MIDDLEWICH Town’s wait to celebrate another victory in the top-flight continues after they were held by lowly Malpas last weekend.

Skipper Jamie Petrie put the Witches in front with a header on 11 minutes before Geoff Basford diverted a cross into his own goal to gift to the home team a leveller midway through the second-half.

It extends to eight matches a run without collecting maximum points from a Premier Division encounter.

“We had a frustrating afternoon and only seemed to show any urgency after Malpas equalised,” said co-manager Michael Welch.

“The tempo we played at in the final 15 minutes is what we need from the start of games.”

Lostock Gralam’s relentless pursuit of League One leaders Broadheath Central continued when they racked up a 12th successive win.

James Dean’s 20th goal of the campaign set them on a course to a 5-1 win against Winstanley Warriors at Park Stadium.

In-form Charlie Hatton doubled the Grey Lambs’ lead before Elliot Morris replied for the visitors.

Alex Wilson restored a two-goal lead before Hatton then put his side out of reach.

Substitute James Burrington completed the scoring for his side late on.

Lostock are now three points adrift of Broadheath with two games in hand.

Cuddington survived a scare before securing a spot in the Northern Cup last eight at the expense of Gidlow Athletic.

Joe Lanceley wasted no time returning to getting his campaign back on track following a five-match ban when he put the visitors in front.

Their hosts from the Wigan and District Amateur League’s first division levelled before Lewis Barlow steered in at the back post from a corner for Cuddy.

Lanceley’s volley made it 3-1 before Tom Duncalf scored either side of the interval, the first a curling effort from the edge of the box, to add to their lead.

Gidlow then scored three times in quick succession, punishing sloppy defending and jolting the Northwich side into action again.

Lanceley completed his hat-trick before substitute Max Linaker made it 7-4.

Middlewich Town reserves bowed out following a 2-1 defeat at home to Collegiate Old Boys.

Performance of the week

Lostock Gralam

The Grey Lambs show no sign of slowing down, and a hammering of fifth-placed Winstanley reinforces a message to their rivals that they are serious contenders to be promoted to the Premier Division as champions.

It was a good day for…

Joe Lanceley (Cuddington)

The big front man marked his return from a suspension by scoring a hat-trick for his side to help them through to the last eight of the Northern Cup – a competition they won last season.

In numbers

Middlewich have failed to win any of their past eight Premier Division matches, a sequence that started on November 17

What they said

“Ours was a big result on Saturday that will have some sides worried about us.”

Dean Jones

Co-manager, Lostock Gralam

Results

Saturday, January 19

Cheshire League

Premier Division: Daten 2-2 Pilkington; Denton 2-2 Eagle; Egerton 2-4 Crewe; Greenalls PSO 3-3 Altrincham res; Knutsford 1-2 Poynton; Malpas 1-1 Middlewich.

League One: Ford Motors 2-2 Orford; Garswood 1-1 Buxton res; Grappenhall 2-2 Golborne; Halebank 2-2 Windle Labour; Lostock Gralam 5-1 Winstanley; Styal 0-1 Moore.

League Two: Cheadle Town res 4-3 Maine Road res; Club AZ 2-0 Rylands res; Sandbach Utd res 0-4 Cheadle Heath Nomads res; St Helens Town res 3-5 Ashton Ath res.

Reserves Division: Eagle 7-0 Greenalls PSO; Moore 1-4 Daten; Vulcan 4-3 Billinge; Winstanley 2-1 Pilkington.

Northern Cup

Third Round: Christleton Argyle 3-7 Orford res; Gidlow Ath 4-7 Cuddington; Leigh Rangers 5-3 Holmes Chapel; Middlewich res 1-2 Collegiate Old Boys; Poynton res 3-1 Market Drayton Tigers.

Crewe and District League

Premier Division: Barnton Wanderers 7-0 Winnington Ave; Clock Tower 4-2 Over 3 Grange; Mary Dendy 1-2 Madeley White Star; Sandbach Town 1-3 Winsford Saxons.