Express & Star

Non-League Round-Up: Chasetown claim local bragging rights to climb into the play-off spots

Chasetown climbed into the Northern Premier League Division One West play-off spots with a 2-1 victory over local rivals Stafford Rangers at the Scholars Ground.

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Luke Yates capitalised on a loose back pass before rounding Rangers goalkeeper Cameron Belford to tap into an empty net inside 18 minutes. 

Yates turned provider as Chasetown doubled their advantage on 28 minutes when his cross was turned home by George Cater to score his 50th goal for the club. 

Dan Cockerline halved the deficit four minutes before the break but Chasetown secured a third league win on the spin to move into fifth.

Kidderminster Harriers strengthened their grip on fourth-place in the National League North by making it back-to-back wins with a 1-0 triumph over Farsley Celtic at Aggborough. 

Ben Beresford took less than a minute to mark his appearance from the bench with the decider seven minutes after the restart. Farsley goalkeeper Kieran Flavell spilled Amari Morgan-Smith's cross and Beresford ghosted in at the back post to head home on the line. 

That extended Kidderminster's unbeaten run to six league games (four wins, two draws) and kept them to within four points of league leaders Chorley who they have a game in hand over. 

Rushall Olympic sunk to the bottom of the National League North after falling to a fourth defeat in five games. 

Matt Sargent opened the scoring for Radcliffe in the first half before Danny King equalised nine minutes after the interval. 

Lois Maynard restored the hosts' lead within three minutes and Brad Roscoe sealed a 3-1 win for Radcliffe with a third late on to leave the Pics seven points adrift of safety.

Stourbridge returned to winning ways with a thumping 4-0 victory over Lowestoft Town to propel themselves into fourth-place.

Dom Lewis headed Stourbridge ahead on 24 minutes and Alex Bradley doubled Stourbridge's lead in the 37th minute.

Jessy Bavanganga added a third just after the hour-mark and Jack Fletcher completed the rout 11 minutes from time with a fourth. 

Stourbridge boss Liam McDonald said: "There were some good team goals today and I would have taken 4-0 at the start of play after we flattered to deceive at times last week.

"Ethan (Mcleod) gave us a fresh pair of young legs as we' wait for players to come back and he fitted in well straight away on the right today.

"We worked hard to get home and he had a good debut but I thought as a team we were excellent today."

Hednesford Town ended a run of back-to-back defeats in the Northern Premier League Division One West with a 2-1 win at Newcastle Town. 

Daniel Trickett-Smith fired Hednesford into the lead after 17 minutes before Jack Bearne doubled their advantage on 58 minutes. 

Tim Grice pulled one back for Newcastle in stoppage time but Hednesford secured a first win in four games to climb four points clear of the drop zone. 

Halesowen collected a fourth win on the spin with a 3-1 triumph over AFC Sudbury to climb into second spot in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

The Yeltz fell behind when Joe Neal opened the scoring for Sudbury after 10 minutes but in-form Jordan Ponticelli levelled the contest nine minutes before half-time.

Kieran Donnelly eventually propelled Halesowen into the lead with his 14th goal of the season eight minutes from time and Ponticelli bagged his brace deep into stoppage time to send his side level on points with league leaders Kettering Town.

Donnelly was shown a red card in the aftermath of Halesowen's third goal and was sent off from the bench.

Lye Town's struggles continued as they fell to a fifth straight defeat with a 1-0 loss at Shepshed Dynamo in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands.

Kyle Dixon scored the only goal from the spot in the 82nd minute to leave Lye sat at the foot of the table. 

Darlaston Town slipped to six-place as they were condemned to a second loss in three league games with a 3-1 defeat at Bedworth United. 

Kieran Cook fired Darlaston into the lead on 65 minutes only for Desean Martin to haul Bedworth level just two minutes later. Leo Stone gave Bedworth the lead 16 minutes from time and Elliott Parrott doubled their advantage late on.

Sporting Khalsa were handed only their third defeat of the season as they lost 1-0 at Boldmere St Michaels. 

Liam Murphy scored an 80th-minute winner for Boldmere St Michaels although Khalsa remain in fourth-place despite suffering a second defeat in three games.