STEP 5 ROUND-UPS

NORTHERN LEAGUE

ONLY TWO GAMES survived the wintry conditions leading up to the weekend, both in the top flight.

Stockton Town made it 10 wins from their last 11 games with a 2-0 win over Sunderland RCA on Friday night.

Goals from Jamie Owens on 74 minutes and Kevin Hayes two minutes from time saw The Anchors home.

Guisborough Town lost their bottomsix home clash with Penrith 2-1 at the King George V ground.

Nathan Steel’s backheel handed the Priorymen a 23rd-minute lead that was cancelled out five minutes later by Martyn Coleman. Coleman bagged the winner for Penrith in the second half.

JEFF BOWRON

NORTH WEST COUNTIES

MAINE ROAD climbed out of the drop zone after beating fellow strugglers Abbey Hey in one of just two Premier Division ties to beat the weather.

Jack Coop scored his first of a hattrick after just nine minutes, tapping into an empty net from close range, before Gregory Willis made it 2-0.

Coop secured the victory with his side’s third on 78 minutes before completing his hat-trick in the final minute.

Congleton Town were the day’s other winners, with a 5-1 win over Barnton.

The Bears broke the deadlock after 16 minutes as William Hasler-Cregg headed home before Declan Fletcher rifled his side 2-0 up before the break.

Samuel Houghton pulled Barnton back into the tie on 54 minutes, finishing off a scramble in the box.

Hasler-Cregg struck again to restore his side’s two-goal lead on 72 minutes, before goals by Liam Moran and Oliver Ford secured the points.

BEN GODDARD

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST

SUPERSUB Cameron Dear struck in the third minute of added time to strengthen AFC Mansfield’s grip on the title race.

The table-toppers looked like being held by Hemsworth Miners Welfare, as Stefan Holt and Bradley Dockerty equalised after Mansfield had moved ahead through Connor Smythe and then Nick Guest.

However, Smythe’s well-weighted ball played in Dear to score with the last kick of the match and earn a 3-2 home win.

It was one of only four matches in the division to survive the weather, with Bridlington fighting back from behind to beat Thackley 2-1 thanks to goals from Joel Sutton and Paul Robson.

Adam Baskerville’s penalty on 83 minutes earned Staveley Miners Welfare a 1-1 draw at Maltby Main. Steven McDonnell scored for the hosts.

Lee Hill’s early effort was not enough for Worksop Town as Nathan Keightley struck to grab a 1-1 draw for Penistone Church, in front of 303 fans.

ANDY MITCHELL

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

LEADERS Newport Pagnell Town slumped to a 2-0 home loss at the hands of title rivals Holbeach United.

Lewis Leckie opened the scoring on just 27 seconds, and added another in the 58th minute.

The win leaves the Tigers in third, six points behind Newport Pagnell but with three games in hand.

Dan Cotton grabbed a hat-trick as hosts Yaxley hit seven without reply past Northampton Sileby Rangers.

Jack Saunders, Tom Waumsley and Ted Haime scored one each and an own goal made up the scoreline.

Zak Munton broke the deadlock for Peterborough Northern Star at Northampton ON Chenecks after 63 minutes, with Christian Gordon adding another six minutes later, and Calvin Budd reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute.

Deeping Rangers were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Daventry Town.

Sleaford Town went into a two-goal lead against visitors Harborough Town, with Tom Figura and Michael Hayden on target, before Daniel Forbes pulled one back and Callum Milne levelled.

ROBIN JONES

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

THE LEAGUE is on its annual break, so it is Redbridge who everyone will chase in 2018.

The Motormen started the campaign slowly, drawing one and losing two of their first four games. Since then, however, Redbridge have won 18 out of 19.

They are currently seven points clear of FC Romania and eight ahead of Takeley and Basildon United, all of whom have at least one game in hand. Great Wakering Rovers and Clapton fill out the top six.

At the foot of the table, Hackney Wick occupy the bottom spot following Hullbridge Sports’ 3–1 victory over Sawbridgeworth Town last weekend.

For the first time, there will be relegation at the end of the season. A new Step 6 division will contain Essex Senior and Eastern Counties clubs.

The bottom eight are covered by just six points so it remains all to play for.

DAVID BALLHEIMER

EASTERN COUNTIES

MILES POWELL struck a secondhalf double for Felixstowe & Walton United as they moved 14 points clear at the top with a 3-2 home win over Gorleston.

George Clarke grabbed a brace for fourth-placed Brantham Athletic as they secured a 2-1 home victory over Newmarket Town and there was a 1-0 success for Long Melford at Wroxham.

Andrew Wood netted a hat-trick for Thetford Town as they ran out comfortable 6-0 winners away to bottom side Wivenhoe Town and Fakenham Town also remain in the drop zone after losing 2-0 at home to Histon.

Haydn Davis and Kieran Hagan were both on target for Great Yarmouth Town as they beat struggling Ipswich Wanderers 2-0 at home.

Second-placed Coggeshall Town’s home game with Ely City and thirdplaced Stowmarket Town’s home tie with FC Clacton were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

RORY HAYWARD

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

BERKHAMSTED remain a point clear at the top as they drew 2-2 at Leverstock Green, in a game which saw the Comrades end with nine men.

Matt Bateman gave Green a 34thminute lead but Max Farrelly equalised two minutes later. Ashton Campbell then scored to give Berkhamsted the lead before Brima Johnson levelled.

Steve Hawes and Jack Stevens both saw red to leave a difficult last ten minutes for the visitors, but they held on.

Welwyn Garden City defeated fellow high-fliers Harpenden Town 3-0 to remain second. After a goalless first half, Dan Bond’s brace and a goal from Ash Kersey sealed a 14th league win.

Tring Athletic move out of the bottom three as they beat Holmer Green 3-1 thanks to goals from Dave O’Connor, Jack Read and Jack Sunderland, while Luke Durnin and Dan Pett were on target for Edgware Town as they beat rivals Wembley 2-0.

CHRIS MITCHELL

COMBINED COUNTIES

BEDFONT SPORTS capitalised on Westfield’s call-off by beating lowly Farnham Town 1-0, thanks to Julius Mngadi’s strike, to trail the leaders only by goal difference.

The Eagles’ remarkable recent surge has seen them close the gap on the pacesetters, although the leaders do enjoy three matches in hand.

Sutton Common Rovers, in third, kept up their pursuit by beating sixthplaced visitors Hanworth Villa 3-1 thanks to Malachi Thomas’ hat-trick.

Walton & Hersham still fill fourth following a 2-0 win at rock-bottom Epsom & Ewell, while fifth-placed hosts Camberley Town drew 0-0 with secondbottom Godalming Town at Krooner Park and Guildford City pipped midtable visitors CB Hounslow United 4-3.

Redhill leapfrogged hosts AFC Hayes after a 3-1 win in tricky conditions at Farm Park, as Tony Halsey’s treble, including a last-minute penalty, eclipsed Dean McDonnell’s equaliser.

And waterlogged pitches caused the postponements of five games.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COMBINATION

HAYWARDS HEATH TOWN moved four points clear at the top after a 1-0 home win against Peacehaven & Telscombe, which came thanks to Joel Daly’s 35th-minute goal.

Dan Simmonds struck twice for Pagham as they climbed to second with a fine 5-1 home win over Loxwood and Eastbourne Town dropped to third after being held to a 0-0 draw at Newhaven.

Kieron Hartley, Kaleem Haitham, Dan Hegarty and Waledin Ahmed were all on target for fourth-placed Chichester City as they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners at Lancing.

Hassocks remain in the drop zone after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Saltdean United and Eastbourne United AFC are now just two points from safety after a 0-0 draw at home to AFC Uckfield Town.

Four of the weekend’s matches were postponed including bottom side Littlehampton Town’s tie at East Preston.

RORY HAYWARD

HELLENIC LEAGUE

A BUMPER 213-strong crowd saw Highworth Town consolidate their top spot by beating Bracknell Town 1-0.

The hosts defeated their fourth-placed rivals in a closely fought affair thanks to Callum Parsons’ 65th-minute winner.

Their 22nd win from 26 league games keeps them eight points clear of secondplaced Thatcham Town, who have a game in hand.

The Blues triumphed 2-0 at midtable Longlevens thanks to Liam Ferdinand’s late brace, while third-placed Wantage Town and fifth-placed Flackwell Heath were left kicking their heels.

Hosts Binfield stay in sixth after beating Royal Wootton Bassett Town 3-1, thanks to goals from Alec Colverd, Ian Davies and Luke Hayden.

Windsor beat lowly visitors Lydney Town 2-1, courtesy of early efforts from Andrew Ingram and Ricardo Cannon.

Oxford City Nomads triumphed 4-0 at lowly Ascot United thanks to Dan Collins’ double and goals from Jack Tutton and Kyreece Martei, all coming in the second half.

Struggling Fairford Town drew 1-1 with second-bottom visitors Burnham, Dan Gardiner and Calvin Morgan bagging late goals for the respective sides, while Highmoor Ibis stay bottom

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC beat neighbours Tunbridge Wells 2-1 after a dramatic end to the game.

Jon Pilbeam’s first-half goal looked enough to give Wells victory, but Tom Phipp levelled in the last minute and Dan Perry bagged an added-time winner.

Hollands & Blair beat neighbours Lordswood 4-3 to record a first league win of the season, despite going two goals down inside five minutes.

Ed Morant, Dave Raggett, James McDonald and Steve Dampier scored to turn the game on its head before Tom Woolrdige pulled a goal back.

Emanuel Olayede netted twice as AFC Croydon Athletic won 3-1 in their derby with Croydon, while Stuart Zanone and Osman Proni scored in Erith Town’s 2-0 win over Rusthall.

Stefan Wright and Harry Ottaway were on target in Beckenham Town’s 2-1 win at Cray Valley, who replied in added time through Conor Dobson. Canterbury beat Chatham Town 1-0, while Deal Town won by the same score at Bearsted. PAUL CARTER

WESTERN LEAGUE

LUKE BRYAN scored twice in the final five minutes to help Bitton claim a 3-3 draw at home to secondplace Bradford Town.

After falling behind to Corey Kelly’s opener in the 35th minute, Bradford took just four minutes to get themselves back on level terms – Will Haliston slotting home.

The visitors went ahead on the hour thanks to a Rickie Scott free-kick, before Sam Jordan doubled the lead soon after with his 18th goal of the season.

Bryan reduced Bitton’s deficit in the 85th minute before claiming a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

Bridport got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at Wellington, while

Chipping Sodbury Town claimed a 1-0 triumph at Melksham Town. Bridgwater Town survived a fifthminute red-card to David Thorne, with Syd Camper’s goal leading them to a 1-0 win over Shepton Mallet, while at The Lawns, Brislington fought back from a goal down to beat Cribbs 2-1. TOM HISCOTT

WESSEX LEAGUE

ANDOVER TOWN ensured they made it a happy New Year, with a 5-2 win over Alresford Town in front of 237 at the Portway Stadium. Zach Glasspool put the hosts ahead and then netted a second shortly after from the spot. Alex Dockree made it 3-0 after the break, then Alresford reduced arrears before Andover restored their three-goal lead thanks to Mike Gosney, who went on to bag his second, before Alresford netted a consolation. Brockenhurst made the short trip to Lymington Town and were held 0-0. Sam Griffin bagged a brace and Liam Robinson was also on target for Blackfield & Langley as they ran out 4-0 winners at Hamble Club. And Lee Wort scored a hat-trick for Sholing as they were comfortable 6-0 winners at home to Petersfield Town. MATT RICHBELL