Saturday's Premier Division action review

The unwanted winter break finally ended with a full fixture list in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

And despite the lay-off, it was business as usual for leaders North Ferriby United, who are four points clear at the top after beating fourth-bottom Grantham Town 3-1 at The Rapid Solicitors Stadium.

Anthony Wilson gave the hosts a 29th minute lead that Kallum Smith cancelled out four minutes before the break. But just six minutes after the restart Ryan Kendall restored Ferriby's lead and then Wilson made sure with his second 16 minutes from time.

Second-placed Hednesford Town saw off Nantwich Town 3-0 at Keys Park to keep pace with the league leaders.

Ben Bailey gave the Pitmen a great start with a goal inside the opening minute and then Elliott Durrell doubled that just past the half-hour mark. Sam Barnes completed a comfortable win with a third on 66 minutes.

Marine are eight points adrift of the Pitmen, but severely dented fourth-placed Witton Albion's hopes and boosted their own ambbitions with a 3-0 Rossett Park victory.

Jonathan Goulding gave the Mariners a ninth minute lead but they had to wait until 16 minutes from time to add to their tally, Nick Rogan converting from the penalty spot. Will Jones added a third for good measure in the final minute.

FC United of Manchester are just a point behind Witton after mirroring Marine's success at Silverlands against Buxton.

A healthy contingent of visiting fans boosted the crowd to 1,121 and they saw Matt Wolfenden put FC United in front after 10 minutes. Seven minutes after half-time Mike Norton made it 2-0 and the visitors made sure of the points when Norton scored his second and FC United's third on 65 minutes.

Chorley and Worksop Town are sixth and seventh respectively, but only the Magpies won, leap-frogging the Tigers in the table, thanks to Adam Roscoe's last-gasp effort at AFC Fylde.

Worksop went down to a 2-1 defeat at the Turnbull Ground against a Whitby Town outfit who are now fifteenth in the table. And the Seasiders had to come back from being a 14th minute Ashley Burbeary penalty behind to win, courtesy of a Craig Farrell brace in the 21st and 34th minutes.

Goals from Gavin Allott and Liam Hardy and a second half penalty save from goalkeeper Jamie Green saw Frickley Athletic run out 2-1 winners at home to another struggler, Blyth Spartans.

Karl Rose brought in recent signings Green, Joe Wilcox and Gareth Clayton and it was Wilcox who was brought down inside the box for Allott to open the scoring from the penalty spot after 18 minutes. Joe Kendrick equalised for the visitors with a header on the half-hour mark before Hardy steered in the winner just before half-time. The Blues had Green to thank for preserving the 2-1 lead as he brilliantly denied Phil Airey from the spot.

Second-bottom Kendal Town hammered bottom-markers Eastwood Town 6-0 in Cumbria to leave the Badgers seven points adrift of their rivals.

Simon Rawnsley bagged a brace in the ninth and 12th minutes and then Maison McGeechan added a third on 26 minutes. The visitors then rallied until the final seven minutes when they conceded three more, Mike Rushton with two and a last minute effort Aaron Helliwell.

Stafford Rangers moved above Ilkeston FC in mid-table after a 2-0 win at the New Manor Ground in which Karl Ashton gave the visitors the lead five minutes before half-time. And Liam Walshe – a former Robins player – added a second for Rangers with 20 minutes remaining.

Matlock Town and Ashton United shared a 2-2 Causeway Lane draw. Bradley Grayson gave the Gladiators a good start with a seventh minute penalty. But Thomas Moore levelled, also from the spot, on the hour-mark and then an 84th minute own goal from Alex Frost looked to have won it for Matlock. Dennis Sherriff disagreed, popping up with a leveller two minutes from time.

It also finished all-square at Dales Lane between Rushall Olympic and third-bottom Stocksbridge Park Steels. Matt Hamshaw gave Steels an early fifth minute lead that Dave Walker cancelled out from the spot on 28 minutes.