Saturday's Premier Division action review

The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Premier Division lost half of its scheduled twelve matches on Saturday due to the weather, including the games involving the top three, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Ashton United were the day's biggest beneficiaries, their 3-1 win at Hurst Cross against Nantwich Town pushing them into fourth place in the table.

The Dabbers threatened an upset when Mark Winslade gave them a 22nd minute lead. But the home side, levelled through Gary Gee's penalty 11 minutes later and led by the break, courtesy of Dale Johnson's 43rd minute effort.

Martin Pilkington's third, just shy of the hour-mark sealed victory for Ashton and shoved Nantwich further towards trouble.

Workington AFC, beaten last week by Ashton, are fifth after winning 2-1 at Borough Park against a Grantham Town side who travelled north on the back of a six-game unbeaten run.

And the Gingerbreads certainly weren't suffering from any bus fatigue as they raced into a second minute lead through Danny Meadows.

But just 10 minutes later the Reds were back on level terms, thanks to Gavin Skelton and Scott Allison's 26th minute second eventually proved to be enough to win the game.

Bottom-markers Belper Town are now thirteen points adrift of the safety-mark after suffering last-gasp heartbreak at Christchurch Meadow against fellow strugglers Stamford AFC.

Great work from Nailers' officials and supporters got the game on and they were rewarded when new signing Paul Grimes gave the hosts a 27th minute lead.

But two goals in three minutes just past the hour-mark from Ryan Robbins and a Paul Lister own goal turned the game in the Daniels' favour.

Lister then scored at the right end to level matters in the 76th minute, and a draw looked on the cards until a tough handball decision resulted in the Robbins netting the visitors' winner from the spot in the final minute of normal time.

Another struggler, Marine AFC, were also undone at home by King's Lynn Town.

The Mariners took a 31st minute lead, courtesy of a Lloyd Ellams spot-kick. Twelve minutes into the second half a Joel Bembo-Leta own goal earned the Linnets parity.

But then Leon Mettam won it for the visitors on 69 minutes to leave Marine seven points behind fifth-bottom Witton Albion.

Matlock Town are three points better off than Marine despite losing 1-0 at Amblecote to Stourbridge, Drew Canavan scoring the only goal of the game seven minutes into the second half.

Mid-table sides Whitby Town and Rushall Olympic met at the Turnbull Ground and swapped places, with the Seasiders now thirteenth after a 2-1 success.

But they had to come back from being a 43rd minute Aaron Williams goal down to win, thanks to two goals in six minutes midway through the second half from Steven Snaith and Dale Hopson.