STEP 5 & 6 ACTION

STEP 5 ROUND-UPS

NORTH WEST COUNTIES

WITH a skeleton fixture list due to the FA Vase, Runcorn Town had to be content to extend their lead at the top by a solitary point as they drew 2-2 at AFC Darwen.

They did it the hard way, twice coming from behind with goals from Craig Cairns and a Paul McManus penalty.

Padiham hammered Barnton 5-3 with goals from Dom Craig, Daniel Boyle, Jake Hargreaves and a Spencer Jordan brace.

Hanley Town twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Abbey Hay, as Dan Cope hit a last minute the winner.

Northwich Victoria’s good form continued as they beat Barnoldswick 3-1 with Oscar Durnin, Brain Matthews and Jason Hart grabbing the goals.

Charnock Richard held Congleton Town to a 1-1 draw as Carl Grimshaw was able to cancel out Steve Foster.

On Friday night, Squires Gates won 1-0 at Widnes and West Didsbury & Chorlton won 5-3 at home to Irlam.

RICHARD SCOTT

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST

HANDSWORTH PARRAMORE came from behind to win 3-2 at bottom of the table Clipstone.

Timothy Gregory and Gareth Curtis gave the hosts an unexpected 2-1 lead, but Jonathan Froggatt, Joseph Thornton and Alex Rippon scored to see the leaders go three points clear.

Pickering Town climbed to second after a 2-1 victory against Barton Town, with Maltby Main beating Liversedge 4-1 to jump up to third.

Declan Bacon’s brace and goals from Craig Bridge and Wayne Graves saw Bottersford Town easily beat Staveley Miners Welfare 4-1, while Luke Stewart scored as Harrogate Railway bested Albion Sports 1-0.

Lee Turner and Mark Simpson both netted as Garforth Town won 2-1 against Bridlington Town.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare were 3-1 winners at Thackley and Athersley Recreation defeated Parkgate 2-1.

LEE IRVING

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

STRUGGLING Sleaford Town had a Black day four times over as they went down 5-2 to Kirby Muxloe.

Brothers Aiden and Aaron Black grabbed two goals each at the third from-bottom side.

Will Britton hit a hat-trick as Boston Town returned from Daventry Town with a 3-1 victory, while Callum Plowright and Jordan Henson scored two each as Rothwell Corinthians comfortably beat Northampton Sileby Rangers 4-1.

Jack Uttridge, Dominic Lawless, Declan Rogers and debutant substitute Nathan Westley scored to give visitors Eynesbury Rovers a 4-3 victory at Northampton ON Chenecks.

Mark Pryor, Ben Baines and an own goal saw Wellingborough Town to a 3-1 win at St Andrews, while a Barnes Gladman double and one from Greg Usher saw Harborough Town win 3-1 at Wellingborough Whitworth.

Ryan Dove and Matt Long’s goals saw winless basement side Oadby Town lose 2-1 at home to Cogenhoe United despite taking the lead.

ROBIN JONES

MIDLAND LEAGUE

COVENTRY SPHINX continued their climb up the table with a thrilling 3-2 win at South Normanton Athletic – a fifth straight win since the arrival of new boss Lee Knibbs.

Two goals from Ryan Harkin and a Callum Woodward penalty handed them a 3-0 lead, only for their hosts to hit back through Jean-Reuben Desoriers and Kirk Francis.

Lye Town picked up a useful 2-0 win over Haughmond, Jack Till and Jacob Rammell with the goals, and Rocester twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Loughborough University.

Substitute Curvin Ellis headed an injury time winner as Boldmere St Michaels beat Heanor Town 3-2.

Ryan Nesbitt and Charlie Morris also scored for the Mikes, while the visitors’ goals came from Lawrence Constable and an Elliott Reeves penalty.

DAVID LAWRENCE

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

CLAPTON continued their recent good run with a 3-2 defeat of Barkingside in the opening game of the inaugural Essex Senior League Groundhop on Friday night.

The ‘Side equalised twice before Andre Spencer netted a late winner.

Game two was yesterday’s noon kick-off at Redbridge where the hosts beat struggling Burnham Ramblers 31 with Brian Moses scoring twice.

Waltham Forest were beaten 3-1 at home by Woodford Town (2017) in the third game, Asher Modeste and Ethan Kessel sharing the visitors goals.

The fourth game of the hop saw David James score twice for Wadham Lodge, 3-1 winners at Hackney Wick.

There was a shock for leaders Basildon United, who led 1-0 through Luke Hornsley but were beaten 2-1 by Southend Manor, with Jamie Brown and Hassan Zamani netting.

Stansted took the lead in the local derby against Sawbridgeworth Town but eventually went down 3-1 and West Essex were too strong for Ilford, winning 2-1 after going behind early.

DAVID BALLHEIMER

EASTERN COUNTIES

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED retained their commanding 15-point lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 win at Haverhill Borough.

Joseph Francis, Daniel Davis and Kye Ruel were all on target.

Stowmarket Town remain in second after Josh Mayhew’s dramatic 85th minute winner handed them a 2-1 home victory against Haverhill Rovers.

Nnamdi Nwachuku struck four times and Tom Monk added a brace as Coggeshall Town climbed to third after a crushing 8-0 home win against Walsham-le-Willows.

Wivenhoe Town suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Kirkley & Pakefield with Kyle Baker netting twice, as Hadleigh United drew 2-2 against FC Clacton.

Charlie Portway struck twice for Saffron Walden Town as they beat Ipswich Wanderers 3-1 and Matthew Hayden scored two goals for Histon in a 6-1 win at Great Yarmouth Town.

Long Melford fought back from two goals down to run out 3-2 winners at Newmarket Town, while Stanway Rovers v Wroxham finished goalless.

RORY HAYWARD

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

WITH the top three all competing in the FA Vase, the key action centred on the clubs at the wrong end of the Premier Division table.

St Margaretsbury remain in the bottom three after losing 4-2 at home to fast improving Leverstock Green.

Saints led at the break but Green produced a superb second half performance and were rewarded through subs Jonathan Lacey and Reynoldo Carbon plus Matt Bateman’s brace.

Stotfold remain fourth from bottom despite a late equaliser as they drew 2-2 at home to Colney Heath, while Holmer Green are still struggling after they lost 4-0 to Hoddesdon Town, for whom Kyle Johnson scored twice.

Elsewhere, London Colney beat Cockfosters 1-0, Omololu Onabolu scored a hat-trick as Edgware Town won 3-1 at Hadley and Biggleswade United beat London Tigers 3-0 with Nick Elliott being among the scorers.

CHRIS MITCHELL

COMBINED COUNTIES

CAMBERLEY TOWN were the major beneficiaries of a severely depleted Premier Division programme, climbing to fifth place thanks to their 11 draw against hosts Guildford City.

Krooners debutant Connor Gales’ header from six yards had put the visitors ahead after only ten minutes, but Luke Beale equalised on 14 minutes, nodding home from close range, for his first City goal.

Rob Parrott hit a 90th-minute winner for Knaphill against Spelthorne Sports at Redding Way, Balham drew 2-2 at Abbey Rangers, while Nathaniel Mensah hit two in North Greenford United’s 4-1 success at struggling Chertsey Town, with Carl Bower and Jordan Ellis scoring United’s other goals to eclipse Connor Cullan’s strike.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COMBINATION

LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN returned to the bottom of the table after being crushed 7-0 at Loxwood.

Ollie Moore and Tiago Andrade both netted twice as the home side ran riot.

Sam Schaaf struck a hat-trick, Phil Johnson grabbed a brace and Callum Donaghey was also on the scoresheet as Horsham YMCA moved up to fifth after an impressive 6-0 home win against Hassocks.

Saltdean United were held to a 1-1 draw by eighth-placed Three Bridges.

A Darryl Siaw goal gave the visitors an early lead but Jordan Pryor’s second half equaliser rescued a point.

Dan Simmonds scored a hat-trick and Callum Overton added two further goals as Pagham secured a comfortable 6-1 home victory against Eastbourne United AFC.

RORY HAYWARD

HELLENIC LEAGUE

HIGHWORTH TOWN strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier Division by beating Brackley Town Saints 1-0.

Callum Parsons’ match winner at improved the hosts’ record to 15 wins from 16 league games this season.

Flackwell Heath moved to fourth following their 2-0 win at Longlevens.

The victors’ goals came from Dean Allen and Elliot Derby at Sawmills End.

Tuffley Rovers beat Highmoor Ibis 2-1 at Glevum Park, with Shayne Bradley and Kieran Alder’s goals overcoming a Dwayne Coultress effort.

Woodley United drew 1-1 with Lydney Town at Rivermoor, Danny Horesecroft put the hosts ahead only for Niall Hallford to snatch a point.

Burnham suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Fairford Town at The Gore, with Dan Bailey’s brace and an Aaron Dainton goal overcoming Dan Wilson’s early second half equaliser.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST

LAURENT HAMICI made a memorable debut for Glebe as his second half brace helped them to a 3-1 win over Bearsted.

Peter Sweeney had given Glebe the lead with Jack Selling scoring a Bears’ consolation in between Hamici’s two.

Chatham Town made the short trip to Hollands & Blair and won 3-0.

Keiron Lightfoot put the Chats ahead before two late goals from Taylor McDonough sealed the points.

In Division One, Kent Football United led the way as they thrashed neighbours Crockenhill 9-1 with Tunde Aderonmu scoring six times.

Stansfeld trailed 4-1 after an hour at Lewisham Borough, but four goals in ten minutes saw them win 5-4. Billy Jolley and Ryan Hassan got two each.

League leaders K Sports were 2-0 up after seven minutes at Holmesdale, but the Dalers scored four in the final 20 minutes, with Andy Constable scoring twice, to secure a remarkable win.

Forest Hill Park went down 5-2 at Punjab United. PAUL CARTER

WESTERN LEAGUE

WITH only three Premier Division clashes beating the weather,

Street strengthened their grip on top spot with a 3-1 win at Cribbs.

It took just six minutes for Street’s leading scorer Steve Murray to add to his tally for the season, tapping home after Josh Wadham had whipped the ball across the six-yard box.

Wadham was causing all sorts of problems in attack for the visitors, and he had his second assist of the day on the hour when providing the final pass for Craig Herrod to double the lead.

Jake Mawford smashed home a third 20 minutes from time, before Cribbs scored a late consolation as they suffered their fifth successive defeat.

Wells City made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season, scoring the only goal just after the hour in their 1-0 win at Hallen, while an injurytime strike led Brislington to a 1-0 win over Shepton Mallet. TOM HISCOTT

WESSEX LEAGUE

ALRESFORD TOWN produced an emphatic display as they beat

Bashley 5-0 to move up to fifth place. Adam Pearson put the Magpies ahead after just six minutes, before Chris Mason doubled the lead. A third goal followed through ex-Winchester City man Ben White, who then added his second shortly before half-time.

After the break, Aaron Blaxall added one more for Richard Luffman’s side.

Andover Town were back to winning ways, beating Petersfield Town 2-1.

Alex Dockree put the visitors ahead with a close-range volley, before Zach Glasspool added a second goal after the break. Petersfield scored a penalty late on to reduce the deficit, but Glenn Burnett’s side held on for the points. Cowes Sports won 3-1 at home to Hamworthy United, while in Division One Tadley Calleva won 5-0 at Ringwood Town. MATT RICHBELL

STEP 6 ROUND-UPS SOUTH WEST PENINSULA

TORPOINT ATHLETIC started life under new boss Dean Cardew with a 2-0 shock victory on Friday night against Plymouth Argyle Reserves.

Saltash United returned to winning ways, moving up one position to third with their 2-0 win at Helston Athletic.

Launceston stayed in sixth spot thanks to their 3-1 triumph at lowly Godolphin Atlantic.

Goals from Sam Davey, who bagged a brace, and Callum Thompson saw Launceston come from behind to enjoy a victory in bitterly cold conditions.

Hosts Newquay ended their run of defeats and stayed seventh by thrashing Ivybridge Town 5-1 at Mount Wise.

St Austell returned to winning ways by beating second-from-bottom visitors Callington Town 4-0 at Poltair.

Stoke Gabriel defeated Sticker 3-0 in the battle of last season’s East and West Division champions. Witheridge v Camelford was postponed.

DAVID GROVES

EAST MIDLANDS

KHYLE SARGENT bagged a brace to inspire league leaders Teversal to a 3-1 victory at Radcliffe Olympic.

The visitors trailed to an early goal but a quickfire double from Sargent hauled them back into the match with

Dave Cockerill adding the third.

Selston lost ground on their title rivals after Lee Sutton’s opener was cancelled out by Dunkirk. Anstey Nomads signalled their championship credentials with a 4-0 defeat of Gedling Miners Welfare.

West Bridgford came out on top in their basement battle against Holwell Sports with a 3-1 win.

Belper United defeated Aylestone Park 1-0 through a smartly taken James Rushby free-kick, while Kenny Reeves struck late on to earn Radford a 1-1 draw at Barrow Town and Ashby Ivanhoe’s Josh Johnson netted an equaliser at Graham Street Prims.

NAT SYLVESTER

WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL

ROCK-BOTTOM Wellington Amateurs celebrated their first league victory this year with a 2-0 win over second-bottom Dudley Town.

Jake Fairhurst and Craig Hulme secured Amaterus’ first triumph under Steve Barrow’s management.

Liam Hughes took his goal tally to 25 this season after hammering home a hat-trick as Wolves Casuals crushed Smethwick Rangers 6-0.

Jay Holdcroft, Harry Cunningham and Brad Sharman were also on target.

Malvern Town recorded a 3-2 success at Stone Old Alleynians, the victors netting through Matt Turner and two from Kyonn Evans, while Adam Pope and Dan Dale pulled two back

Cradley Town were 3-0 winners at Wednesfield, Lee Chilton hitting two and Adam Meacham also on the mark.

Danny Elwell despatched a double as Bilston Town Community claimed a 3-0 win at AFC Bridgnorth.

NICK PULLEN