Middlewich Town 2 Billinge 2

MIDDLEWICH twice lost a lead in a battle with Billinge, a rival for promotion from Cheshire League One, on Saturday.

However the Witches have taken four points from back-to-back meetings with the table-toppers, leaving them third in the table with four matches left to play.

A trip to improving Egerton follows next weekend.

The hosts took the lead inside 10 minutes at Seddon Street, when James Dean steered in from close range after swapping passes with Danny Holdsworth.

Holdsworth then conjured an opportunity for himself after dribbling past two defenders, but his shot lacked power.

Town cursed their luck shortly after the interval, when Holdsworth curved a shot onto the inside of an upright with goalkeeper Jamie Scott a spectator.

However Billinge, beaten by Middlewich seven days earlier, levelled on 49 minutes through Liam Roughley.

Following a torrential downpour, the Witches edged ahead again.

When Callum Priestley’s driven cross was missed by a back-marker, Holdsworth was on hand to apply a finishing touch.

Custodian Charles Masters made a smart save at the other end, but he could do nothing to stop Chris Cottington's stunning free kick from distance as Billinge equalised for a second time.

Town are seven points adrift of their guests, with two games in hand, and only one behind second-placed Altrincham reserves – who they host next month.

Middlewich | Masters (GK), Whitehead, Weedall (Devaney 75), Goodwin (Burgess 57), Robinson, Stockley (Rebbeck 70), O’Sullivan, Holdsworth, Dean, Evans (Collins 57)