By Steven Oldham Cover photo: MKS Photo (Barnton vs Stockport Town)
Stockport Town grabbed a winner in injury time at Barnton in the North West Counties First Division South - and closed the gap to leaders Brocton, who were beaten by play-off contenders Droylsden.
As the game reached the closing stages, Town looked to have dropped two points after Dan McLaughlin's first half opener was cancelled out by Josh Maris' effort a minute from time. However, top scorer McLaughlin wasn't to be denied, and netted his 20th of the season five minutes after the 90.
Brocton had started well, with Regan Smith opening the scoring for The Badgers after 11 minutes - a lead they took into the break. However, Nellson Van levelled the game within 10 minutes of the restart, and the winner came from Fuad Kasali as the game reached the 80 minute mark.
READ MORE: North West Counties: Sandbach United win First Division South thriller
The Bloods duly bounced back from consecutive defeats, and sit well-placed with games in hand in sixth position.
It's a fifth win in seven for Paul Turnbull's Lions, and Brocton's defeat allowed the gap at the top to close to the narrowest it has been in some time. It must be said that Brocton still have a game in hand and remain in pole position for the title, but two wins in their last five have allowed their rivals to close in.
Sandbach United turned up the pressure in the second half and ended up thrashing Market Drayton Town 6-2. The Gingerbreads had taken an early lead through George Burslem after just three minutes, but Kieran Alley's equaliser took the sides in level at the break.
Declan Swan's side came out fighting in the second half, with substitute George Kattah putting The Ramblers ahead within a couple of minutes of the restart. Seydou Bamba pulled the game level again once more just after the hour, but this would be as good as it got for the beleagured home side.
Kattah would add a second and third to complete his hat-trick to take his season's tally to 13. Harry Payne added a fifth in the final minute, and Alley took a second of the day in injury time.
It's a third straight win for Sandbach, but Market Drayton have lost ten on the bounce - and last tasted victory in October.
Cheadle Heath Nomads picked up a 4-0 victory at Stafford Town - mirroring their heavy win in their last game out. Two goals in each half gave Paul Fay's side a victory that lifted them above their opponents into the top half.
Jack Ryan opened the scoring for Nomads, while Dan Lewis doubled their advantage on the half hour. Lewis added a second after the break to take him into double figures for the season, and Sherriff Njie rounded out the scoring on 76 minutes.
Winsford United ended their six game winless run with a 3-1 victory at Maine Road. Ross Aikenhead got the game off to a bang for the visitors, opening the scoring after two minutes, and he doubled the lead with a penalty before the break.
Emanuel Roche rounded out the scoring for the visitors, before Youssef Belattar netted an injury-time consolation for the hosts.
Eccleshall returned to winning ways with a 2-1 home victory over bottom club New Mills. Daniel Shelley opened the scoring and gave the hosts the half-time lead, with Kyle Diskin adding the winner midway through the second half.
Sam Deering pulled one back for The Millers, but it wasn't to be for the Derbyshire side, who ended the game with ten men following Darius Photiou's red card.
Alsager Town are up to eighth after a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Ashville in a topsy-turvy game at Wood Park. The visitors took the lead took the lead after five minutes through Tom Davies, but Ryan Jackson's equaliser on the half hour was quickly followed by Jordan Cobley's sixth of the season.
Jack Parry's leveller before the break looked to have sealed a point for the visitors, but The Bullets wrapped up a third win in four thanks to Elliott Coleman in the final minute. Ashville remain just outside the bottom three.
Finally, Abbey Hulton United and Stockport Georgians couldn't be separated after a 2-2 draw. Substitute Charlie Milczarek-Grocott rescued a point for Hulton, after two Joe Collins goals had cancelled out Matt Davies' opener.
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