NCEL Match Review #65
10th April, 2009
The pressure has been kept up on the KoolSport NCEL Premier Division leaders Mickleover Sports with all three of the chasing pack winning in midweek.
Selby Town, Bridlington Town and Long Eaton United all claimed single-goal victories and will feel they still have a chance of taking the title.
Second-placed Selby move to within three points of Mickleover as Andrew Hart's 22nd minute penalty saw off visitors Armthorpe Welfare.
Bridlington are a further two points behind after their home victory over Winterton Rangers, Chibuzor Chilaka with the goal in the third minute.
Long Eaton United, who are fourth, stay four points adrift of Bridlington with a game in hand after Craig Mitchell nabbed a last-gasp winner at Hallam, just moments after his side had been reduced to ten men.
It was fifth against sixth at Eagle Valley and it was the higher placed hosts who came through.
Arnold Town won 2-1 against a Pickering Town side that lost their goalkeeper to injury early on and also had two men sent off.
All the goals came in the last ten minutes as Chris Freestone and Martin Carruthers put the hosts on the way to victory despite an injury time consolation from Chris Johnson.
In the race to avoid the bottom two, the two of the four sides involved that were in action in midweek both picked up vital wins.
Brodsworth Welfare moved four points clear of basement side Eccleshill United with a 2-1 win at home to Liversedge.
Paul Bracey and Lee Snodin had them two-up within the opening 23 minutes before Craig Sheridan pulled one back early in the second half for their mid-table visitors.
But, they were denied a chance to move out of the bottom two as the side just above them, Lincoln Moorlands Railway, won 3-1 at Hall Road Rangers.
Ben Garrick and Nick Robinson had given them a firm foothold in the game by the break and, although Lee Macklin pulled one back on 54 minutes, Tom Parker made sure of the win late on that keeps Railway three points clear of nineteenth.
Parkgate's hopes of a Presidents Cup place next season were hit hard as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Nostell Miners Welfare.
James Mitchell rescued them a point in the 89th minute after Craig Stephens had given the away side the lead on the hour.
Parkgate are now eight points away from a top ten finish with three games to play.
The Division One promotion race has taken a new twist with Rainworth Miners Welfare moving into the top two after a 2-1 win at home to Grimsby Borough.
The Wrens laboured for the victory and went behind through a David Unsworth opener in first-half injury time.
But, they rescued the match when Julian McDonald scored on 68 and Ant Lynam grabbed the winner with three minutes remaining to go above Askern Villa in the table on goal difference and with a game in hand.
Fourth-placed Staveley Miners Welfare continue to have an outside chance of snatching a top two finish as they won 3-1 at Teversal to stretch their unbeaten run to twenty games.
A Dean Short own goal and a Lee Gregory strike had them well ahead after just thirteen minutes and Spencer Goff added a third before half-time.
Teversal claimed a consolation through Colin Cockerill with eight minutes remaining.
Staveley are seven points behind Rainworth with a game in hand and the two sides meet this weekend at the Welfare Ground.
A Darren Wilson hat-trick saw Tadcaster Albion win 3-2 at Barton Town Old Boys with the home side's goals both coming from Gareth Barlow.
Appleby Frodingham picked up a 5-1 victory at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic with Ryan Hibbard and Lee Everitt netting two each.
Leeds Carnegie and Yorkshire Amateur played out a goalless draw at Throstle Nest and AFC Emley drew 1-1 at home to Hemsworth Miners Welfare.
And, three goals in the opening ten minutes helped Winterton Rangers claim a Semi-Final spot in the League Cup.
Greg Archer scored the first at home to Pickering Town before Lee Mohammed struck twice in a whirlwind start.
Chris Batchelor pulled one back before the quarter-hour mark but that is how it stayed until Luke Foulkes made sure of the victory with Winterton's fourth on 62 minutes.
Rangers now host Selby in the last four.