Barnton 1 Crosfields 1

BARNTON improved their position at the top of the Mid Cheshire League, despite a disappointing performance and a poor game.

Kevin Towey hit a post early on and then he and new signing Craig Marshall went close. Crosfields had their fair share of possession but never really tested Richie Mottram in the home goal.

The second half did not shine either. Both sides were guilty of poor passing and there was a lack of service to the front men. Towey shot over when clean through and the visitors missed an opportunity to take the lead when the ball went past Mottram's post. The home side thought they had clinched victory with 15 minutes left when Marshall smashed home a Gerry Coll pass.

But in injury time Barnton lost concentration at a throw-in and the ball was quickly in the net.

Rylands 2 Middlewich Town 1: Middlewich dominated the first half and were the better side for much of the second, but failed to kill Rylands off.

The price they paid was to fall a further point behind Barnton instead of returning to the top.

In the first 20 minutes all the Middlewich goalkeeper did was take two goal-kicks.

At the other end Joey Roberts opened the scoring, but other chances were spurned.

Middlewich played with commitment, but they were undone by two Simpson errors - one a poor clearance returned straight into the unguarded net and the other when he was easily beaten to a through ball.

But far more mistakes were made by Middlewich forwards.

Witton Albion Res 1 Warrington Borough 0: Senior squad men Ryan Baker and Dave Tickle, club manager Dave Finley and ex-first-teamer Simon Hughes all played for Witton.

Finley quit with a calf strain and ran his eye over former Manchester City starlet Adrian Orr and Andy Parkinson, from Conwy United, who were both given debuts to make them eligible for the President's Cup.

The only goal, well-worked, came in the 14th minute. A corner-kick on the right by Parkinson was helped on its way into the centre of the goal area by Tickle's astute header and Gavin Smith superbly came through the pack of defenders to head home his 14th goal since joining Albion in October.

LOSTOCK Gralam were beaten 3-0 at home by Maine Road Res. In the Reserves Division MIDDLEWICH maintained their challenge, beating Pilkington 1-0.

Saturday: One - Middlewich v Daten; President's Cup - Garswood Res v Middlewich Res, Barnton v Golborne,

Winnington Avenue kept alive their hopes for the Crewe & District League title with a 2-1 home win over Bentleys, courtesy of goals by Chris White and Steve O'Malley.

Avenue Res did well to record a thrilling 4-4 draw at Sandbach, where their marksmen were Steve Pickett (2), Gary Nelson and Mike Bunby.

Saturday's games include: Kershaw's v Avenue, Avenue Res v Bunbury, Winsford IPC v Bentley.

Sir John Deane's College thrashed South Cheshire 7-0.

Matthew Clement, John Paul Podvoiskis (2), Will Ellis (2), Adam Munroe and man-of-the-match Steven Gibson were on the mark.