Saturday's Premier Division action review

North Ferriby United increased their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division table to six points after hammering relegation-threatened Stocksbridge Park Steels 5-1 and seeing second-placed Hednesford Town held to a 2-2 draw at home by Matlock Town, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Ferriby took a ninth minute lead at Church Road and the in-form striker doubled his and the hosts' advantage on 24 minutes. The Villagers added a third eigh minutes later through Anthony Wilson before Alex Denton reduced the deficit on 39 minutes. But less than a minute later Liam King restored Ferriby's three-goal cushion and 8 minutes from time Oliver Banks made it nap.

The Pitmen broke the deadlock at Keys Park in the 64th minute, courtesy of Elliott Durrell's penalty. Four minutes later Lewis McMahon pulled Matlock back on level terms, only for Alex Melbourne to restore Hednesford's advantage with eight minutes to go. But McMahon grabbed his and the Gladiators' second in stoppage time from the spot to earn a share of the spoils.

The race for the other play-off places is extremely tight, with only seven points separating third-placed Witton Albion from tenth-placed Chorley – and no doubt eleventh-placed Ashton United will say they still have a chance being only a point worse off.

Witton met one of the sides in that pack, Worksop Town, at Wincham Park and edged a seven-goal thriller. Leon Mettam gave the visiting Tigers an early fifth minute lead that Steve Foster cancelled out four minutes later. But Tom Denton on 35 minutes and Steve Towers four minutes later put Worksop 3-1 up and gave the home side a mountain to climb.

Josh Glover eventually reduced the arrears after 66 minutes and three minutes later Josh Hancock equalised to bring them back on level terms. Shaun Tuck then pounced eight minutes from time to grab the winner and spark jubilation among the majority of the 408 crowd.

FC United of Manchester and Marine currently occupy the two other play-off places, but neither were able to win on Saturday.

Another big crowd of 2,031 saw FC United beaten 3-1 at Gigg Lane by Chorley, whose Dale Whitham gave them a 33rd minute lead. Matt Wolfenden equalised five minutes later but defensive lapses saw the Magpies improve their play-off hopes and end FC United's twelve-match unbeaten run in the league. Andy Russell was the first to profit eight minutes after half-time and then Adam Roscoe made it game over with Chorley's third six minutes from the end.

Marine, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw at the Arriva Stadium by Ashton United and those slip-ups gave hope for Rushall Olympic, Buxton and AFC Fylde – the three teams immediately below the top five - and they all won.

The Pics increased Grantham Town's relegation worries with a 3-1 Dales Lane victory in which the Gingerbreads led through Emeka Nwadike after 18 minutes. Ahmed Obeng eventually levelled just before half-time, and then Josh Craddock bagged a brace on the hour-mark and eight minutes from time to seal victory for the home side.

Buxton saw off mid-table Stafford Rangers 2-1 at Silverlands, although they too had to come back from being a 22nd minute Michael Carr goal behind to win, thanks to Steven Istead after 57 minutes and Lee Morris on 69 minutes.

Fylde had no problem despatching bottom-markers Eastwood Town 5-1 at home – an outcome that took the Badgers' goals-against column to over 100. Adam Farrell gave the home side an early third minute lead that Vijay Selvam equalised just four minutes later. But that was as good as it got for the Badgers as Joe Booth restored the home side's lead in the 24th minute and then Farrell went on to complete his hat-trick in the 78th and 80th minutes, with Michael Barnes making it nap with three minutes go.

Kendal Town are third-bottom after losing a relegation 'six-pointer' at Parkside Road against fellow strugglers Frickley Athletic, Chris Wood bagging a brace of penalties in the 21st and 41st minutes to upset the Cumbrians.

The games at Whitby Town and Nantwich Town were both postponed due to waterlogged pitches.