Saturday's Premier Division action review

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders North Ferriby United's game at the Turnbull Ground against Whitby Town was the only one in all three divisions to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

That gave the chasing pack a chance to make up ground and Hednesford Town and Marine both certainly did so.

The Pitmen travelled to play-off chasing Worksop Town and returned from Sandy Lane emphatic 4-0 winners. A third successive defeat for the Tigers is leaving their chances of a top five place in jeopardy.

Nathan Woolfe gave Hednesford a 24th minute lead that Elliot Durrell doubled right on half-time. Durrell bagged his second and the Pitmen's third after 65 minutes, with Aaron Rey adding a fourth in the final minute.

Marine were given a tough test at second-bottom Kendal Town, but came back from being behind twice to win by the odd goal in five.

The Cumbrians shocked the Mariners by taking a 10th minute lead through Mike Rushton, only for Nick Rogan to level immediately after the break. But Zach Clark restored the home side's lead after 53 minutes, only for recent signing Will Jones to pull the visitors level again three minutes later. The winner came from Rogan again with 19 minutes remaining.

Fourth-placed Witton Albion were also given a stern test by a Stocksbridge Park Steels outfit struggling near the bottom of the table.

And in almost a mirror image of the game at Kendal, Witton were behind after nine minutes when Matty Hamshaw netted for Steels but were back on terms on the half-hour mark through Danny Andrews.

Danny South restored Steels' lead a minute before half-time, only for Shaun Tuck to equalise on 69 minutes. Josh Hancock then gave Witton the lead for the first time with less than two minutes to go. But the difference between this game and the one at Parkside is that the home side levelled through Alex Callery within a minute to salvage a vital point.

Buxton won 1-0 at fellow play-off chasers Ashton United, courtesy of a Gareth Grant effort with less than three minutes to go at Hurst Cross.

Another top five contender, FC United of Manchester, beat Stafford Rangers 3-0 at Gigg Lane in front of a terrific crowd of 2,131, FCUM's best of the season.

Jerome Wright broke the deadlock six minutes after the interval and Matthew Wolfenden doubled FC United's lead with 18 minutes to go. And then four minutes later, new signing from Bradford Park Avenue, Tom Greaves, notched the third on his debut.

Chorley got themselves back in the frame with a 1-0 Victory Park success against Blyth Spartans, thanks to a 69th minute Dale Whitham goal.

It's very tight between fifth-placed Worksop and fourteenth-placed Rushall Olympic, with only six points separating the ten teams. Rushall recorded their first home league win since September 15th with a scrappy 2-0 win over bottom side Eastwood Town.

Neil Kitching's men edged it through Hakeem Islam's 31st minute effort and David Walker's second goal in two league games – from the spot - made sure of the points with 18 minutes to go.

Two of the sides in the division's leading pack, AFC Fylde and Nantwich Town, met at Kellamergh Park, with the hosts edging out winners by the odd goal in five.

Michael Barnes gave the home side a fifth minute lead that Joe Booth added to 19 minutes later. And when James McCarthy made it 3-0 with only 36 minutes gone on the clock, it didn't look good for the Dabbers.

However, they caused some nervy moments in the home crowd and bench when they pulled two back through Kyle Wilson after 69 minutes and Casper Hughes a minute from time.

Ilkeston FC are another side in that section and they won 4-2 at the New Manor Ground against lowly Frickley Athletic.

Joe Maguire gave the Robins the boost of an early third minute lead that Gary Ricketts doubled three minutes later. Gavin Allott reduced the deficit from the spot just two minutes later, only for Aaron Hooton to restore Ilkeston's two-goal margin six minutes before half-time.

Maguire's penalty made it 4-1 just before the hour-mark, although the in-form Allott did manage to score his second 16 minutes from the end.

Grantham Town remain in trouble in fourth-bottom spot after losing 3-2 at Causeway Lane against Matlock Town.

Lewis McMahon gave the Gladiators a fifth minute lead that Grant Brindley levelled 10 minutes later. Brad Grayson restored the home side's lead 10 minutes after that, only for Karl Demidh to pull the Gingerbreads back on terms again after 32 minutes.

Ten minute late and Massiah McDonald added Matlock's third, the defences tightening up after that.