STEP 5 & 6 ACTION

STEP 5 ROUND-UPS NORTH WEST COUNTIES

RUNCORN TOWN underlined their title credentials with a crushing 6-1 victory at Squires Gate.

Top scorer Craig Cairns helped himself to a hat-trick, with Kevin Exell, Simon Thelwell and David Forbes also getting on target for the league leaders.

Bootle were the day’s leading scorers with a 7-1 win at Hanley Town. Ryan Cox netted a treble, while strikes from Liam Loughlin, Paul Woolcott, Carl Peers and Josh Hamilton completed the rout.

Goals from Kyle Hamid, Mark Houghton and Paul Shanley gave Runcorn Linnets a 3-1 home win over Nelson, while Tom Bailey’s strike earned 1874 Northwich a 1-0 triumph at Irlam.

AFC Darwen shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at home to New Mills. A Luke McKenna penalty gave them the lead before Tunde Owolabi struck to rescue a point for the Millers.

Basement boys Cammell Laird 1907 are still searching for their first win after they were held 1-1 by Barnoldswick Town, while a Chris Smith brace earned lowly Barnton a 2-1 win against AFC Liverpool.

Ashton Athletic staged a second-half comeback which saw an Adam Gilchrist hat-trick to win 5-2 at West Didsbury & Chorlton. Maine Road also came from behind to beat visiting Congleton Town 3-2, Padiham beat Winsford United 4-2 and on Friday Atherton Collieries beat Abbey Hey 2-1.

MICK CLEWES

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST

CLEETHORPES TOWN remain top of the pile after a fine second half saw them win 4-0 at Harrogate Railway Athletic.

Liam Davis, Jonathan Oglesby and Brody Robertson’s brace kept them ahead of second-placed Thackley.

Thackley also enjoyed a convincing away win, condemning Rainworth Miners Welfare to their seventh home loss of the season with a 3-0 success.

Third-placed Liversedge’s fine home form of seven wins in eight was dented as Pickering Town claimed a 1-0 win, while Staveley Miners Welfare stretched their unbeaten run to four with a 2-0 home victory against winless Parkgate.

Retford United’s wait for a home win goes on. They led Albion Sports 2-0 at one stage of their clash, but ended up going down 4-3.

Joel Sutton, Brett Agnew and Andy Norfolk scored as Bridlington won their ninth league game in a row, defeating Worksop Town 2-1.

Mark Simpson’s brace helped Garforth Town make it three wins from four, beating Armthorpe Welfare away 4-2, while Handsworth Parramore bounced back from two defeats with a 4-1 drubbing of Bottesford Town.

It is now one defeat in eight league games for AFC Mansfield as they won 2-1 at Hemsworth Miners Welfare, Maltby Main beat Barton Town Old Boys 4-1 and Clipstone drew 1-1 with Athersley Recreation.

JONNY BONELL

UNITED COUNTIES

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with a 3-0 win over Sileby, thanks to a Mark Jones double and one from Avelino Vieira.

Nearest challengers Desborough drew 0-0 at home to Eynesbury, while Holbeach also lost ground after a 2-2 home draw with Kirby Muxloe, who took a two-goal interval lead through Jordon Lever and Dan Sheahan before a double from Josh Ford early in the second half squared the contest.

Newport Pagnell and Deeping drew 1-1 at Willen Road – Dom Lawless giving the Swans a first-half lead with Luke Hunnings levelling for Rangers.

Rothwell Corinthians were the day’s big winners, 5-0 at home to Boston Town, with Jordan Henson, Djedje Gomes, Kalon Peniasko and two-goal Lewis O’Dell making up the nap hand.

The surprise of the day saw Sleaford beat Harborough 1-0 with an early Tom Siddons strike, while Cogenhoe also eased clear of the drop zone as a late Matt Long strike saw off visitors Leicester Nirvana.

Huntingdon and ON Chenecks drew 4-4 at Jubilee Park. Hat-trick hero Addie Staffieri and Donatas Patrouskas netted for the Cromwellians, with Calvin Budd, Ben Diamond, Adam Hancock and Adam Spalding replying for Chenecks.

And another high-scoring, entertaining tie saw Oadby and Harrowby draw 3-3 at Freeways Park. JEREMY BIGGS

MIDLAND LEAGUE

HAT-TRICK HERO Eliot Putnam struck a last-gasp winner as St Andrews came from behind to beat Heanor Town 4-3.

Kieran Debrouwer handed the visitors an early lead with Putnam levelling on the stroke of half-time.

Matt Brian and Joe Naylor twice restored Heanor’s lead but Putnam and Shay Brennan hit back before the hattrick man bagged the win in injury time.

It was business as usual at the top, where two Josh March goals helped leaders Alvechurch to a 3-0 victory at Brocton.

Second-placed Lye Town won at Shawbury United by the same margin, with Ben Billingham scoring a brace of penalties, while Coleshill Town climbed to third with a 4-2 win at Loughborough University – Craig Milligan with a double.

Two goals from Ben Usher-Shipway helped Boldmere St Michaels chalk up the day’s biggest win, 4-0 at Quorn, while Rocester came from behind to see off Tividale 4-1.

A first-half double from Marvin Robinson gave AFC Wulfrunians the perfect start at Long Eaton United, but they had to hang on at the end before securing a 3-2 win.

It was the same score at Stourport Swifts, where Darren Eggleton netted Coventry Sphinx’s late winner, while Shepsed Dynamo beat Walsall Wood 1-0 and Highgate United drew 2-2 with visitors Sporting Khalsa.

DAVID LAWRENCE

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

LEADERS Barking were given a huge scare by bottom-of-the-table Haringey & Waltham.

The Blues were 3-1 with 15 minutes left, only for Jay Munny to pull one back and Jordan Sidhu to bag a dramatic equaliser with just minutes to go.

But deep in stoppage time Joe Pearman snatched the winner for Barking.

Second-placed Basildon United were upset 1-0 at home by Clapton, for whom Siao Blackwood netted.

Michael Ogboin scored a double to help Takeley defeat London Bari 2-1.

Waltham Forest, who were fourth, were beaten 4-1 at home by in-form Southend Manor, with goals from Sam Shaw, Michael Hopkins, Callum Jex and Callum Ibe.

Hullbridge Sports won 2-1 at Barkingside with all the goals coming in the first half. Harry Skinner’s opener was cancelled out by Side’s Luke With, and Ashley Pibworth bagged the winner.

Stansted were the day’s biggest scorers, winning 5-2 at Wadham Lodge, thanks to a hat-trick from Gareth Jones.

Ilford won 3-2 at Sporting Bengal United, Enfield 1893 did likewise at Eton Manor, FC Romania thrashed Tower Hamlets 6-0 and Burnham Ramblers and Redbridge drew 2-2.

DAVID BALLHEIMER

EASTERN COUNTIES

DAN BROWN struck a dramatic 96th-minute winner for Mildenhall Town as they retained their eight-point lead at the top with a 2-1 away victory against Haverhill Rovers.

Rory Jebb had earlier put the home side ahead but Luke Parkinson levelled for the league leaders before Brown’s late strike.

Billy Hunt and Joss Neale were both on target for second-placed Stanway Rovers as they secured a comfortable 2-0 home win against Great Yarmouth Town.

Jack Watson and Jamie Thurlbourne both scored late goals for Newmarket Town as they climbed up to third in the table after a 2-1 away success against Thetford Town.

Long Melford moved out of the bottom three after a 1-1 draw at home to Fakenham Town and Ely City are now in the drop zone after a 4-2 defeat at home to Ipswich Wanderers.

Arran Mackay’s 76th-minute equaliser rescued a point for Godmanchester Rovers as they drew 1-1 at Kirkley & Pakefield and struggling Swaffham Town lost 2-1 at home to Hadleigh United.

Elsewhere, Nick Ingram’s 50th-minute strike was enough to hand sixth-placed Felixstowe & Walton United a 1-0 home victory against Saffron Walden Town and Walsham-le-Willows were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Wivenhoe Town. RORY HAYWARD

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

A TOP-OF-THE-TABLE CLASH at Wembley saw visitors London Colney win 3-2 to extend their lead at the top to 14 points.

Gregg Douglas opened the scoring for Colney and, although Wembley levelled just before the interval, further goals from Archie McClelland and Jack Woods sealed the win.

Berkhamsted reclaim second spot after they comprehensively beat Leighton Town, 3-0. Dan Jones broke the deadlock in the 41st minute before Matt Bateman and Ashton Campbell scored after the break.

Cockfosters are in a season-high third place after a Tom Massey penalty and Carl Resch goal gave them a 2-0 win at home to Cockfosters, while Hertford Town won 2-1 at Hadley, with Ricky Light scoring the all-important winner in the 64th minute.

St Margaretsbury won for the first time this season and did so in style, beating London Tigers 6-0. Courtney Clay was the star of the show, scoring three times as Saints move off the bottom of the table where they are replaced by Tigers themselves.

Elsewhere, Tremayne Charles scored twice as Colney Heath beat Crawley Green 2-0, Edgware Town won 2-1 at Tring Athletic, Jordan Watson and Josh Lillis scored as Hoddesdon Town beat Leverstock Green 2-0 and Welwyn Garden City were 3-1 victors away to Sun Sports. CHRIS MITCHELL

COMBINED COUNTIES

HAT-TRICK HERO Ross Cook lit the blue touchpaper under Hartley Wintney’s title defence, thrashing visitors North Greenford United 7-0.

The Row dismantled their midtable opponents, with Sam Argent and Steven Duff both bagging braces.

They are now 13 points clear of nearest rivals Westfield, who won 3-1 at Windsor thanks to goals from Karle Calder-Andrews, who netted two spot kicks, and James Cottee, in addition to Dale Burnham’s own goal early on.

Third-placed Hanworth Villa enjoyed a 3-0 win against struggling Chertsey Town thanks to a fine hat-trick from prolific Levi King.

Knaphill climbed three places to fourth after a 2-1 win against high-flying visitors Walton & Hersham, who fell to fifth. Jamie Thoroughgood gave Swans an early lead before Chris Patterson equalised for Knappers and Robbie Kersley secured success, although Patterson was later sent.

Bedfont Sports slumped to sixth after a 2-1 loss at Horley Town, while

Guildford City lost 2-0 to visitors Epsom & Ewell, Robert Hendry and Matt Farrell netting for Salts.

Camberley Town won 3-1 at AFC Hayes thanks to Matt Bunyan’s brace and sub Carl Garstang’s late penalty.

CB Hounslow United won 4-2 at second-bottom Badshot Lea, Colliers Wood United lost 2-1 to Abbey Rangers, Spelthorne Sports drew 2-2 with visitors Raynes Park Vale and Sutton Common Rovers won 2-1 at basement boys Bedfont & Feltham.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COMBINATION

SHOREHAM remain two points clear at the top after securing a dramatic 4-3 away win against thirdplaced Eastbourne United AFC.

The home side had taken a 3-2 lead early in the second half but Shoreham’s Rob Toole made the game’s decisive impact as he first struck the equaliser and then hit an 83rd-minute winner.

Pagham are still second after a comfortable 3-0 away victory against Hassocks. Joe Shelley, Kieron Pamment and Scott Murfin were all on target for the away side.

At the opposite end of the league, bottom side Hailsham Town finally won their first game of the season, at the 15th attempt, as they beat Arundel 4-3 at home.

Josh Marshall struck twice as Peacehaven & Telscombe moved to within just one point of safety with a 3-2 home victory against Broadbridge Heath and Lancing were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Eastbourne Town.

Wick are out of the drop zone after a 3-1 home win against AFC Uckfield Town and Worthing United replaced Wick in the relegation places after suffering a crushing 9-0 defeat at Crawley Down Gatwick.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Haywards Heath Town drew 1-1 at Chichester City, Newhaven ran out 3-0 winners away to Loxwood and Littlehampton Town drew 1-1 at home to Horsham YMCA. RORY HAYWARD

HELLENIC LEAGUE

FLACKWELL HEATH produced fireworks as they thrashed visitors Brackley Town Saints 10-0.

Second-placed Heath had four-goal Dan Burnell and hat-trick hero Tom Willment to thank primarily, while Jamie Essex, Jack Thomson-Wheeler and Matt Stockhill were also on target.

They closed the gap on leaders Thatcham Town to five points, while also having two games in hand on the leaders, who saw a surprise 2-1 home loss to midtable Ascot United.

Richard Bennett put the visitors ahead after 44 minutes only for Shane Cooper-Clark to level on the hour mark. James Goodey snatched United’s dramatic 90th-minute winner to make it double delight for championship rivals Flackwell Heath.

Third-placed Thame United won 5-2 at Longlevens AFC thanks to goals by Dan West, Tom Ashworth, Lynton Goss, Andy Gledhill and Derek Feyi.

Highworth Town stayed fourth with a 3-1 win at second-bottom Henley Town, thanks to Ashley Edenborough’s brace and Asia Corrick’s effort.

Tuffley Rovers climbed to fifth after a 2-1 home win over Bracknell Town, who slipped to sixth.

Ardley United drew 1-1 at Lydney Town – Jacob Walcott’s 83rd minute goal for the visitors wiping out Declan Morley-Lyne’s 30th minute penalty.

Hosts Royal Wootton Bassett beat Highmoor-Ibis 3-2 and Brimscombe & Thrupp triumphed 2-1 at third-frombottom Oxford City Nomads.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST

ASHFORD UNITED moved two points clear at the top after coming from two goals down to earn a fine 3-2 win against Croydon at Homelands.

Brett Ince started the comeback before Ryan James levelled and Rory Hill scored in the fourth minute of added time in a dramatic finish.

Longtime leaders AFC Croydon Athletic slipped to third after they were held to a goalless draw by Corinthian.

Dan Perry scored two as Crowborough Athletic won 4-2 at Lordswood to move into second. Zac Attwood and, from the spot, Ross Treleaven were the Crows’ other scorers, while David Smith netted two penalties for the hosts.

Liam Donaldson scored his first senior hat-trick for Erith Town, who found the net three times in the last eight minutes to beat Rochester United. Jack Mahon got the Dockers’ other goal with Rob Alderman and Michael Hurcomb replying.

Cray Valley returned to form as they beat Canterbury City 2-0 at Badgers, with Aaron Jeffrey scoring both goals.

Sevenoaks Town and Hollands & Blair remain on the edge of the title race after away wins.

Byron Walker and Harrison Carnegie scored for Oaks as they won 2-0 at Fisher, while Hollands & Blair won 2-1 at Deal Town.

Bearsted move out of the bottom two as they won 2-1 at Erith & Belvedere – Keelan Mooney and Andy Irvine on target.

PAUL CARTER

WESTERN LEAGUE

MELKSHAM TOWN have closed the gap at the top to just six points with a 2-0 home win against Cribbs.

After a goalless first-half, the hosts took the lead on the hour mark through Gary Higdon, before debutant Sam Jordan doubled their advantage in the 77th minute to secure all three points.

Leaders Bristol Manor Farm let slip a one-goal lead to draw 1-1 with Cadbury Heath, while third-placed Street were stunned by Gillingham Town, conceding three goals in 13 secondhalf minutes to go down to a 3-2 loss despite being 2-0 up at the break.

At Shellards Road, Odd Down got back to winning ways, with first-half goals from Kye Simpson and Mike Baker helping them defeat Longwell Green Sports 2-1.

Bridport moved further away from the drop zone with a vital 2-1 win at Bitton and, thanks to a fast start, Brislington beat Willand Rovers 3-1.

Ashley Willmott scored the only goal of the game, in the 27th minute, to hand Shepton Mallet a 1-0 win over Clevedon Town, and Sherborne Town beat Hallen 3-1 in a battle of the bottom two.

A red card to Anthony Conradi saw Bradford Town relinquish a one-goal lead given to them by Dan Cottle as they drew 1-1 at Wells City, while Buckland Athletic dropped two points in their 2-2 draw at Chipping Sodbury Town. TOM HISCOTT

WESSEX LEAGUE

SHOLING recorded an impressive 4-0 win at home to Brockenhurst in front of a bumper crowd of 464.

The Boatmen took the lead after just 12 minutes when Dan Mason scored from an Owen Roundell assist. Lee Wort doubled the hosts’ advantage after half an hour when he turned and finished well in the box.

Dan Mason added his second twelve minutes from the end when he nutmegged the goalkeeper and Nick Yeomans completed the scoring eight minutes from time following an assist from Lee Wort.

Blackfield & Langley thrashed Whitchurch United 8-0 at Gang Warily. Carl Preston bagged a brace for the Watersiders, as did former Aldershot Town striker Tim Sills.

Moneyfields inflicted further pressure on struggling Verwood Town as they ran out 4-0 winners on their visit to Potterne Park.

Steve Hutchings scored a brace for the visitors and that was added to by further efforts from Jake Raine and Nathan Paxton.

AFC Portchester won 2-1 at home to Bashley. Nathan Kirkby put the hosts ahead before ex-AFC Bournemouth youngster Clive Makoni drew Bashley level.

Miles Everett then restored the home sides’ advantage which they took into half-time and maintained until the end for a hard-fought win.

MATT RICHBELL

STEP 6 ROUND-UPS SOUTH WEST PENINSULA

FIREWORKS DAY will not be forgotten in a hurry in the South West as two teams hit 10 goals yesterday.

Tavistock climbed two to second by beating bottom-placed visitors Newquay 10-0, while midtable Tiverton Town Reserves enjoyed an identical scoreline at second-bottom St Blazey. The bottom two have gained only a point apiece so far this season.

Plymouth Argyle Reserves regained top spot by beating eighth-placed Godolphin Atlantic 6-3.

Former leaders Saltash United fell to third after 2-2 draw at Exmouth Town.

Fellow high-fliers Bodmin Town and Plymouth Parkway drew 0-0 on Friday night at Priory Park, filling fourth and fifth respectively after Saturday.

Hosts St Austell stay sixth after beating Callington Town 3-1.

Falmouth Town lost 2-0 to visitors Cullompton Rangers, hosts Launceston beat Witheridge 2-0 through Danny Zalick’s brace, Helston Athletic drew 2-2 at Ivybridge Town and Torpoint Athletic drew 3-3 with Camelford.

DAVID GROVES

EAST MIDLANDS

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC remain top of the pile as they eased past Barrow Town 4-0.

A brace from Luke Crosby helped them on their way to an eighth straight league victory.

There was plenty of entertainment in the battle of second and third as Radcliffe Olympic and Stapenhill drew 3-3. Both had won their last five going into the clash but this one ended all square.

Ash Day ended Anstey Nomads’ sixgame wait for a win. His 90th-minute effort secured a 2-1 win at Dunkirk.

Blaby & Whetstone won for just the third time at home, beating Holwell Sports 3-0, Radford won 4-0 at Ellistown & Ibstock and West Bridgford and Kimberley Miners Welfare drew 1-1.

Elsewhere, Arnold Town’s seven-game unbeaten run came to an end in a 1-0 loss to Holbrook Sports, Birstall beat Ashby Ivanhoe 1-0, Graham Street Prims won 3-2 against Gedling MW and Greenwood Meadows and Aylestone Park finished 2-2.

JONNY BONELL

WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL

HAUGHMOND have now opened up a three-point lead at the top but had to come from behind to clinch a 2-1 win at Cradley Town.

Luke Williams put Cradley in front with a spectacular shot and it took Haughmond until the 69th minute to draw level through a Steve Hole header.

Stand-in Cradley goalkeeper Craig McGinnis saved a Hole penalty but Carl Rogers snatched a late winner for the league leaders from a free kick.

Second-placed Wolves Sporting Community let two points slip in a 1-1 draw with Bilston Town Community.

Ellesmere Rangers stay third thanks to a 2-0 win over AFC Bridgnorth.

Dave Reynolds continued his fine form with four goals in Malvern Town’s 7-2 win over Wellington Amateurs.

And Wolves Casuals continue their climb up the table after a 4-1 over Wellington, which came thanks to Ashley Evans’ brace and Liam Hughes and Liam Boswell’s efforts.

NICK PULLEN