STEP 5 & 6 ACTION

STEP 5 ROUND-UPS NORTHERN LEAGUE

RUNAWAY leaders Morpeth Town lost for only the third time after they went down 3-2 at West Auckland.

All the goals came in the first half, both sides leading before Amar Purewal scored a 45th-minute winner.

Consett moved into the top three after an impressive 4-1 win at Ashington, striker Michael Sweet scoring twice.

Liam Travers also scored twice, in bottom club Billingham Synthonia's 3-2 home defeat to Dunston UTS.

Paul Brayson's hat-trick gave Newcastle Benfield a 3-1 win over Washington, Newton Aycliffe beating Shildon 2-1.

Seaham Red Star's derby with Ryhope CW finished 2-2, While Callum Patton's goal gave Whitley Bay a 1-0 win at Sunderland RCA.

PAUL REECE

NORTH WEST COUNTIES

RUNCORN Linnets remain ten points clear at the top of the North West Counties Premier on a day when only five games were cplayed across the two divisions.

Linnets beat Barnton 3-1 on Friday night with Michael Simpson, Louis Corrigan and Paul Shanley all netting.

That put pressure on chasers Widnes. But they disposed of Padiham 3-1, their 12th win in 13 games. Mike Burke opened the scoring, Stuart Cook doubled their lead and Sean Myler sealed the points late on.

AFC Liverpool sealed a vital away win in their bid to beat relegation, Leon Arnasalam pouncing on a goalkeeping error, in a 1-0 win over Maine Road.

Burscough also eased their relegation fears with a 2-0 win over Hanley Town, Chad Whyte and Alexander Parkes netting in the second half. And Bootle beat Congleton Town 5-1.

RICHARD SCOTT

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST

AFC MANSFIELD Town continued their domination with an emphatic 5-1 victory over struggling Harrogate Railway Athletic. Nathan Merchant netted for Harrogate on 11 minutes. But Oliver Fearon’s hat-trick and Connor Smythe and James Ghaichem gave the Bulls the points.

Alex Holden netted on 88 minutes to earn Bottesford Town a 2-1 victory at home to Bridlington Town. Penistone Church thumped Hall Road Rangers 4-1, Scott Whittington, Fraser Hansen, Andrew Ring and Freddie Russell the scorers.

Ryan Blott and Joe Danby scored two as Pickering Town walloped Garforth Town 7-0. Mitcham Husbands, Charlie Baird and Steven Wooley sealed Worksop Town’s 3-0 win over doomed Clipstone.

Joshua Tennant’s 84th-minute equaliser gave Barton Town a 1-1 draw against Handsworth Parramore.

DAVID LAWRENCE

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

CHARLEY Sanders’ 93rd-minute goal sent Holbeach United top, after a 2-1 win at Harborough Town.

The Tigers leapfrogged Newport Pagnell Town and are a point clear, despite George Zuerner’s opener being cancelled out by Dan Forbes.

Yaxley went third with a 5-2 win at Wellingborough Whitworth. Dan Cotton hit two and Tom Waumsley, Josh Pike and Kyle Nolan one each.

Billy Smith’s double and goals from Adam Millson and Alex Beck gave Wisbech Town a 4-2 win at Northampton ON Chenecks.

Oadby Town won their second game of the season, beating Northampton Sileby Rangers. Josh Walsh and Harry Allcock scored.

Adam Speight and Deven Ellwood scored for Wellingborough Town in their 2-1 home win over Eynesbury Rovers while Deeping Rangers were held 1-1 at Sleaford Town.

ROBIN JONES

MIDLAND LEAGUE

SHAWBURY United romped to a 7-2 win at Lye Town to give their survival hopes a massive boost.

Liam Taylor led the way with a hattrick, with James Askey, Benji Robinson, Sean Evans and Liam Armstrong also on the scoresheet. Reece Shilvock and Ryan Rowe were on target for the home side.

A goal from Dave Reynolds handed Worcester City a 1-0 win at Rugby Town at the other end of the table while two goals from Shaquille McDonald helped Coventry United beat Shepshed Dynamo 2-0.

Nicky Turton hit a late winner as AFC Wulfrunians won 2-1 at Westfields and Boldmere St Michaels also won on the road, beating Quorn 3-0.

Highgate United edged Rocester 3-2 and it was the same scoreline as Long Eaton United saw off hosts Haughmond, Andy Todd netting twice.

DAVID LAWRENCE

EASTERN COUNTIES

NNAMDI Nwachuku hit a hat-trick for second placed Coggeshall Town as they cut the gap to Felixstowe to 15 points, with six games in hand, after an impressive 6-0 win at Ely City.

Ace Howell netted twice for Stowmarket Town as they went third by thumping Thetford Town 5-1. Brantham Athletic fell to fourth after a 3-2 loss at Haverhill Rovers.

Matt Hayden grabbed a hat-trick in a crushing 8-0 home win for fifth-placed Histon against struggling Fakenham Town and Haverhill Borough moved well clear of the drop zone with a 3-2 away win at Ipswich Wanderers.

FC Clacton lost 5-0 at home to Godmanchester Rovers, Long Melford beat Newmarket Town 5-1, Kirkley & Pakefield ran out 3-0 winners at Walsham-le-Willows. While Hadleigh United and Stanway Rovers drew 2-2. RORY HAYWARD

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

WELWYN Garden City sensationally won 4-0 at Berkhamsted in the clash of the top two, after Berkhamsted had gone into the game top of the table by a point.

The Citizens scored all their goals in the first half, thanks to Daniel Bond, Ash Kersey and a brace from Paul Marks.

Stotfold stay bottom, despite Luke Burkett giving them a first-half lead at home to Leverstock Green as the visitors scored twice late on to win 2-1.

Two more of the bottom four met at Oxhey Jets where the visitors Crawley Green remain second bottom after losing 4-2, Curtis Donaldson and Chris Blunden among the Jets scorers.

Harpenden Town beat London Tigers 3-2 thanks to James Ewington’s late goal and Biggleswade FC remain fifth after a 6-1 win at Edgware Town, Lee Northfield bagging a brace.

CHRIS MITCHELL

COMBINED COUNTIES

RUNAWAY Premier Division leaders Westfield enjoyed a dream day, hammering Guildford City 5-0.

And second-placed Bedfont Sports sensationally lost 8-4 at home to Balham. So Field are 12 points clear.

Karle Carder-Andrews, Max Blackmore and Jamie Byatt, Bobby Dormer and Aaron Watson found the net for Field. While Sports led 4-3 before the visitors pulled away.

Sutton Common Rovers went third with a 2-0 win at rock-bottom Epsom & Ewell through goals by Matt Ferdinando and Asa Rixon-Nicholls.

Knaphill stay sixth after a 3-0 win at Abbey Rangers, Danny Taylor adding two to Andre Williams’ opener late on. Horley Town won 1-0 at CB Hounslow United, while Spelthorne Sports lost 1-0 to Redhill.

Hanworth Villa won 2-1 at Chertsey Town, Banstead Athletic lost 3-0 at fellow strugglers Godalming Town. DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COMBINATION

HORSHAM YMCA went top after Ashley Dugdale's 66th minute goal handed them a 1-0 home win against struggling Arundel.

Pre-match leaders Haywards Heath Town’s game at fourth placed Eastbourne Town fell to the rain.

Eastbourne United AFC climbed out of the bottom three after a vital 2-1 victory at Hassocks. Jamie Fielding and Tyler O'Callaghan were on target for the visitors.

Dan Huet, Ryan Quirke and Hayden Hunter were East Preston's scorers in a 3-2 success at Loxwood and Lee Robinson netted twice for Newmarket Town in a 3-1 win at Peacehaven & Telscombe.

The weather beat four other games, including bottom side Littlehampton Town against Broadbridge Heath, Saltdean United's trip to AFC Uckfield Town and Crawley Down Gatwick's home game with Pagham.

RORY HAYWARD

HELLENIC LEAGUE

HIGHWORTH Town regained top spot with a 3-1 home win against fourth-from-bottom Fairford Town.

The hosts led within a minute through Jason Milhench, Ash Edenborough made it 2-0 on 53 minutes. Connor Lynch reduced the arrears on the hour but Rory Sproule made it 3-1 on 68 minutes.

Flackwell Heath stayed fourth with a 6-2 thrashing of Longlevens. Dean Allen’s hat-trick included two penalties. Sheridan Campbell, Charlie Samuel and James Tripp also netted.

Brimscombe & Thrupp went sixth with a 3-1 win at Royal Wootton Bassett Town, Harrison Reeves, Ollie Pitt and Sam Blackie the scorers. Lewis Waldon netted a second-half consolation for the hosts.

Oxford City Nomads lost 3-1 at home to Ascot United. Abingdon United defeated Lydney Town 4-2.

DAVID GROVES

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST

WHITSTABLE Town went second as they beat Hollands & Blair 2-0. Danny Williams scored both for the Oystermen who leapfrogged both Beckenham Town and Crowborough after they drew 2-2. Tom Phipp scored early for the Crows before Junior Kaffo and Trevor McCreadie put Becks ahead at the break. Shamik Farrell levelled seven minutes after the break.

Leaders Sevenoaks Town left it late with Kenny Pogue scoring twice in the last seven minutes as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Sheppey United.

Rochester United went behind at Corinthian but won 3-2 with Merrick Simms’ 79th-minute goal. Greg Skinner scored in added time in Tunbridge Wells’ 3-2 win over Rusthall.

In Division One George Goodwin and Nick Donaldson scored hat-tricks in Punjab United’s 6-2 win at Kent Football United. PAUL CARTER

WESTERN LEAGUE

JAKE Viney’s 15th minute penalty save laid the platform for

Bridgwater Town to claim a 4-0 victory at Cadbury Heath.

After the keeper’s early heroics, Jack Taylor and Michael Duffy each fired home to put the visitors two goals up at the break, before Jack Jenkins and Steve Holland completed the scoring during the second half.

Buckland Athletic also won on their travels, with Craig Duff scoring the only goal in their win at Clevedon

Town, while Aaron Anglin and Daryl Charman scored either side of halftime as Hallen defeated Odd Down 2-0. Cribbs and Shepton Mallet both claimed 3-1 wins at home to

Chipping Sodbury Town and Longwell Green Sports respectively, while at Norton Lane, Jack Fillingham’s second goal of the afternoon midway through the second half handed Hengrove Athletic a 3-2 win over Bridport. TOM HISCOTT

WESSEX LEAGUE

■ AFC PORTCHESTER beat the

weather and Petersfield Town, 31. Dale Mason scored twice and Bobby Scott added a third..

Horndean and Amesbury Town drew 2-2 at Fiveheads Park. Miles Everett put the Deans ahead on 14 minutes and netted his and his side’s second eight minutes before half-time.

Kieran Stephens reduced the deficit on 39 minutes with a long-range strike and Amesbury levelled on 54 minutes. Elsewhere in the Premier Division,

Fareham Town earned a hard-fought 1-0 at Brockenhurst.

A crowd of 81 watched on in Division One as Alton Town won 2-1 at home to East Cowes Vics. A goal each from Danny Knee and Matt Graham was enough to seal the points. A Liam Callaghan brace helped fire

US Portsmouth to a 3-0 home win against Hythe and Dibden. MATT RICHBELL

STEP 6 ROUND-UPS SOUTH WEST PENINSULA

PLYMOUTH Parkway have had their Premier Division leadership cut to 17 points following another frustrating weekend weather wise.

Second-placed local rivals Plymouth Argyle, who have now played one match more than the table toppers, closed that gap thanks to Friday’s 1-1 draw with third-from-bottom visitors Camelford as the weather eased up for a welcome respite.

However, yesterday’s scheduled fixtures between Callington Town and Launceston, Exmouth Town and Helston Athletic, and last season’s champions Tavistock and Cullompton Rangers were all rained off, continuing a nightmare spell for all concerned.

There had also been a break in the lay-offs in midweek when Plymouth Parkway continued their dream season by triumphing 3-0 at mid-table Newquay in league action.

DAVID GROVES

EAST MIDLANDS

THREE matches survived the weather in the Premier Division but it rained 16 goals nonetheless. Stapenhill chalked up five of them in a 5-3 defeat of lowly Arnold Town.

Peter Martin weighed in with a hattrick while Louis Briscoe scored two and could also have had three but for a penalty which crashed against the bar.

Kevin Morrow bagged a brace for Graham Street at Clifton All Whites but it proved in vain as the hosts came from 2-1 down to win 3-2.

Connor Crofts was the matchwinner for Gedling Miners in their 2-1 defeat of hosts West Bridgford.

The striker swept home the opener a minute before the break and repeated the feat 12 minutes from time.

Will Daly’s cross was misjudged by Miners keeper Dan Brown late on but the visitors saw the match out to move up to sixth. NAT SYLVESTER

WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL

MALVERN Town stay four points clear after a 2-2 draw at secondplaced Black Country Rangers.

Kyonn Evans gave Malvern an early lead but Russ Garner rocketed home a spectacular 35-yard equaliser. Malvern led again on the hour with Louis Loader’s trademark free-kick but Kieron Clarke weaved past two defenders to fire home on 86 minutes.

Ellesmere Rangers beat Shropshire rivals Shifnal Town 4-0, with two goals from Will Twyford and one apiece from Anwar Ologbu and Karl Bailey.

Pegasus Juniors picked up a precious 2-2 draw at Bilston Town Community. Ryan Williams and Jason Hewitt put the Steelmen two-up but Kyle Panniers and Harvey Harris scored for Pegasus, who are four points clear of second-bottom Dudley Town, 3-1 losers at Hereford Lads Club. NICK PULLEN