Saturday's Premier Division action review

Chorley, who moved back to the top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Premier Division table in midweek with a 1-0 win over Witton Albion, had a more emphatic scoreline at Victory Park on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The Magpies ran out 13-1 winners over already-relegated Droylsden - a record for Chorley's senior side. The win, and the added goal difference, keeps them three points clear of FC United of Manchester, who had a narrow 1-0 win at Blyth Spartans.

For the record, Chorley's scorers in the first half were Jack Dorney, Josh Hine, Ben Heneghan with an own goal, Max Cartwright, Ged Murphy with another own goal, Dale Whitham and James Dean.

The second half saw Darren Stephenson scoring, Dean again from the penalty spot, Cartwright with another and Dorney with his second before Dean completed his hat-trick and Whitham netted his second. Sam Madeley scored what could hardly be described as a consolation for the beleaguered Bloods!

Results mean the outcome of Tuesday's game between the Magpies and FC United at Gigg Lane could well decide who wins the title.

At Croft Park, a crowd of 932 saw Matt Wolfenden score the only goal of the game after 65 minutes to seal FC United`s win and leave Spartans six points off the play-off spots.

AFC Fylde and Worksop Town, who have both played a game more than FC United, are just two points behind – but only Fylde won on Saturday.

They saw off another of the already doomed teams, Stocksbridge Park Steels, winning comfortably 5-0 with goals from Joe Booth after 25 minutes, a Richard Haigh own goal four minutes later and then a Ritchie Allen hat-trick in the 45th, 49th and 58th minutes.

The Tigers could really have put the pressure on the top two had they managed to beat play-off contenders Rushall Olympic at Sandy Lane. However, despite the Pics going down to ten-men, Worksop were beaten 3-1.

Stanley Mugisha gave the visitors an 11th minute lead that James Dance doubled a couple of minutes into the second half. Leon Mettam reduced the deficit on 56 minutes and then Rushall were reduced to ten-men when they had Carl Palmer dismissed for an alleged elbow incident. But Mugisha managed to grab a crucial third goal with 19 minutes to go to seal a massive win for the Pics.

Ashton United occupy the final play-off spot, but neither they, nor sixth-placed Skelmersdale United were able to win on Saturday, making it an even bigger win for Rushall.

Ashton were beaten 3-1 at Hurst Cross by Ilkeston FC, whose Joe Maguire gave them an early 6th minute lead. Rob Duffy added a second 13 minutes later and, despite Chris Baguley reducing the arrears 12 minutes into the second half, Courey Grantham made it 3-1 to the Robins 11 minutes from time.

Skem's run without victory is now seven games – at just the wrong time of the season – as they went down to a 1-0 home defeat by a Stamford AFC side who are now virtually safe. Richard Jones scored the only goal of the game for the Daniels after 14 minutes.

With Droylsden, Stocksbridge and Stafford Rangers already down, all eyes are now on the final relegation spot, which is currently occupied by Frickley Athletic, who are now five points behind the safety-mark after losing 2-1 at The Meres against a now safe Grantham Town side.

Frickley threw the points away after Luke Hinsley gave the Blues the lead with only seven minutes to go, only to concede twice in the last three minutes.

Frickley failed to clear a corner and Deon Meikle's driven shot at the back post was knocked in from almost on the line by Paul Lister. A point wouldn't have been the end of the world but in the last minute of the regular 90, Michael Towey headed in a free-kick to give the home side the win.

Marine are the side Frickley are looking to catch, and they pulled one point further away after sharing a 1-1 home draw with mid-table Whitby Town. Lee Mason gave the Seasiders a 47th minute lead that John Shaw cancelled out with 15 minutes remaining.

Witton Albion pulled two points clear of Marine in nineteenth after a vital 1-0 win at Causeway Lane against Matlock Town – Rob Bodie`s goal five minutes before half-time proving decisive.

Elsewhere, already doomed Stafford went down to a 1-0 Marston Road defeat to King's Lynn Town, for whom George Thomson scored the only goal with nine minutes to go.

And it was a similar outcome at the Weaver Stadium where Nantwich Town were beaten by Trafford, for whom Martyn Andrews scored the only goal – and curiously also in the 81st minute! And Luke Barlone scored the only goal of the game to earn hosts Barwell a 1-0 verdict against Buxton.