Five-star Town on track with Howarth treble
Dave Howarth bagged his second hat-trick of the season as FC Oswestry Town got back on track in the Hallmark North West Counties League division one south with a 5-2 victory away to Barnton.
It was a big improvement from Town whose clinical finishing gave them the edge in an encounter between two committed sides, and they now move up to 10th in the table.
After their Northwich hosts had taken the lead through Ryan Malone's strike on 21 minutes following a poor backpass from Owen Lloyd, Town were all square before the break through Howarth after Mike O'Reilly and Liam Parry both had efforts blocked by keeper Aaron Lyons.
Parry then put the visitors in front five minutes after the interval, only for Barnton to get themselves back on terms through Lee Guirado's 25-yarder midway through the half.
But the Oswestry side finished strongly with Howarth completing his hat-trick with two goals in the space of 60 seconds on 77 and 78 minutes.
Parry completed the scoring with his second goal two minutes into injury time after cutting in from a pass by sub Callum Jones.
ST MARTINS lost ground on the leading pack after going down 4-3 in a thrilling encounter at Vauxhall Motors.
The Saints had led 3-1 at the break, but their hosts rallied in the second half to complete a stirring fightback.
Dan Stevens' side made a perfect start, taking the lead after four minutes through Harrison Millington following a goalmouth scramble.
In a frantic opening, the visitors doubled the lead on 26 minutes when Dave Easthope started and finished a swift move,
Motors reduced the arrears six minutes later courtesy of Dave Exell, despite a suspicion of offside, but a terrific goal from Karl Bailey on 37 minutes restored the two-goal advantage for the visitors at the break.
Shawn Melusi poked wide early in the second half, but Motors stepped up a gear as Ben Holmes pulled one back on 57 minutes before skipper Tom Michell then headed in the leveller two minutes later.
Despite some good saves from George Austin, the home side got their noses in front eight minutes from time through Daniel Cross.
Basement side Ellesmere Rangers are still seeking their first win in the league after going down 1-0 at home to Cheadle Town whose Ruben Abrreu got the only goal 10 minutes into the second half.
