Saturday's First South action review

Leaders Shaw Lane AFC were grateful to get a game in after a recent raft of postponements, and they made the most of it with a 5-3 home win against Gresley FC.

It was a classic `game of two halves`, with Shaw Lane bossing the first to lead 3-0 at the break with goals from Gavin Allott, Gary Burnett and Ryan Qualter.

It looked like being a comfortable win for the leaders when Spencer Harris added a fourth goal five minutes after the restart and Allott a fifth seven minutes later but the Moatmen made them sweat by pulling three back through Ben Harris on 58 minutes, Alvin Jarvis on 72 minutes and Reece Morris two minutes from time.

Spalding United enjoyed a more comfortable 3-0 win at the Sir Halley Stewart Field against Sheffield FC.

Leon Mettam gave the Tulips a 31st minute lead they held at the break. Brad Wells added a second nine minutes after the interval and Connor Higginson wrapped up the points with a third 17 minutes from time.

Third-placed Witton Albion, who possess six games in hand on Spalding and one on Shaw Lane, were emphatic 4-0 winners at third-bottom Loughborough Dynamo.

After Rob Hopley`s 17th minute effort split the sides at the break, it was Bradley Bauress who took centre stage in the second half, completing a hat-trick with goals in the 63rd, 67th and then 76th minutes – the third from the spot.

Fourth-placed Newcastle Town, however, had to make do with a point from a 2-2 draw at Carlton Town.

Skipper Lawrence Gorman scored twice for Carlton in the 13th and 65th minutes at Stoke Lane – Castle having James Askey on 52 minutes and a Jack Steggles own goal six minutes later as their target men.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds still occupy fifth spot but Basford United pulled level on points with them in sixth after a hat-trick of headers from Kieran Wells after nine minutes, Riece Bertram three minutes later and then Wells again four minutes after the break.

While Diamonds have three games in hand on Basford, Leek Town have four on the Northamptonshire side as they reduced the gap in seventh to two points with a 2-1 win at Coles Lane against Romulus.

Chris Budrys gave the visitors an early ninth minute lead that Rob Stevenson doubled two minutes after the break, the Roms` reply coming three minutes from time from Ricky Hill.

Second-bottom Rugby Town suffred a 3-0 defeat at Christchurch Meadow against Belper Town.

All the goals came in the second half, with a Kyle Rowley own goal breaking the deadlock just before the hour-mark, and then a Jonathan Williams brace on 72 and 85 minutes completing victory.

Kidsgrove Athletic earned three good away points at Bracken Moor against Stocksbridge Park Steels – Arron Johns on 28 minutes and a last-gasp Harry Clayton second sealing the win.

Elsewhere, Market Drayton Town came out on top of a five-goal home encounter with Bedworth United.

Will Whieldon gave Drayton an early third minute lead that Liam Cross eventually cancelled out 10 minutes after the break. Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham restored the hosts` lead four minutes later and Whieldon`s second stretched their advantage to 3-1, with Dan Creaney replying three minutes from time.

Grant Ryan after 23 minutes and Danny Draper two minutes after half-time were the Stamford AFC marksmen in their 2-1 win at Chasetown, whose Jack Langston replied a minute from time.

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