Saturday's Premier Division action review

Hednesford Town missed the chance to draw level with Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders North Ferriby United on Saturday after sharing a 1-1 draw with play-off chasing Witton Albion at Wincham Park, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

A decent crowd of 507 saw both goals come in the final seveen minutes, Anthony Gardner breaking the deadlock to put Albion in front from the penalty spot after 83 minutes only for Ben Bailey to equalise with a couple of minutes remaining.

With Ferriby taking on FC United of Manchester on Sunday, Marine also missed the chance to improve their top five hopes when they were held to a goalless draw at Marston Road by Stafford Rangers.

Those results gave the chasing pack more hope, and sixth-placed Rushall Olympic are now level on points with Witton after winning 2-0 in Cumbria against third-bottom Kendal Town. Ahmed Obeng gave the Pics a 25th minute lead that Andre Landell added to three minute from time.

Worksop Town, AFC Fylde, Ashton United, Chorley and Buxton all still have hopes of mounting a top five challenge, and all-bar Buxton managed to win on Saturday.

The Tigers beat bottom-markers Eastwood Town, courtesy of a 58th minute Ashley Burbeary effort, while Fylde had a much more comfortable time at Croft Park, hammering hosts Blyth Spartans 5-0 with goals from recent recruit Sean Cooke after two minutes, a James McCarthy brace in the fifth and 20th minutes, James Dean on 25 minutes and then Cooke again 18 minutes from time.

Ashton beat Nantwich Town 2-0 at the Weaver Stadium with a Chris Amadi double in the 76th and 87th minutes, and Chorley edged out Matlock Town 1-0 at Victory Park, courtesy of an 88th minute Porya Ahmadi winner.

Buxton were pinned back at Westfield Lane by relegation-threatened Frickley Athletic, whose Luke Hinsley salvaged a 3-3 draw in stoppage time. Earlier, Mark Reed gave the Bucks an 11th minute lead that Jason Yates cancelled out two minutes later.

Chris Wood put the home side ahead six minutes later but Neil Stevens levelled 10 minutes after the break and then Reed gave them a 3-2 lead with 16 minutes to go before Hinsley struck.

Second-bottom Stocksbridge Park Steels suffered a 4-1 Bracken Moor defeat to Whitby Town in which Shane Henry bagged a brace for the Seasiders in the 10th and 48th minutes. Tom Portas after 27 minutes and Craig Farrell a minute from time – a few seconds after Jordan Thewlis netted a consolation for Steels – were the other Whitby scorers.

Fourth-bottom Grantham Town were held to a 1-1 draw at The Meres by Ilkeston FC, whose Joe Maguire broke the deadlock in the 57th minute. But Dean Meikle salvaged a point for the Gingerbreads eight minutes from time.