New Year's Day Premier Division review

The wet weather on New Year`s Day was a little kinder to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division than most of its southern equivalents, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

It lost only three of its scheduled matches and saw a Tameside demolition and a derby win for leaders Skelmersdale United. Skem maintained their three-point lead at the top of the table after a comprehensive 4-1 win at The West Lancashire College Stadium against neighbours Marine AFC.

Mattie Hughes gave the home side a 37th minute lead that Dean Astbury doubled within a minute. And a third goal in three minutes saw a Jonathan Goulding own goal take Skem in 3-0 up at half-time. Astbury made it 4-0 with his second of the game eight minutes after the break, but the home side took their foot off the pedal somewhat and Marine grabbed a consolation six minutes from time through Karl Noon.

Ashton United moved into the top five on goal difference after a 9-0 hammering of Tameside neighbours, basement outfit Droylsden.

The beleaguered Bloods took their goals-against column to 112 after this embarrassing defeat that could have been worse but for some heroics by keeper Alex Wimmer. It was 6-0 at half-time with Martin Pilkington starting it off in the 11th minute and Matty Chadwick helping himself to a hat-trick, with Gary Gee and Kayde Coppin scoring the other two. Pilkington went on to complete his hat-trick in the second period, with Joe O`Neill making it 9-0 in the 83rd minute.

Chorley returned to second place after winning 3-1 at Victory Park in front of a crowd of 1,020 against an AFC Fylde side whose poor recent form has seen them drop down to tenth in the table.

It`s now six games without a win for Dave Challinor`s side, who finished the game with ten-men when Harry Winter was dismissed for a challenge on Adam Roscoe that was deemed reckless. But by then the Magpies were already 3-1 up after goals from Josh Hine in the 11th and 45th minutes, with James Dean adding the third in first half stoppage time after Sean Cooke had equalised in the 22nd minute.

Worksop Town lost second spot after going down to a 1-0 defeat at Causeway Lane against mid-table Matlock Town. Former Worksop player Cecil Nyoni scored the only goal for the Gladiators after 22 minutes as the Tigers failed to score for the first time this season.

Blyth Spartans in sixth are level on points with Ashton and FC United of Manchester in fifth and fourth place respectively after easing past third-bottom Stocksbridge Park Steels 3-0 at Croft Park.

Paul Robinson broke the deadlock by putting Spartans in front four minutes into the second half. Danny Maguire added a second in the 73rd minute and Neal Hooks rounded things off with a third with eight minutes remaining.

King's Lynn Town, Whitby Town and Rushall Olympic are all just a point behind FC United, Ashton and Blyth. Lynn and the Pics both won, while the Seasiders were held to a 1-1 draw at Frickley Athletic where the home side extended their unbeaten run to eight matches.

In an entertaining game that was a credit to both sides given the conditions, Luke Hinsley gave the Blues an 18th minute lead, confidently firing past Shane Bland after being set up by Gavin Allott. But Mark Robinson curled an angled shot into the top right hand corner to level the scores 11 minutes into the second half.

At The Walks, Lynn edged out Barwell by the odd goal in five, taking the lead on the half-hour mark through a Rob Duffy penalty and then coming back from 2-1 down after the Canaries had fought back to lead through Luke Barlone after 54 minutes and Danny Spencer on 73. Sam Mulready equalised three minutes later and then grabbed the winner in the very last minute of normal time.

Rushall dealt another blow to second-bottom Stafford Rangers` hopes of staying up with a crushing 5-2 win at Marston Road.

This morale-sapping defeat began when Josh Craddock gave the Pics an 11th minute lead. And they led 3-0 at half-time after further strikes from Carl Palmer and veteran Dele Adebola. Jack Lees reduced the arrears 12 minutes into the second half, only for Gavin Caines from the spot on 66 minutes and Christian Dacres five minutes later, to make it a nap hand for Neil Kitching's side, Karl Ashton netting a consolation second for the home side two minutes from time.