Saturday's Premier Division action review

Skelmersdale United suffered a second successive home defeat and now lead the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Premier Division table by only five points, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Last week Stamford AFC won at Stormy Corner, and on Saturday it was relegation-threatened Matlock Town, whose Jamie McDonagh scored the only goal on the half-hour mark to lift them out of the bottom four.

Ilkeston FC are second and won by the same scoreline at the New Manor Ground against Frickley Athletic, courtesy of an early third minute James Reid effort.

Ashton United are a point behind the Robins and, like them, possess no less than six games in hand on Skelmersdale.

The Tamesiders beat Grantham Town 2-0 at Hurst Cross with goals from Sam Wilson right on the stroke of half-time and Martin Pilkington six minutes into the second half.

Workington AFC's top five hopes took a bit of a blow after being held to a goalless draw at Borough Park by in-form Halesowen Town, for whom this was an eighth game unbeaten.

FC United of Manchester made the most of a defeat for Buxton to move into the top five after hammering struggling Marine AFC 5-2 at the Tameside Stadium.

However, the Reds had to come back from two-down to win. The hosts shipped two goals in the first 26 minutes to a Tom Peers brace, but Craig Lindfield on 39 minutes and Dave Birch right on half-time pulled them level before the break.

Callum Byrne put FC United ahead five minutes after the break and there was no looking back. Shelton Payne scored his first for the club on 58 minutes and Matthew Wolfenden completed the rout on the hour-mark.

Buxton dropped out of the top five after losing by the odd goal in five at Silverlands to Blyth Spartans, who still feel they have a shout with games in hand.

Like FC United, however, Spartans also found themselves 2-0 down to goals from Ashley Burbeary after 12 minutes and Liam Hardy on 28 minutes. But a poor second half performance by the hosts saw Steve Turnbull on 57 minutes and Danny Maguire on 64 minutes, pull the visitors` level. Maguire then bagged his second to win it for Blyth three minutes later.

Curzon Ashton are also dropping out of the top five race and are now seventh, four points adrift of the play-off places after losing 2-1 at Dales Lane against mid-table Rushall Olympic.

Sam Walker gave the visitors a good start with a goal inside eight minutes. Michael Townsend equalised five minutes before half-time and then right on the whistle for the break, Carl Palmer put the Pics in the lead – a lead they never squandered.

A late, late Kayelden Brown goal in stoppage time rescued a point for Stourbridge against a determined, second-bottom Trafford at Amblecote. Andy Smart had given the visitors the lead on the half-time whistle.

Belper Town picked up one point from a 3-3 thriller at the Turnbull Ground against mid-table Whitby Town, but the Nailers really need wins as they are fourteen points behind fifth-bottom Matlock.

They were two-up through Jon Froggatt and Michael Towey by the quarter-hour mark. But James Brown five minutes before the break and Steve Snaith on 65 minutes, pulled the Seasiders back on level terms, only for Towey to net his second and the Nailers` third two minutes later.

It looked as though Belper were going to win, until Rob Nolan popped up with an injury-time equaliser for the hosts.

Fourth-bottom Witton Albion also picked up one point from a Wincham Park draw with tenth-placed Barwell.

This was yet another game in which a team led 2-0 – in this case the visitors, courtesy of Danny Jenno after 28 minutes and Alex Tomlinson 10 minutes later. Albion rescued what could turn out to be a valuable point with goals from Danny Andrews after 57 minutes and Luke Clark on 66 minutes.

Nantwich Town`s new boss Phil Parkinson saw his team win for the first time under his charge to move four points clear of the drop zone.

The Dabbers saw off King`s Lynn Town 2-1 at the Weaver Stadium, with Matty Kotylo giving them a 39th minute lead. Ryan Fryatt levelled just past the hour-mark but Steve Jones won it for the Dabbers with 18 minutes remaining.

Rusty Ramsbottom United shared a 1-1 draw at the Zeeco Stadium with Stamford in their first league game since January 1st!

Dan Claments gave the Daniels a ninth minute lead that Osebi Abadaki cancelled out 11 minutes from time.