Stubborn Albion pay the penalty

The winger scored 17 goals in 88 appearances for Retford and was signed by Frickley primarily to improve their delivery to the strikers.

Among the clubs whose grounds were pronounced unplayable were Bradford Park Avenue, FC Halifax Town, Frickley Athletic, Mickleover Sports (where Whitby Town were the visitors) and Ossett Town.

In Division One North, Ossett Albion suffered a one-goal defeat after defending stubbornly at Salford City. Steve Foster’s penalty five minutes before the end was all that separated 11th- placed Salford from second-from- bottom Albion.

Salford substitute Adam Morning made a strong run and his cross struck Eddie Hague’s raised hands. Albion’s protests at the penalty award fell on deaf ears and Foster gave keeper Ashley Connor no hope with a power-packed spot-kick.

The games at Garforth Town, Harrogate Railway and Wakefield were among those postponed in the division.

Sheffield suffered a humiliating 3-2 defeat at bottom-club Spalding United, who registered only their third win of the season and their first since early November in Division One South. Gary Pawson headed Spalding into the lead when Sheffield failed to defend a corner at the near post, and Jamal Shahin doubled the lead in the 43rd minute.

New signing Ant Lynam reduced the deficit with a 20 yard free-kick less than two minutes later but Josh Nodder restored the home side’s two-goal advantage eight minutes into the second half. Although Lynam added his second goal in the 72nd minute, Sheffield could not find an equaliser.