Express & Star

Midland Premier Division leaders Lichfield City move 13 points clear

Midland Premier Division leaders Lichfield City extended their lead at the top to 13 points after beating Northwich Victoria 3-0 at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium. 

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James Spiers opened the scoring for Lichfield just past the quarter-hour mark before James Willock doubled their lead four minutes later. 

Callum Griffin added a third eight minutes after the break to secure a third successive win and extend their unbeaten run to 12 league games (winning 10, drawing twice). 

Lichfield sit 13 points clear of Shifnal Town in second spot although the Shropshire outfit boast three games in hand. 

Third-place Brocton missed out on the chance to leapfrog Shifnal into second after succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at midtable Stourport Swifts. 

Joseph Philips put the Swifts in front after just two minutes but Ben Haddaway equalised for Brocton six minutes before half-time. 

Connor Deards restored Stourport's lead midway into the second half and Matthew Harland sealed the win by doubling their advantage two minutes from time. 

Lichfield's James Wilcock (L) celebrates his goal with Jamie Spiers (R). (Image by Jim Wall)
Lichfield's James Wilcock (L) celebrates his goal with Jamie Spiers (R). (Image by Jim Wall)

Tividale romped to a 5-1 success over Wolverhampton Casuals to climb out of the relegation zone with back-to-back wins. 

Jordan Sangha completed his hat-trick inside 49 minutes to put Tividale on course for a handsome victory, before goals from Alfie Higgs and Ryan Piggott completed the rout, with James Downing scoring a consolation for the Casuals. 

Reece Morris bagged a brace and Lesley Omorodion also got on the score sheet for OJM Black County as they eased to a 3-0 victory n their midtable tussle at Stone Old Alleynians. 

In Division One, Cradley Town remain three points clear in the final play-off spot after goals from Jordan Crump, Callum Powell and Traevay Wright secured a 3-1 win at strugglers Chelmsley Town. 

At the other end of the table, Wednesfield are as good as relegated after falling to a 3-0 defeat at Sutton United, their sixth defeat in a row. 

Smethwick Rangers failed to close the gap on the top five after losing 1-0 at second-place Heather St John's while fellow play-off contenders Bilston Town drew 2-2 at home to Birstall United. 

Callum Griffin scores.
Callum Griffin scores.

Elsewhere, Gornal Athletic remain in 15th spot after losing 3-1 at third-place Coton Green. 

Stafford Town suffered a shock 5-1 home defeat against Runcorn Town to fall six points behind North West Division One South leaders Winsford United. 

Jamie Apperley and Matthew Vickers both bagged braces for Runcorn and Daniel Clark completed the scoring after Mitchell Glover had scored a consolation for Stafford.

Eccleshall came from two goals behind to snatch a point at Winsford in dramatic style with Jacob Vernon scoring a dramatic 95th-minute equaliser. 

Winsford went ahead through an own goal before the break and Ethan Coleman doubled their advantage immediately after the restart. 

Liam Hallam halved the deficit five minutes later and Vernon scored at the death to send them to within one-point of the play-off spots.

Bewdley Town lost 5-4 on penalties after drawing 2-2 at Ludlow Town in the Marsh Challenge Cup fourth round, with Ben Espley and Marcio Adonis scoring for Bewdley.