After two wins in five days, and with Burnley busy in FA Youth Cup semi-final action, Preston have now moved to the top of the table thanks to a 2-1 victory at Rochdale on Tuesday afternoon, then a 1-0 win over Carlisle on Saturday morning, the North End goal in that match against the Blues coming in the 69th minute via the head of Irish striker Sam Osobe.
Walsall remain in third place in the division meanwhile after they picked up a win and a draw on the road this week, the Saddlers winning 2-0 at Shrewsbury on Thursday afternoon, before being held to a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield two days later. That point being the only one the Silkmen managed to net over the course of the week after they went down 2-1 at Bury on Monday afternoon.
Carlisle's defeat sees them remain in fourth in the table, but coupled with a 3-1 win for Tranmere at Rochdale it means that the Whites are now only two points behind the Blues in the table, while the other side to win away from home on Saturday was Wigan who were victorious 2-1 at Stockport. The final two matches in the division at the weekend seeing Port Vale cruise past Accrington Stanley 3-0 home while Shrewsbury and Wrexham played out a 1-1 draw in Shropshire.
Two points behind Preston but with two games in hand Burnley are now comfortable favourites for the title having won a remarkable twelve league matches in a row. As for Carlisle, well, it looks like fourth spot is the best the Cumbrians can hope for now, but the first test for that goal is a very tough away game at third-placed Walsall on Thursday afternoon, before they take on Macclesfield at home fewer than 48 hours later in an 11am kick-off at Creighton Rugby Club on Saturday morning.
Result in the division on Monday 19th March
Bury 2-1 Macclesfield Town (2pm)
Result in the division on Tuesday 20th March
Rochdale 1-2 Preston North End (1pm)
Result in the division on Thursday 22nd March
Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Walsall (2pm)
Results in the division on Saturday 24th March
Macclesfield Town 1-1 Walsall
Port Vale 3-0 Accrington Stanley
Preston North End 1-0 Carlisle United
Rochdale 1-3 Tranmere Rovers
Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Wrexham
Stockport County 1-2 Wigan Athletic
Youth Alliance Cup Northern Area Final on Saturday 24th March
Doncaster Rovers 3-1 Hull City
Fixture in the division on Thursday 29th March
Walsall v Carlisle United (2pm)
Fixtures in the division on Saturday 31st March
Blackpool v Wigan Athletic
Burnley v Wrexham
Carlisle United v Macclesfield Town (11am)
Morecambe v Port Vale
Oldham Athletic v Shrewsbury Town
Preston North End v Stockport County
Tranmere Rovers v Bury
Youth Team Results : Click here
Youth Team Squad : Click here
Youth Team Table : Click here