STEP 5 ROUND-UPS

NORTHERN LEAGUE

LEADERS Morpeth Town were held to a frustrating draw at home to struggling Bishop Auckland.

Sub Stephen Tobin put into his own net with his first touch to put Morpeth ahead, but struggling Bishops levelled through Andrew Johnson on 78 minutes.

Dean Holmes came off the bench to score twice as second-placed North Shields eased past Jarrow Roofing 4-1 to record their sixth straight win.

Dunston UTS continued their fine start to the season with a 3-0 win at Ashington, while Newcastle Benfield beat Consett 5-2.

Paul Weldon’s second-half free-kick was the difference as Newton Aycliffe beat Ryhope CW 2-1, while Tom Potter scored twice as Whitley Bay stretched their unbeaten run to eight with a 2-0 win at Seaham Red Star.

Marske United ended Shildon’s unbeaten record with a 2-1 win and Sunderland RCA beat winless Billingham Synthonia 4-0.

Former Premier League defender Pascal Chimbonda made his debut for Washington but could not prevent his side losing 2-1 to Penrith.

And Team Northumbria beat Guisborough 3-2, though they almost threw away a three goal advantage.

PAUL REECE

NORTH WEST COUNTIES

HOTSHOT Jordan Icely fired home a hat-trick to help Irlam to a fine 4-0 win at home to lowly Barnton.

It took him just eight minutes to open his account with the others coming on 27 and 80 minutes. Marcus Perry sealed the win five minutes from time.

With Runcorn Town’s match at AFC Darwen postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, rivals Runcorn Linnets closed the gap at the top to four points thanks to a 4-2 victory at 1874 Northwich.

Mark Houghton, Paul Shanley and Kyle Hamid all netted in the first half, with Houghten bagging his second early in the second half. Sam Hind and Matt Woolley hit late consolations for the home side.

Theo Stair struck a goal in each half to help Hanley Town to a 3-1 win at Barnoldswick Town. Oliver Mellor netted the other in the final minute.

Two goals from Ben Steer inside the opening 17 minutes helped ease West Didsbury & Chorlton to a 4-2 win at home to Squires Gate, while Padiham saw off City of Liverpool 2-0.

Widnes drew 2-2 at Northwich Victoria, while a late goal from Mark Woods secured Charnock Richard a 1-1 draw with Winsford United.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Maine Road and Bootle, while Congleton Town’s match with Ashton Athletic was abandoned due to an injury.

DAVID LAWRENCE

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST

PICKERING TOWN stay top after thrashing Athersley Recreation 6-2 on the road.

League rivals Pontefract Collieries also had a comfortable afternoon, firing six past Barton Town, including a brace from Eli Hey, to keep the team three points behind the league leaders.

There were a number of other highscoring matches with two 3-2 scorelines, as Hall Road Rangers and Handsworth Parramore came out on top against Clipstone and Penistone Church. A double from Daniel Chambers helped Rangers to victory despite a lastminute goal from the visitors’ Matthew Hubbard.

The results mean Parramore climb to fourth after Worksop Town could only draw at Rainworth Miners Welfare.

Maltby Main stay in the top three after a 4-1 win at Bottesford Town, while a hat-trick from Oliver Fearon stretched AFC Mansfield’s unbeaten run to nine league games as they put four past Albion Sports.

Harrogate Railway Athletic continue to struggle, this time losing 3-0 at Hemsworth Miners Welfare, with all goals coming in the second half.

Bridlington Town drew 1-1 with Liversedge and Garforth Town keep themselves out of the bottom half of the table as goals from Callum Ward and Mark Simpson helped them to a 2-1 win at Parkgate and Tyla Bell handed Staveley Miners Welfare a win at Thackley.

JAMIE DAVIES

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

DESBOROUGH TOWN romped to their biggest win for several years, an 8-0 romp over visitors Northampton Sileby Rangers.

Dan White opened the account before Liam Boath and John Dean each hit hat-tricks and Liam McInally capped off the victory.

Leicester Nirvana lead the table by a point after a 2-1 home win over Boston Town, thanks to goals from Jahdahn Harper and James Bessey-Saldanha

There was a hat-trick for Luke Emery and one goal from Fazel Koriya as hosts Newport Pagnell Town beat league newboys St Andrews 4-0.

Two goals from Josh Ford and one from Billy Smith saw Wisbech Town return from Wellingborough Town with a 3-1 win.

Lewis Leckie grabbed three goals and Mitch Griffiths one as Holbeach United beat visitors Kirby Muxloe 4-0.

Second-half goals from Jake Bettles and Adam Creaney saw Daventry Town win 2-0 at Eynesbury Rovers.

Scott Mooney scored the only goal of the game as sixth-placed Deeping Rangers sent hosts Northampton ON Chenecks to bottom spot in the table.

Aaron Preston, Greg Usher and Tony Bartlett found the net for Harborough Town in their 3-1 win at Cogenhoe United.

Sleaford Town were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Wellingborough Whitworths but the point lifted them off the bottom of the table, while Rothwell Corinthians drew 1-1 at home to Peterborough Northern Star.

And in the Knockout Cup, Oadby Town lost 1-0 to Division One team Buckingham Town. ROBIN JONES

MIDLAND LEAGUE

ROCK-BOTTOM Shawbury United pulled off the shock of the day as they beat high-fliers Worcester City 2-1.

Josh Thomas handed the Shropshire lads the perfect start with an 18th-minute opener, only for Alex Tomkinson to level ten minutes later. But Shawbury, with just one win to their name before this match, hit back through Steve Faux before the break and held on for an impressive three points.

Equally impressive was the 1,046 fans who turned up to watch Bromsgrove Sporting beat visitors Long Eaton United 2-0 at the Victoria Ground, thanks to goals from Robbie Bunn and Guy Clark.

Leaders Coleshill Town had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at Lye Town – Jordan Nadat cancelling out Reece Shilvock’s earlier effort for the Black Country side.

Westfields were impressive 3-1 winners at AFC Wulfrunians and Sam Vickers scored the winner for Heanor Town in a 3-2 defeat of Highgate United.

But it was Loughborough University who were the day’s leading scorers, thumping Rocester 5-1, helped by a hat-trick from Alex Read.

Stourport Swifts also had a hat-trick hero in Aaron Lloyd as they beat Boldmere St Michaels 3-2, while Leon Miles scored the goal that gave Sporting Khalsa the win at Quorn.

There were draws at Rugby Town and Shepshed Dynamo, while Coventry Sphinx beat South Normanton Athletic 2-1 – Ryan Harkin with the winner.

DAVID LAWRENCE

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

LEADERS Great Wakering Rovers continued to set the pace after winning 2-0 at Waltham Forest, thanks to goals from Oliver Woodhouse and Jake Gordon.

Redbridge were leading 3-0 at Southend Manor when the match was abandoned because of a late injury. It is likely the result will stand, with Calvin Poku, Reside Coxi-Sebfrasto and Josh Hutchinson the scorers.

Basildon United are also on 25 points after a 1-0 win at Stansted, with Ashley Blackburn the scorer, while West Essex lost ground after losing on Friday at Tower Hamlets, for whom two-goal Curtis Pond and Wale Odedoyin netted.

Takeley also lost ground after suffering a second defeat in four days, this time at Ilford where James Peagram and Paul Oshin netted in the first half.

Sporting Bengal also slipped, as they went down 4-1 at Burnham Ramblers. Brad Morgan bagged a brace and Julian Bavin and Charlee Hughes also scored.

There was a dramatic 14 minutes at Hullbridge Sports in which all five goals were scored. Florin Pop and Ioan Petresc both bagged doubles for FC Romania, while Howard Wright scored for Hullbridge.

Clapton won 2-1 at Hackney Wick, with Hassan Lanbani and Jeffrey Cobblah the marksmen, while Danny Jones, Andrew Trevanu and James O’Brien scored as Enfield 1893 moved away from the bottom with a 3-1 win over Barkingside and Sawbridgeworth Town and Woodford Town drew 3-3.

DAVID BALLHEIMER

EASTERN COUNTIES

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED retained their commanding 12point lead at the top with an impressive 5-1 home win against Ely City.

Nick Ingram netted two for the league leaders, with Stuart Ainsley, Miles Powell and Stuart Boardley also on target.

Steve Spriggs struck a hat-trick for Newmarket Town as they climbed to second with a comfortable 4-0 home victory against Histon.

An 85th-minute own goal rescued a point for Coggeshall Town as they drew 1-1 at struggling Kirkley & Pakefield. The result sees Coggeshall drop to third, 14 points behind leaders Felixstowe.

Bottom side Fakenham Town suffered a 1-0 defeat away to FC Clacton as Terry Rymer grabbed the only goal of the game just before half time. The result means Fakenham are still five points adrift of safety, having won just one game so far this season.

Jack Chandler was on the scoresheet for fifth-placed Godmanchester Rovers as they beat Thetford Town 2-0 at home and Haverhill Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Stanway Rovers.

Elsewhere, Stowmarket Town drew 2-2 at home to Haverhill Borough and the result sees Haverhill move two points clear of the drop zone.

RORY HAYWARD

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

THE TOP TWO met at Biggleswade as the hosts lost for only the second time this season, a 3-2 loss to Berkhamsted.

Biggleswade took a two-goal lead through George Reilly and Tom Cookman, but the Comrades hit back with Sean Coughlan, Dan Jones and Stacey Field all on target.

For Steve Bateman’s men it’s now nine games without defeat since the start of the season and their lead at the top is now three points.

Welwyn Garden City are the league’s other unbeaten side after they won 2-0 at Stotfold to keep up the pressure on the top two.

Leverstock Green escape the bottom three after Matt Bateman’s late effort earned them a 3-2 victory at home to Oxhey Jets, but Colney Heath remain bottom after losing 1-0 at Leighton Town.

Last season’s champions London Colney lost for the seventh time this season as they were beaten 4-2 at Hoddesdon Town, Leigh Rose with the opener for the Lilywhites, and Tring Athletic’s struggles continue as they lost 1-0 at Hadley, for whom Jake King was on target.

Elsewhere, Harpenden Town beat Cockfosters 3-1, Andrew Manitou netted the winner for Edgware Town as they beat London Tigers 0-0 and St Margaretsbury lost 7-3 at home to Wembley. CHRIS MITCHELL

COMBINED COUNTIES

HORLEY TOWN closed the gap on non-playing leaders Westfield to just one point with a 3-2 win over lowly visitors North Greenford United.

Classy Clarets’ remarkable recent run continued as they surged to second, despite a nightmare start to the season.

Goals from Karl Parker, Leyton Regan and Alex Barbary put the hosts 3-1 in front at half-time and they held on to win.

Non-playing Walton & Hersham fell to third, while Guildford City slipped to fourth after a surprise 3-2 home loss to struggling Farnham Town, for whom Max Meaton, Elliot Cardona and Nick Medcraft were on target.

Bedfont Sports stay fifth after a 1-1 draw at Redhill. Jacob Lambe put the visitors ahead after 28 minutes, before Steve Burford equalised with a superb finish for Lobsters on 43 minutes.

Spelthorne Sports sit sixth after a 1-1 draw with visitors Camberley Town – Naj Youngman and Zac Hawker netting for the respective sides.

Colliers Wood United lost 2-1 to visitors Sutton Common Rovers on Friday, thanks to a goal from man of the match Matty Auletta and Daryl Cooper-Smith’s late headed winner.

Knaphill thrashed visiting basement boys Epsom & Ewell 6-2, thanks to two-goal Rob Parrott, Jacob McDonald, captain Jimmy Norman, from the spot, and Ross Cheek.

Hanworth Villa edged it 3-2 at Abbey Rangers, hosts Banstead Athletic drew 2-2 with Godalming Town, Balham lost 2-1 at AFC Hayes and Chertsey Town drew 1-1 with CB Hounslow United.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COMBINATION

HAYWARDS HEATH TOWN are the new league leaders after a 2-1 win at bottom side Arundel, where Joel Daly and Jamie Weston were both on target.

Peacehaven & Telscombe are up to second, level on points with Haywards Heath, after a 3-1 away victory against struggling Worthing United.

Chichester City dropped to third after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Horsham YMCA and Rob O’Toole’s early goal was enough to hand fourthplaced Saltdean United a 1-0 home win against East Preston.

Littlehampton Town stay in the bottom three after suffering a 3-1 loss at Hassocks and Lewis Finney netted two for Lancing in a comfortable 4-0 home win against Eastbourne United AFC.

Joe Booker and Scott Murfin were Pagham’s scorers in a 2-1 victory at Broadbridge Heath and fifth-placed Eastbourne Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Loxwood.

AFC Uckfield Town remain just above the drop zone on goal difference after a 2-1 losss away to Crawley Down Gatwick. Nick Sullivan and Marc Pelling both got their names on the scoresheet for the home side.

And Jamarie Brissett’s late equaliser rescued a point for sixth-placed Three Bridges as they drew 1-1 at Newhaven.

RORY HAYWARD

HELLENIC LEAGUE

FLACKWELL HEATH edged a point nearer to non-playing leaders Highworth Town on another eventful day.

Heathens drew a hard-fought affair 3-3 at Thatcham Town, who climbed one place to third at Waterside Park.

In front of 132 fans, Dan Rapley put the visitors ahead after only seven minutes, earning an interval lead. However, Josh Helmore equalised on 48 minutes and Harry Grant put the hosts ahead after 51 minutes.

Shane Cooper-Clark increased the lead on 55 minutes, only for Heathens to make a late fightback and salvage a point thanks to Dean Allen’s late brace. His equaliser came in the third minute of stoppage time in a thrilling finale.

Visitors Bracknell Town fell to fourth after a 3-2 defeat at Wantage Town, who fill fifth place.

Jim Glover put the hosts ahead but Joe Grant’s equalised just before the break. Harrison Gilkews put Robins ahead on 48 minutes, but Wantage reversed matters decisively with goals from Nick Thorne and Steve Robertson.

Completing the depleted programme, hosts Brimscombe & Thrupp snatched sixth by defeating lowly Oxford City Nomads 2-0, through goals by Lee Bowles on the half-hour mark and Ash Caldwell after 53 minutes.

DAVID GROVES

WESTERN LEAGUE

BRIDGWATER TOWN produced their best performance of the season to date, as they beat the pacesetters Buckland Athletic 4-1 at home.

Shaun Copp put the hosts ahead after four minutes, before Buckland levelled through top scorer Jared Lewington.

Town didn’t take long to respond, with David Pearse scoring to regain the lead, and they then powered on to gain the win thanks to a double from Jack Taylor.

Table-toppers Street made it five wins on the bounce, with Harry Foster, Josh Wadham and Lewis Tasker all scoring in their 4-0 win at Cadbury Heath.

There was late drama at the Hand Stadium where Rickie Scott’s deflected effort in injury time secured a 2-1 win for Bradford Town at Clevedon Town.

Cribbs and Bridport shared the points following an entertaining 3-3 draw at the Lawns.

Darren Edwards struck twice either side of a Jake Hodgson goal to help Cribbs overturn a two-goal deficit, before Bridport’s Tom Richardson got the away side back on level terms after Mark Salter and Lee Sweet had put them ahead earlier in the game.

Gary Higdon scored four and Luke Ballinger also added a hat-trick as Melksham Town trounced ten-man Wells City 10-0, while Chipping Sodbury Town claimed an impressive 1-0 win at Willand Rovers and Wellington beat Longwell Green Sports 2-1.

TOM HISCOTT

WESSEX LEAGUE

A BUMPER CROWD watched on at the Portway Stadium on as Andover Town beat AFC Portchester 3-2.

Zach Glasspool rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into the empty net to give Town the lead, but AFC Portchester equalised on 31 minutes and went ahead just four minutes later, maintaining the lead into half-time.

Zach Glasspool had the chance to level but missed a penalty. It was not long, however, before Andover did level, this time Micky Hubbard taking the spot kick – and scoring it.

It seemed to be heading for a draw before sub George Hallahan netted the winner on his first appearance since signing from Tadley Calleva.

Blackfield & Langley’s unbeaten run is finally over after they lost 2-1 at Lymington Town. The hosts went 2-0 up before they were reduced to ten. Sam Griffin pulled a goal back for the visitors but they were unable to find a leveller.

Horndean won 6-0 at home to Hamworthy United. Miles Everett headed the hosts ahead after ten minutes, then Sean Stewart got sent off for the visitors on 22 minutes but they had the chance to level just six minutes later. However, Nathan Walker’s spot kick was saved.

Horndean then went 2-0 up and took control. Tyler Moret got the Dean’s second, his first goal for the club, from the spot Jack and Josh Maloney both netted, Miles Everett scored his second and the win was sealed by a Mark Smith effort.

Elsewhere, there were wins for both Fareham Town and Bashley.

MATT RICHBELL