Saturday's First Division North action review

Surprisingly, given the weather, only two of the scheduled matches in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's First Division North were postponed on Saturday, although they were the games involving leaders Salford City and play-off chasing Spennymoor Town, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Darlington 1883 emphatically moved into second place, three points behind the Ammies with four games in hand, after a 5-0 thrashing of struggling Ossett Town at Heritage Park.

A crowd of 959 saw Terry Galbraith give the Quakers a great start with a goal inside the opening six minutes.

Gary Brown made it 2-0 just before half-time and 10 minutes after the restart, recent signing Nathan Cartman scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot. Tom Portas added a fourth on 66 minutes and Brown his second and Darlington's nap hand two minutes from time.

They moved above Northwich Victoria, who suffered a 1-0 defeat at Flixton to mid-table Lancaster City, Tom Kilifin scoring the match-winning goal for the Dolly Blues with 20 minutes remaining.

Scarborough Athletic remain in fourth after a 2-1 win at Queensgate against Clitheroe.

Gary Bradshaw put Boro in front after six minutes and Tom Corner`s penalty doubled their advantage right on the stroke of half-time. Ross Dent threatened a late comeback when he pulled a goal back
two minutes from time but Boro held on.

Droylsden moved back into the play-off places after they beat Warrington Town by the odd goal in seven at Cantilever Park, overtaking Harrogate Railway Athletic, who could only draw at bottom-markers Padiham.

FA Cup heroes Warrington's hopes of mounting a play-off bid with all their games in hand is looking remote now.

They were ahead inside two minutes, courtesy of Scott Metcalfe`s penalty, but then trailed to goals from Stephen Hall after 19 minutes and former Wire Ciaran Kilheeney after 38 minutes.

Metcalfe equalised just before the hour-mark and then Dean Astbury put the home side 3-2 up with 18 minutes to go. But their former favourite, Kilheeney, went on to complete his hat-trick in the 86th minute – from the spot – and in injury-time to make it 4-3.

Jerry Yates put Rail in front at the Arbories after 18 minutes before veteran striker Brett Ormerod earned the Storks only their thirteenth point of the season to date with a penalty equaliser 18 minutes from the end.

Bamber Bridge are now just a couple of points off the top five spots after edging out Brighouse Town by the odd goal in five in Yorkshire.

Curtis Thompson bagged a brace in the 7th and 31st minutes to put Brig two-up. Tyrone Gay replied just before the break but Ali Waddecar`s spot-kick made it 3-1 with 15 minutes to go, and although Ryan Hall pulled a second back for the hosts, it came in stoppage time.

Brig moved above Farsley AFC, whose play-off hopes took a blow after being held to a 2-2 draw at Throstle Nest by mid-table Burscough.

Lewis Nightingale bagged a brace of penalties for the hosts in the 24th and 46th minutes, with Ed Toner levelling the first in the 41st minutes and the second on 52 minutes.

Ossett Albion won the basement battle with Radcliffe Borough 1-0 at Dimple Wells, courtesy of a spot-kick conversion from Connor Bower right on half-time.