Saturday's First South action review

Valley won only their second game of the season courtesy of goals from Joe Halsall after 24 minutes and then Charlie Faulkner a minute from the end of normal time.

Shaw Lane took advantage to move level on points but top on goal difference after a 1-0 win not far away at the Oval against Bedworth United.

Alex Byrne`s goal on the half-hour mark proved decisive, although the visitors did have to see out the latter stages with ten-men, following the dismissal of Spencer Harris.

Third-placed Spalding United were also beaten, 3-2 at the Sir Halley Stewart Field by mid-table Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The Tulips have remained in the top five mainly due to their excellent away form and they fell behind after 28 minutes when Harrison Biggins gave Steels a lead that Adam Hinchcliffe doubled just before the break.

Immediately after the interval, Bradley Wells pulled one back for United, only for Joe Lumsden to restore Steels` two-goal cushion after 67 minutes. Chris Hamilton pulled a second back for the Tulips but it came too late to stage a full recovery.

Witton Albion swapped places with Chasetown into fourth after they beat them 4-1 at The Scholars.

And that after James Dance had given Chasetown the lead on the hour-mark. Prince Haywood equalised six minutes later and a few seconds later, Steven Tames put Albion in front. Rob Hopley after 74 minutes and Karl Noon five minutes later made it 4-1.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds are threatening the top five now after they beat third-bottom Loughborough Dynamo 3-0 at the Nanpantan Sports Ground.

Tom Lorraine gave Diamonds the boost of an early sixth minute lead that Ben Ford added to after 33 minutes. Dynamo had Sean Phillips sent-off midway through the second half and Lorraine punished the ten-men with his second of the afternoon on 72 minutes.

Leek Town are level on points with Diamonds in seventh after a 3-2 win at the Zeeco Stadium against a fourth-bottom Stamford AFC side playing catch-up after their Emirates FA Cup run.

Tim Grice gave Leek an early ninth minute lead that Grant Ryan cancelled out after 37 minutes, only for Dan Shelley to restore the visitors` lead within three minutes.

Lee Beeson equalised from the spot after a handball decision on 66 minutes, but James Curley won it for Leek five minutes later.

Belper Town also have 26 points but dropped to eighth after being held to a 1-1 Christchurch Meadow draw by Basford United.

The Nailers were protecting a six-game unbeaten run but trailed to Gideon Aseidu-Boateng`s goal just after the break right until stoppage time when Jon Williams levelled from the spot.

Second-bottom Carlton Town ended a ten-game win-less run in the league with a 3-0 success at inconsistent Market Drayton Town, second half goals from Will Mellors-Blair with two and Aaron Hooton, winning it for the Nottingham side.

Elsewhere, Sheffield FC inflicted a 5-2 home defeat on Northwich Victoria, with Connor Hall taking the plaudits with four of Club`s goals – Adam Johnson with the other and Yaw Gyimah and a Matt Regan spot-kick replying for Vics.

Romulus won 2-0 at Kidsgrove Athletic and are now only a couple of points behind the play-off places, Cameron Lee after five minutes and Jake Donnelly eight minutes into the second half, the Roms` scorers.

And Lincoln United saw off Gresley FC comfortably at Ashby Avenue with goals from Kallum Smith, a Tendai Chitiza own goal and a brace from Jordan Hempenstall – Pearson Mwanyongo replying for the Moatmen.

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