WEEKEND FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

STOKE City lost their first match under new manager Steve Schumacher as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Birmingham City in the Chamoionship in blustery conditions on Saturday.

Birmingham went into a 2-0 lead with goals from Stansfield on 10 minutes and then Bacuna on 49 minutes despite the majority of the possesion being with the home side, Thompson got a goal for Stoke on 70 minutes but it proved despite all the chances to be just a consolation goal. Attendance: 25,058.

CREWE Alexandra gained three vital points in their promotion push with a 3-1 victory over promotion rivals Barrow at the Furness Building Society Stadium in league two on Satuday.

Barrow went in front on 9 minutes as Gotts opened the scoring but the railwaymen equalised on 19 minutes with a goal from Nevitt. The Alex went in front on 64 minutes Billington netted and they sealed the points with a goal from Holicek on 84 minutes moving the Cheshire side into fourth place leap frogging Barrow in the table.

In the Northern Premier League Premier Divsion Macclesfield fell to a 3-2 defeat against Radcliffe on Saturday.

Radcliffe took the lead with Hulme scoring on 17 miniutes. The Silkmen drew level with a penalty on the stroke of half time as Curran converted the spot kick.

In the second half the home side took the lead with Drummond netting on 57 minutes to give Macclesfield the lead but, Hulme struck twice for the visitors firstly in the 74th minute and then on 83 minutes to complete his hat-trick and seal the points for Radcliffe. Attendance: 4,002

NEWCASTLE Town continued their impressive run under new manager Neil Baker with a 3-0 victory away to Avro.

Town scored in the 24th minute with a goal from Avery and two minutes later scored a second with Stubbs scoring for the Staffordshire outfit before Jones completed the scoring on 36 minutes to seal the points and a 3-0 victory for Newcastle. Attendance: 233

NANTWICH Town took all three points against Witton Albion as Lowton scored an own goal for the home side to give the Cheshire outfit victory. Attendance: 624