Weir lifts Blues with winner at the death

LEEK

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DELIGHT: Leek Town's Ndene and Stafford celebrate after Weir (background) scored a late winner. Picture: Jim Booth

Town climbed out of the relegation zone in the Northern Premier League's top division thanks to a late winner that gave them a 2-1 home win over Cleethorpes Town.Cleethorpes’s Josh Walker had a shot blocked and Jimmy Bullen headed over as a prelude to them taking a 27th minute lead.

Former Crewe Alex midfielder Callum Ainley did well before playing a through ball to Walker and he took it round Dino Visser before slotting it home.

The Blues hit back when Belgian striker Tunde Owolabi had a good run and shot which was blocked by ‘keeper Ollie Battersby and they drew level two minutes before the break. It was Owolabi again, with another run, that time ending with a curling shot into the far corner.

Leek were on the front foot in the second half and Battersby saved well from Louis Potts and Adam Porter. In time added on, Leek won it when debutant Jack Stafford played the ball through to Lucas Weir and he fired a shot across Battersby that went in off the far post to the delight of the home faithful.

In the West Division, NANTWICH TOWN won the Cheshire derby 2-0 at CONGLETON TOWN.

The Dabbers went close in the third minute when Byron Harrison forced a good save out of Dave Parton but they did score a controversial goal five minutes later. The ball came over and Harrison netted with a towering header for his 50th goal for the club despite Congleton’s player manager Richard Duffy being down with a head injury.

Bears then had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag. Ebou Badjie shot wide before Nantwich’s leading scorer Alex Panter rounded Parton, but his angled shot was cleared off the line by Matty Lay.