Evo Stik Division One South
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1-0 Belper Town
Adam Priestley scored the vital goal for Shaw Lane after Oscar Radford’s (left) effort was saved.
The heat is firmly on Stafford Rangers after Shaw Lane Aquaforce capitalised on a rare defeat for the runaway leaders.
Adam Priestley got the only goal of Aquaforce’s win in Barnsley – a victory that was made even sweeter with the news that Stafford had lost at Chasetown. Aquaforce, now 16 matches unbeaten can now overtake if they win their three games in hand.
The decisive strike came with ten minutes remaining of the first half. Belper gave Aquaforce too much respect on the left-side and Oscar Radford cut them open after a neat inter-change with Jono Wafula. Radford strode into the penalty area and sent a powerful strike towards Belper goalkeeper Danny Haystead. The stopper parried it clear, but only as far as the waiting Priestley, who headed home.
Belper finished with ten men as substitute Phil Watt saw red after being the orchestrator in a string of altercations in short succession.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Morgan, Stohrer, Radford, Potts, Meynell, Dempsey, Priestley, Thornhill, Walshaw, Bennett, Wafula. Subs: Edwards, A Davidson, Hands, P Davidson, Hall.