ALBION Sports have shot to the summit of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, after winning their top-of-the table clash against Penistone Church 3-0 on Friday night at Horsfall.
The visitors were the leaders heading into the game, but they had suffered a setback when losing 3-2 at Thackley three days earlier, and knew Albion would overtake them if they lost in Bradford for the second time in a week.
Albion went into this encounter off the back of a fine 3-1 win at Parkgate, but they almost fell behind early on against Penistone, as Jordan Coduri flashed an effort narrowly wide.
And the visitors continued to dominate in the early stages, hitting the post following a well-worked free-kick routine between Nathan Keightley and Leon Hurles-Brook.
Albion stopper Jordan Porter was then forced into a good save from Kieran Ryan, so it was completely against the run of play when Nathan Cartman put the hosts in front.
The Bradford side had hit the post moments before that goal, so they had built up some momentum, and they were the better side for the rest of a first half that saw few more chances.
In a quiet second half, Albion had a couple of half-chances, Ferdinand Moke striking just wide and an audacious Paul Walker effort forcing a good save from Penistone stopper Adam Lawlor.
The visitors had their moments too, but struggled to produce anything clearcut, and Lewis Waddington sealed Albion’s victory on 87 minutes.
He pounced on a loose ball, skinned his defender and slid the ball beyond Lawlor into the net.
And Albion put the icing on the cake in second half stoppage time, as Cartman slotted home his second goal of the evening.
Eccleshill United spent much of last season fighting relegation, but they moved into the top half on Saturday with an eye-catching 6-1 home win over rock-bottom Goole.
Zack Sangster opened the scoring early on, before Talent Ndlovu netted a brace to put the Eagles in control at half-time.
Second half goals from Idris Atta, Hass Gorji and Jahro Parchment sealed a comprehensive win for Lee Elam’s men, Harry Spooner grabbing a late consolation for the visitors.
Silsden went fourth after two goals from Kayle Price in the final five minutes sealed a thrilling 3-2 comeback win at home to Knaresborough Town.
And that result saw Thackley drop to fifth, after they lost 1-0 at Pickering Town following an afternoon of injury and travel disruption.
At the other end of the table, Campion, who do have several games in hand, moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 home victory over Handsworth.
Over in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, Route One Rovers remain stuck in the relegation zone, a red card for Kamran Khan and a sin-binning for Anees Younis proving costly in their 3-0 home defeat to Atherton LR.
Steeton are still just three points clear of the drop, after their 3-2 defeat at Darwen on Saturday.
In the Northern Premier League East Division, struggling Brighouse Town conceded twice early on in a 2-0 defeat to Heaton Stannington, and later had Isaac Acquah sent off for two bookable offences.
Liversedge slipped to ninth, but happily salvaged a 2-2 draw at Carlton Town thanks to a last-gasp Alfie Raw penalty.
Guiseley bowed out of the FA Trophy, losing their third qualifying round tie 1-0 at home to Bamber Bridge.
Finally, mid-table Farsley Celtic ground out a goalless draw at Chester in National League North, the hosts having a man sent off at the death.
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