Bank Holiday Monday's Premier Division review

The destination of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Premier Division championship will go right up to the final day on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Wins for both leaders Chorley and second-placed FC United of Manchester have ensured it will be 'squeaky bum' time as the Magpies travel to Buxton and the Reds go down to Leicestershire to tackle Barwell.

Chorley had the more comfortable afternoon on Easter Monday as they eased to a 4-0 home win over a Marine AFC side whose mood improved after the game after they learned that they were safe from relegation after Frickley Athletic could only draw against already-doomed Stocksbridge Park Steels.

James Dean gave Chorley a 17th minute lead in front of a massive crowd of 2,128 at Victory Park. Darren Stephenson doubled their advantage on 26 minutes and Dean`s second three minutes after the break sealed victory, with Chris Almond adding a fourth three minutes from time.

A tremendous crowd of 3,056 saw FC United put their fans through the emotions for the second successive game.

On Saturday they had to back from 2-1 down to beat Stamford AFC 3-2 and this time they had to come back from being 2-0 down against an Ashton United side already assured of a play-off place.

Ashton raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Chris Lynch inside the opening minute and James Knowles on 55 minutes. Tom Greaves began the comeback just past the hour-mark and then Mike Norton grabbed the equaliser in the 72nd minute. And right at the death the ground erupted as Greg Daniels popped up with FC United`s winner.

AFC Fylde look like finishing third after hammering Skelmersdale United 5-0 on their own patch.

Skem`s miserable end to a season that promised so much saw Ritchie Allen give the Coasters an eighth minute lead. Matthew Blinkhorn then went on to complete a 14-minute hat-trick, starting in the 20th minute, with Allen`s penalty 15 minutes from time making it a nap hand for Dave Challinor`s side.

Worksop Town dropped two points in their quest to topple Fylde for third after being held to a goalless draw at the New Manor Ground by Ilkeston FC.

Frickley knew only a win at Westfield Lane against Stocksbridge would give them a chance of staying up. However, a relaxed Steels fought back from being 2-0 down to a Gavin Allott brace in the 26th and 32nd minutes to salvage a draw through Chris Hamilton a minute after the break and James Knowles in the 55th minute.

There were two amazing away wins on Easter Monday, the first seeing Whitby Town winning the derby at Croft Park against Blyth Spartans 7-0!

Spartans fielded a much-changed side with tomorrow`s Northumberland Senior Cup Final with Newcastle United under-21s at St James`s Park in mind – and paid the price.

Graeme Armstrong and Craig Farrell both bagged braces after Tom Portas` seventh minute opener, with Lee Mason and Adam Rundle also getting onto the scoresheet.

The other heavy home defeat, less surprisingly, came at the Butcher`s Arms where bottom-markers Droylsden suffered a 6-0 demolishing by Trafford to take their goals-against tally to a staggering 182!

Shelton Payne scored the first and last goals, Simon Hackney also scored twice, with Paul Ashton and Martyn Andrews adding the others.

Rushall Olympic also enjoyed a good away win at Wincham Park against Witton Albion in a kick-off delayed by heavy traffic on the M6.

The Pics took a seventh minute lead through Christian Dacres and Josh Hancock equalised seven minutes later. Danny Andrews then put the home side in front after 36 minutes, only for Stanley Mugisha to restore parity four minutes after that.

Spencer eventually scored his second of the game with 16 minutes to go – Mugisha matching him by bagging his second in the 82nd minute.

Elsewhere, Ben Love scored the only goal of the game after 42 minutes at Grantham Town to earn Barwell victory, while Saul Henderson did likewise for already-relegated Stafford Rangers at home to Nantwich Town.

A crowd of 569 saw King`s Lynn Town edge out Stamford 2-1 at The Walks with Andy Hall putting the Linnets in front after 32 minutes and Sam Mulready winning it 11 minutes from time after Ryan Robbins had pulled the Daniels level right on half-time.

A decent attendance at Causeway Lane saw Matlock Town and Buxton share the spoils with Lee Morris breaking the deadlock to give the visitors the lead on the hour mark, only for Oscar Radford to grab the leveller a minute from time.