WHILE Witton Albion returned to winning ways, the twists and turns in the Midland League Premier Division title race continued in windswept conditions on Saturday.
Northwich Victoria returned to the top of their table thanks to their 6-0 hammering of bottom side Studley, with Hanley Town dropping to second due to their 3-2 home loss to fellow promotions rivals AFC Wolverhampton City.
Hanley do still have a game in hand which will be played on Tuesday night when they visit Stourport Swifts.
Winning by six goals has given Vics a plus-seven goal advantage, which could yet prove pivotal as the season draws to a close.
Will Bentley, a local lad who came through the Vics youth teams after starting out in the under sevens, marked his full debut with two goals (24, 41mins).
Sean Cooke also bagged a brace (34, 82) and A-Jay Leitch-Smith completed the scoring for Lee Duckworth’s team, which featured numerous changes, in added time.
The victory ended a ropey spell of four games without a win for title-chasing Vics, who return to action at home to Dudley Town on Saturday before the ‘derby’ at 1874 Northwich on Easter Monday in the penultimate game of the league campaign.
1874 Northwich stayed third, seven points behind the top two, thanks to a 1-0 home success against Romulus.
They were grateful to Dale Jennings’ 87th-minute strike for all three points.
A corner came in and not properly cleared after an aerial scramble which allowed Jennings to find a hole through a crowded penalty box to drill low and hard past the keeper’s outstretched leg.
Only moments earlier Mike Hayes was denied a spectacular winner when a brilliant save stopped his volley finding the net, but it did produce the corner from which Chris Herbert’s side were finally rewarded.
Jacson Coppack hit the post with a wonder strike late in the first half in another close call.
1874 head to Coton Green on Saturday before playing their final home game of the season against Vics on Easter Monday.
Winsford United maintained their claims for a play-off place with a 2-0 home victory over Stone Old Alleynians.
Niza Chilufya marked his return from injury in impactful fashion.
Almost immediately after coming off the bench in place of Matty Birchall, the striker put Blues in front in the 72nd minute.
Winger Ollie McDonough put the win beyond doubt eight minutes later.
The win keeps Winsford fifth but they will climb to third if they win the first of their two games in hand when they visit eighth-placed Abbey Hulton United on Monday night – the first of four successive away games.
They could have a big say in the title race on Saturday when they visit Hanley Town, and then on Easter Monday they go to Whitchurch Alport.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Witton Albion bounced back from their disappointing last-gasp 3-2 home defeat to Shifnal Town with a 3-0 success at Darlaston Town.
All three goals came in the first half courtesy of Alfie Bairstow (9), Joe Duckworth (19) and Freddy Garbutt (42).
Dammy Sotona had a goal ruled out for a questionable offside decision.
They sit 10th in the table with games to come against Stalybridge at home on Good Friday and then away to Nantwich on Easter Monday.
In the North West Counties First Division South, Barnton were beaten 4-2 at high-flying New Mills.
James Flight’s goal cut the gap to 3-1 shortly before the interval.
Joel Hind’s 75th-minute effort proved only to be a consolation.
The Villagers, ninth on the ladder, host Shawbury United on Saturday and then travel to Runcorn Town on Easter Monday.
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