GRICE HITS HAT-TRICK IN ROUT
TIM Grice’s superb hattrick hoisted Leek Town into the play-off places as they downed Corby Town 6-1.
A fine lob helped Grice notch up his first after 12 minutes and, three minutes later, he turned provider for Jordan Johnson to make it 2-0.
Town made it three after just 28 minutes when Dan Trickett-Smith’s 20-yard free-kick deflected into the net.
Grice had his second six minutes later as he nodded home to put the hosts in command at the break.
Steven Leslie pulled one back for Corby, but Johnson fired home his second before Grice completed his hat-trick on 85 minutes.
That strike was his 150th for the club and moves him closer to all-time leader scorer Dave Sutton on 152. The Blues leapfrogged
Chasetown who were mauled 6-0 by fellow playoff rivals Stamford at Borderville.
The goal fest started after four minutes when Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson tapped home after goalkeeper Curtis Pond spilled a tame shot from Eliot Putman.
Good work from Rob Morgan brought about the second as his effort was forced into his own net by James O’Reilly.
James Smith’s sumptuous finish made it 3-0 before Chasetown’s Jack Langston missed a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Fortnum-Tomlinson continued his fine afternoon four minutes into the second half, as his effort nestled into the top corner to make it 4-0.
Bradley Wells then got in on the act after 53 minutes, smashing home from the edge of the box before Liam Adams rounded off the victory in the 79th minute.
Dominic Allen and Jonathan Jebbison were both on target as Belper
Town proved too strong for Romulus with a 2-1 win to extend their unbeaten run to five.
The Nailers were held to a 2-2 draw at home against the same opponents earlier this month but they made a fine start on Saturday.
Jebbison – who also scored against the Roms in the earlier draw – opened the scoring inside 20 minutes.
The hosts wasted a number of good chances in that first-half and were punished late on when Allen doubled the visitors’ lead.
That confirmed victory for the Nailers who stay 12th in the table and ended a run of three draws on the spin – although Romario Martin did slot home a penalty late on to give the hosts scant consolation. Loughborough Dynamo picked up their fifth away victory of the season against fellow midtable side Spalding
United, 3-1. First-half strikes from Luke Thorogood and Daniel Gordon put Dynamo into a comfortable half-time lead.
Dan Durkin made it 3-0 early on in the second half before United found a consolation thanks to Kern Miller.
Jack Wightwick’s late strike sealed all three points for Lincoln United as they saw off the stubborn challenge of
Newcastle Town 3-1. In a tight first-half, the home side led 1-0 thanks to James Askey’s own-goal ten minutes before halftime, with the visitors complaining at a possible offside in the build-up.
Paul Grimes then made it two from the spot seven minutes into the second half but the Whites were not home and dry yet.
Newcastle pulled one back through Aaron Bott 11 minutes from time, but Wightwick ensured all three points would go to the Whites when he fired home with two minutes remaining to keep United four points off of the play-off places.