WITTON Albion closed to within a point of the table’s summit after coming from behind to beat Chasetown.
Brad Bauress scored a decisive goal, his 24th of the campaign, to help Carl Macauley’s men record a fourth successive win in the Northern Premier League’s Division One South.
They had taken the lead through Rob Hopley, only for the Scholars to reply through Liam Holt and then Jack Langston in front of the biggest crowd to watch a match at Wincham Park since the turn of the year.
Substitute Karl Noon levelled shortly after the interval before Bauress secured maximum points.
Leaders Shaw Lane trailed 2-0 with eight minutes left against Bedworth, but recovered to draw.
At the bottom, Northwich Victoria suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign when they went down 6-1 at promotion play-offs hopefuls AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
1874 Northwich were denied a victory at home to title-chasing Bootle when Liam Loughin’s penalty cancelled out Sam Hare’s opener.
Elsewhere, Barnton have failed now to win any of their past five North West Counties League fixtures following a narrow 2-1 reverse at in-form Irlam.
Rudheath continue to hover above the Cheshire League Premier Division’s relegation zone after losing at Eagle, while Middlewich Town put five goals without reply past visiting Egerton in League One.
Holders Winsford Saxons are through to the Crewe and District League’s AJ Cooke Cup final after brushing aside Tarporley reserves at Knights Grange.
Perry Bircumshaw and Terry Cain both bagged braces in a 6-0 win.
Here’s a full classified rundown of scores from the respective competition mid Cheshire teams play in:
Saturday
Northern Premier League
Division One South: AFC Rushden & Diamonds 6-1 Northwich Victoria; Basford 7-1 Belper; Carlton 1-0 Market Drayton; Gresley 1-3 Lincoln Utd; Leek 3-1 Stamford; Newcastle 1-0 Rugby; Romulus 3-1 Kidsgrove; Shaw Lane 2-2 Bedworth; Stocksbridge 2-0 Spalding; Witton 3-2 Chasetown.
North West Counties League
Premier Division: 1874 Northwich 1-1 Bootle; Atherton Colls 0-1 Runcorn Linnets; Barnoldswick 2-1 Hanley; Congleton 0-1 Ashton Ath; Irlam 2-1 Barnton; Padiham 4-2 New Mills; Runcorn Town 1-0 Nelson.
Cheshire League
Premier Division: Altrincham res 4-0 Greenalls PSO; Eagle 3-1 Rudheath; Garswood 0-2 Denton; Malpas 0-4 Knutsford; Styal 1-1 Congleton Vale; Whaley Bridge 3-2 Poynton; Wythenshawe 1-1 Rylands.
League One: AFC Macclesfield 1-3 FC St Helens; Daten 0-2 Billinge; Halebank 1-3 Warrington res; Lostock 0-2 Mersey Valley; Middlewich 5-0 Egerton; West Didsbury res 2-1 Pilkington.
League Two: Barnton res 2-2 Winstanley; Sandbach Utd res 1-4 Windle Labour.
Crewe and District League
Premier Division: Barnton Wanderers 2-3 Over 3 Grange; Mary Dendy 3-2 Winsford res; Sandbach Town 0-2 Tarvin.
AJ Cooke Cup
Semi final: Winsford Saxons 6-0 Tarporley res.
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