CAPTAIN George Horan headed the game’s only goal to help season-long leaders Chester FC to win their head-to-head with challengers Skelmersdale United, writes Tom Snee.
It leaves Blues 12-points clear of their closest rivals.
None of the teams who occupied a play-offs place at the start of the day picked up maximum points.
Kevin Townson scored five minutes from time to earn AFC Fylde a point at fellow hopefuls Curzon Ashton, who had led through Chris McDonagh’s eighth-minute penalty.
Elsewhere Chorley slumped to a crushing 3-0 defeat at home to top five outsiders Warrington Town.
Bamber Bridge overcame struggling Radcliffe Borough to keep alive their slim hopes of sneaking into the play-offs.
Below them Witton Albion owed a debt of thanks to top scorer Andy Kinsey as he scored to rescue a point at home to improving Woodley Sports The visitors had scored twice in the space of a minute to cancel out Ben Harrison’s first half opener.
At the bottom of the table, the division’s smallest crowd of the day watched Cammell Laird play out a stalemate with wooden spoonists Leigh Genesis.
Ossett Albion climbed off the foot of the standings after winning 3-2 at Harrogate Railway Athletic.
Durham City’s resurgence continued too with a fine 4-1 win at Wakefield.
Garforth Town defeated out-of-sorts Mossley, while Salford City shared the spoils with Lancaster City after surrendering a two-goals lead.
Honours were even between Prescot Cables and Trafford too.
Evo-Stik League Division One North
Saturday March 5
Bamber Bridge 2 Radcliffe Borough 1
Cammell Laird 0 Leigh Genesis 0
Chorley 0 Warrington Town 3
Curzon Ashton 1 AFC Fylde 1
Garforth Town 2 Mossley 1
Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Ossett Albion 3
Prescot Cables 2 Trafford 2
Salford City 2 Lancaster City 2
Skelmersdale United 0 Chester FC 1
Wakefield 1 Durham City 4
Witton Albion 2 Woodley Sports 2
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