STEP 5 ROUND-UPS

NORTHERN LEAGUE

SUNDERLAND RCA won the Ryhope derby after a stirring 4-3 victory over visitors Ryhope CW.

The game, watched by only 74 fans, got off to a pulsating start with three goals in the opening nine minutes.

Nathan O’Neill’s first-minute header gave RCA the lead, Jack Devlin equalising six minutes later and though Kyle Davis restored the home lead, Devlin levelled again from a tight angle.

Davis’ free-kick off the post gave RCA an interval lead, Micky Rae with a third equaliser before O’Neill’s second clinched it.

North Shields won their derby at Whitley Bay 3-0 in front of a healthy crowd of 417 at Hillheads.

Callum Johnson hit the Bay bar in the first half before Sean McRoberts scored off the post on 51 minutes.

Shields captain Kevin Hughes’ 300th game was memorable as Gary Day came on to score twice late on.

Four of the seven top-flight games were postponed, Hebburn Town held 0-0 at home by Guisborough Town.

Billingham Town remain unbeaten and moved eight points clear at the top of the second division.

The Teesiders beat Washington 5-3, Ash Lavan with four of the goals, Alex Ramshaw scoring twice for the visitors.

Thornaby lost 2-1 at home to Jarrow, while Aarion Ramsbottom’s hat-trick saw Northallerton Town beat Bedlington Terriers 3-2.

JEFF BOWRON

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

BIGGLESWADE FC remain two points clear at the top of the table after they recorded an impressive 4-0 win at Hadley.

After a goalless first half, Lee Northfield broke the deadlock three minutes after the interval before goals from Alex Marsh, Nathan George and Justin Leavers sealed a 15th league win of the season for the visitors.

Tring Athletic remain second after half-time substitute Jack Read scored a hat-trick in their 5-2 win at Harpenden Town.

Tring fell a goal behind before Ashton Campbell and Kieron Turner gave them the lead and set the platform for Read’s match-winning performance.

Potton United’s Danny Webb was another player to grab a hat-trick as they won 4-2 at Leverstock Green whilst Charlie Joy, Alfie Baker and Daril Ngwala all scored twice as Baldock Town beat bottom side Stotfold, 7-0.

Team of the month Biggleswade United won again as Joe Hankins scored twice late on in their 4-0 win at home to London Tigers and it’s a result that leaves the visitors in the bottom three.

Elsewhere, Wembley’s mini revival continues as they beat fourth-placed Arlesey Town 6-0.

Substitute Calvin Osbourne scored once and set up two more as the hosts won for the fourth time this season.

CHRIS MITCHELL

UNITED COUNTIES

TITLE-CHASING Rugby Town won 2-1 at Newport Pagnell, who ended the game with nine men.

Lewis Rankin netted both for Rugby, while the hosts had goalkeeper Mark Osborne red carded for handling outside the penalty area and goalscorer Josh Winters for a bad tackle.

Ryan Dove helped himself a hat-trick while Dan Stevenson grabbed a double and Matt Long one as Cogenhoe United beat Wellingborough Whitworth 6-0.

It was the latest in a line of heavy defeats suffered by the Flourmen who are now propping up the table with just five points from 17 games.

Two goals from Dan Jarvis and one each from Henry Dunn and Luke Andersen saw Deeping Rangers 4-0 at Boston Town.

Dunn also missed a penalty when he smashed his spot-kick against the bar.

Scott Coupland and Brad Hockin were on target for Sleaford Town in their 2-1 win at Oadby Town.

A 53rd-minute goal from Jordan Brown saw Eynesbury Rovers beat Northampton ON Chenecks 1-0 as Harborough Town were held to a 1-1 draw against Rothwell Corinthians.

Desborough Town’s game against Leicester Nirvana was abandoned following a serious injury to Nirvana defender Alvin Jarvis, while leaders Daventry Town’s clash with Wellingborough Town was postponed.

ROBIN JONES

WESSEX LEAGUE

win THE torrential rain decimated the majority of Saturday's Sydenhams Football League Wessex programme.

However, several games did somehow survive the downpour.

Hamworthy United were delighted that their game was on as they finished 5-0 winners at home to Cowes Sports on their 3G Pitch at the County Ground.

Nathan Walker scored for the Hammers as did former Poole Town man, Sam Bayston. Ollie Davis, Jamie Filkins and substitute Luke Stone also netted for the Dorset-based side.

Every other Premier Division fixture was postponed. Equally all Division One fixtures except one were postponed.

Petersfield Town’s home game with Hythe and Dibden survived an 11am pitch inspection and Town eventually went down 4-3 to the Waterside club.

Hythe and Dibden started the game brightly and raced into a 3-1 first-half lead.

The hosts came back strongly in the second half but they were unable to complete the comeback as Hythe and Dibden edged it at Love Lane.

Prior to this weekend’s fixtures, Andover New Street were in Hampshire Senior Cup action and only just got knocked out.

New Street went down 3-2 at home to Havant and Waterlooville in a hardfought encounter at Foxcotte Park.

MATT RICHBELL

WESTERN LEAGUE

UNBEATEN Westbury United are the new leaders of the Western League after coming from behind to defeat Chipping Sodbury Town 4-1.

The visitors did much of their damage late on with Dan Kovacs, Dan Price and Callum Demkiv all scoring in the final 12 minutes after Chipping Sodbury had been reduced to ten men.

Previous leaders Bridgwater were comfortably beaten, with fellow promotion hopefuls Willand Rovers winning 4-1 at Fairfax Park. Goals from Luke Mortimore and Ryan Guppy gave Rovers a two-goal lead, before Craig Duff and Josh Searle netted either side of a consolation from Jack Taylor.

Goals early in the second half from Dean Griffiths and Josh Egan helped Bitton claw back a 2-2 draw at home to Bradford, while a hat-trick after the interval from Jordan Annear added gloss to Plymouth Parkway’s 8-0 victory away at Shortwood.

Shepton Mallet also thrived, putting seven past fellow top-half side Buckland Athletic. Joe Morgan and Tyson Pollard scored doubles, with Craig Loxton, Ross Padfield and Francois Allen also hitting the target.

Matt Huxley’s hat-trick gave Cadbury Heath a 3-1 win at Odd Down, as Louis Britton bagged a brace during Brislington’s 4-0 win over Wellington. Lucas Vowles’ double helped Clevedon beat Cribbs 5-2 and Roman Glass St George v Hallen ended 0-0.

TOM HISCOTT

COMBINED COUNTIES

CHERTSEY Town tightened their grip at the top with a resounding 6-0 win over Walton & Hersham.

There were three goals for Jake Baxter, two for Sam Murphy and one for Connor Maclaren.

Chertsey are being chased by second-placed Sutton Common Rovers, who beat visitors Horley Town 5-2 thanks to doubles from Ollie Twum and Aidan Brown, and a Phil Page goal.

Two goals from Luke Robertson earned Abbey Rangers a 2-0 win over Southall, as Cobham hit seven without reply past CB Hounslow United.

There were doubles for Nathan West and 16-year-old Gary O’Brien, and solitary goals for Christ Davies, Sam Hurrell and Ayran Kugathan.

Athan Smith-Joseph helped himself to a hat-trick as Colliers Wood United beat Badshot Lea 6-2, their other goals coming from Mario Embalo (2) and Daniel Campion.

There were doubles for Matthew Cousins and Dean Rule and one goal for Adam Everiss as hosts Camberley Town beat Guildford City 5-1, while Hanworth Villa beat Knaphill 3-0.

Banstead Athletic beat Balham 3-2 with an own goal, an inswinging corner from Tommy Hutchings and a strike from Joe Cheeseman.

Redhill were held to a 2-2 draw at home to AFC Hayes, as Spelthorne Sports’ game against Raynes Park Vale was abandoned with them 3-0 up.

ROBIN JONES

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST

CHICHESTER CITY are the new league leaders after Ellis Martin's late goal handed them a dramatic 1-0 away win in their top-of-the-table clash against Horsham YMCA.

Horsham had entered the match three points above Chichester but defeat means they now sit second due to an inferior goal difference.

Eastbourne Town are up to fifth after a crushing 7-0 home win over Shoreham. Daniel Perry netted four times with Marcus Goldsmith, Daniel Bolwell and Tom Vickers also on target.

Elsewhere, Callum Hart and Curt Ford both struck twice for Peacehaven & Telscombe as they climbed up to sixth in the league after an impressive 4-0 away success over Hassocks.

Loxwood remain second from bot-