JACK Woolley’s second goal of the season settled the ‘derby’ between play-offs rivals 1874 Northwich and Winsford United on Saturday afternoon.
1874’s former Blues forward converted a 17th-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 success at Townfield in the Midland League Premier Division.
The 32-year-old’s winner came after Liam Fitzpatrick was brought down in the box, sealing back-to-back wins against top-six opponents while subjecting Winsford United to their first defeat in 10 league matches.
Mike Hayes was prevented from adding a second for the hosts in added time when his effort at the back post was saved by Jacob Kirwan.
The visiting keeper also made a fine double save to deny Shaun Weaver and Sekouba Camara in the 51st minute, while also being the equal to Jack Woolley’s hooked volley three minutes later.
The closest Winsford came to an equaliser was through a glancing Elliott Coleman header late on but keeper Jack Atkinson got down well to make the save.
1874 stay third in the tight promotion race, five points inside the all-important top five, while Blues are sixth but with three games in hand on the sides placed second to fifth with the chance to go third if they win their catch-up matches.
A poor Northwich Victoria display at fourth-placed AFC Wolverhampton City may have ended their title hopes in the same division.
The 1-0 loss has seen them fall to second place, three points behind Hanley Town who also have a game in hand.
They had Harry Davis sent off for a second bookable offence in the 67th minute and soon after were down to nine men as Will Lloyd was sent to the sin bin.
Vics were already a goal down at that point, conceding a rocket of a volley by Freddie Cockerell in the 28th minute at the Prestige Midlands Arena.
With this loss, the Trickies have only taken three points from their last four matches handing the championship momentum to Hanley, who were 5-2 winners at fellow promotion chasers Brocton.
Meanwhile, Witton Albion’s four-match winning run in the Northern Premier League West was ended in agonising fashion by Shifnal Town.
Ben Harrison’s side twice held one-goal leads thanks to Joe Duckworth (29mins) and Freddy Garbutt (65mins) finding the net.
But substitute Elliott Durrell scored twice in four minutes in injury team to earn his side their first away win of the year.
It was the other way round for Barnton who scored a late winner at Foley Meir.
Harry Watson hit the mark in the 87th minute to nail a 2-1 success after James Sigsworth had earlier cancelled out Foley’s opener.
