Saturday's First Division South action review

Saturday turned out to be another good day for Halesowen Town as they extended their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division South table to five points after beating play-off chasing Newcastle Town, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Ben Haseley gave the Yeltz the lead after 40 minutes and then right on half-time Iyseden Christie doubled their advantage. Joe Hull added number three five minutes after the restart but two Tim Sanders goals had the home fans in the 405 crowd sweat on the result at the end.

Second-placed Coalville Town were forced to come back from two-down to share a draw at Sheffield FC, whose Richard Stirrup after 23 minutes and Andy Gascoigne after 34 minutes gave Club their lead. Crucially, Reece Lester reduced the arrears right on half-time and then Ben Saunders rescued a point with eight minutes remaining.

Leek Town, Belper Town and Mickleover Sports occupy the remaining top five slots.

The Nailers were without a game, while both Leek and Mickleover won.

Leek hammered inconsistent Rainworth Miners Welfare 5-0 at Kirklington Road with goals from Niall Maguire after eight minutes, John Johnston after 34 minuets and two goals right on the interval whistle from Jordan Johnson and Dan Shelley, with Andy Kinsey making it a nap hand in stoppage time.

Mickleover had a tougher task in beating play-off contenders Romulus 2-1 at home with goals from Simeon Oshoboke and Nic De Girolamo in the final two minutes of the game after the Roms had led through James Reid's 76th minute opener.

Scarborough Athletic`s play-off hopes took a massive blow when they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 at The Scholars by Chasetown.

Chasetown went ahead after 23 minutes with a looping headed own goal from Steve Ridley under pressure from Nick Wellecomme. Things got worse for Boro minutes later when Peter Davidson broke his collar bone and then Andy Milne was sent-off for a last man challenge on Jazz Luckie.

A second yellow card for Ridley reduced the visitors to nine-men and a brace of penalties from Simon Brown and a late Lee Butler goal completed the scoring.

Sutton Coldfield Town's top five hopes also took a blow when they were beaten 1-0 at Coles Lane by mid-table Loughborough Dynamo, for whom Luke Smithson scored the only goal just before half-time. At the opposite end of the table second-bottom Kidsgrove Athletic were beaten 2-1 at The Hawthorns by Brigg Town.

All the goals came in the last 15 minutes, with Paul Ashton giving the Zebras the lead and Jordan Thewlis doubling that with five minutes to go – Jordan Johnston responding in injury-time.

Third-bottom Bedworth United are level on points with Kidsgrove and played for just over an hour with ten-men as they lost 4-1 at home to Goole AFC.

Goole took the lead in the ninth minute when Ashley Jackson beat the offside trap and hit a low shot into the far corner. And after 16 minutes it was 2-0 as United only half cleared a corner and the ball came back in for Mitch Husbands to hook a shot home.

The Greenbacks were reduced to ten-men when Piggon was sent-off for deliberate handball on the line jus before the half hour and Shaquille McKenzie converted the spot-kick. And it was 4-0 just seven minutes into the second half when substitute David Taylor crossed for Husbands who powered a shot home.

United were handed some hope when Muhammed Sabo handled Luke Rowe’s free-kick and after having to retake it, Alando Lewis blasted home the resulting penalty to pull one back.

Elsewhere, Carlton Town beat Gresley FC 2-1 at home with goals from Aaron Hooton after 63 minutes and Sam MacVicar 20 minutes later – all after Paulo Pilliero had given the Moatmen a 28th minute lead, while Lincoln United and Market Drayton Town shared a 2-2 Ashby Avenue draw.

The Shropshire side raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Sam Westray after 12 minutes and Rob Stevenson three minutes after the restart. But Bruno Holden on 77 minutes and then Sean Cann in injury-time salvaged a point for the Whites.