ALBION Sports won Friday night’s hotly-anticipated derby at Campion, doing so in dramatic fashion.
With the sides locked level at 1-1 in injury-time at Scotchman Road, the in-form Ellis Wade crashed home a stunning back-post volley to ensure all three points for the visitors.
Aidan Day came close early on for Campion, only to be kept out by Albion stopper Jordan Porter, before the visitors had a couple of chances at the other end.
Porter then made another decent save from a header, which proved crucial as his side took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sumaili Cisse ran on to a brilliant threaded pass through the Campion backline, and he kept his composure to slot the ball past Ed Wilczynski to put Albion in front.
The middle third of the game was a bruising affair, with few chances for either side, before it exploded back into life with 20 minutes to go.
Campion levelled the game when captain Aidan Kirby headed the ball home at the back post.
A silly sin-binning for Albion in the aftermath looked to have left them in trouble, but they held out for 10 minutes with 10 men, before stunning Campion at the death.
Wade was free at the back stick as he met the floated ball in, but he pulled off a difficult technique with apparent ease, slamming his volley in at the near post past the despairing dive of Wilczynski.
The 2-1 win leaves Albion fifth in the table, in the final play-off spot, three points clear of sixth-placed Hallam, who beat Eccleshill United 3-2 on Saturday.
Thackley had dropped below Albion after that result, but they moved back above them by a point the following day.
The Dennyboys left it late themselves, having gone 1-0 down to visiting Tadcaster Albion in the first half.
Antony Brown tapped home Finn Donovan’s devilish low cross to draw the hosts level 10 minutes after the break, but it looked as if they would have to settle for a point.
But the excellent Donovan was brought down in the box in injury-time, allowing Thackley captain Ben Grech-Brooksbank to score the winner from the penalty spot.
Those 2-1 wins for both Thackley and Albion were crucial, as they try and keep pace with Silsden, who lead the table by five points currently.
The Cobbydalers scored early on through Jack Stockdill at Parkgate on Saturday, but the hosts equalised on 51 minutes and then Silsden had Harry Coates sin-binned.
But Kayle Price put the 10-men back in front, and once they were back up to their full complement, Casey Stewart and Luke Brooksbank secured a 4-1 victory for the visitors.
Neighbours Steeton battled gamely at home to a strong Droylsden side in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, but eventually fell to a 3-0 defeat.
They are now just three points above the drop zone after Bradford District rivals Route One Rovers got just their third league victory of the season, winning 5-3 at Maghull.
The prolific Zak Khan is back at the club from Campion, and he scored on Saturday in his first game since returning.
In the Northern Premier League East Division, struggling Liversedge were winning 2-1 at home late on against high-flying Stocksbridge Park Steels despite defender Jack Crook having been in goal since Jake Oram’s red card midway through the first half.
But the visitors levelled the game at the death to break Sedge’s hearts.
It was a better result than Brighouse got, with lowly Town losing 1-0 at home to North Ferriby.
Guiseley came agonisingly close to a seismic FA Cup shock at League One Stevenage.
The Northern Premier League Premier Division side scored a late equaliser through Will Longbottom, to the delight of injured team-mate Lucas Odunston on commentary, to take the game to extra-time and penalties.
When you don't make the matchday squad so you're on commentary instead 😅
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 2, 2024
This reaction from Guiseley's Lucas Odunston is everything! ❤️#FACup #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/cxd6ws9rSS
Poor Lebrun Mbeka missed the spot kick that would have put Guiseley through, and instead Stevenage won the shootout 5-4.
Finally, in National League North, Farsley lost 2-0 in their ‘home game’ with Darlington in Buxton.
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