings in their starting line-up for a 3-2 reverse at home to Bootle.

In-form Brian Matthews’ ninth goal of the campaign for Vics replied to Daniel Murphy’s initial strike for the Bucks, only for Steve Jones and Ben Hodkinson to put the visitors out of reach.

Substitute Olly Walker also netted for Paul Moore’s men at Townfield.

Winsford United rise to fourth in the table following a 2-0 win at home to AFC Darwen.

Callam Gardner’s penalty was added to by James Rothwell’s goal after an hour.

Elsewhere Rudheath Social exited the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup following a 3-1 defeat at West Cheshire League side Capenhurst Villa.

Middlewich Town suffered only a second defeat of the campaign in Cheshire League One when they succumbed to West Didsbury & Chorlton’s reserves at Seddon Street.

James Dean netted Lostock Gralam’s goal in a 1-1 draw with Mersey Valley in the same section.

Moore completed a double over Cuddington in League Two, following a 9-4 win last month with a 3-0 success at Norley Road.

Here is a rundown of results from matches played in competitions including mid Cheshire teams:

Northern Premier League

Premier Division: Coalville 2-1 Witton; Farsley Celtic 3-1 Halesowen; Matlock 2-2 Marine; Whitby 2-2 Sutton Coldfield; Workington 1-0 Hednesford

North West Counties League

Premier Division: Abbey Hey 3-3 AFC Liverpool; Burscough 2-2 Congleton; City of Liverpool 4-2 Barnton (at Bootle FC); Irlam 1-1 Barnoldswick; Northwich Victoria 2-3 Bootle (at Barnton FC); Runcorn Linnets 3-0 Maine Road; West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-4 Runcorn Town; Winsford 2-0 AFC Darwen

Cheshire FA Amateur Cup

First round: Altrincham res 3-1 Helsby; Blacon 1-2 Congleton Vale; Capenhurst 3-1 Rudheath Social; Cheadle res 4-3 Wilmslow Albion; Egerton 5-1 Grappenhall; Princes Villa 0-6 Warrington res; Stockport Georgians w/o Ellesmere Port; Unicorn 4-1 Govan; Vauxhall Motors 2-1 Jolly Butcher

Cheshire League

Premier Division: Billinge 2-4 Poynton; Crewe FC 2-0 Linotype; Denton 3-1 Knutsford; Rylands 1-1 Whaley Bridge; Wythenshawe 2-0 Ashton Town

League One: AFC Macclesfield 2-1 Daten; Lostock Gralam 1-1 Mersey Valley; Middlewich 0-3 West Didsbury & Chorlton res; Styal 5-1 Golborne

League Two: Broadheath Central 16-0 St Helens res; Cuddington 0-3 Moore; Ford Motors 3-0 Buxton res; Maine Road res 1-4 Sandbach Utd res; Winstanley 2-2 Orford

Reserves Division: Daten 8-3 Vulcan; FC St Helens 1-2 Rylands; Knutsford A 6-3 Denton; Linotype 1-5 Eagle; Moore 5-1 Billinge; Orford 3-1 Styal; Pilkington 4-0 Greenalls PSO; Poynton 1-6 Garswood

Crewe and District League

Premier Division: Club AZ 11-1 Sandbach Curshaws; Sandbach Town 0-4 Madeley White Star; Tarvin 2-4 Mary Dendy