Saturday's Premier Division action review

However, there were five goals at The Meres where third-bottom Grantham Town were edged out by Blyth Spartans, who are now four points clear at the top of the table.

Alex Nicholson gave the visitors an early eighth minute lead that Robbie Dale added to nine minutes later. Jamie McGhee reduced the arrears on the half-hour mark, only for Spartans to eventually make it 3-1 through Sean Reid after 63 minutes.

The Gingerbreads then made the visitors` sweat when Lee Shaw pulled a second back with nine minutes remaining but the Spartans did get the boost of hearing that both their immediate rivals lost.

Second-placed Nantwich Town went down to a 3-1 defeat to Ilkeston FC at the New Manor Ground.

A crowd of 455 saw a welcome return to form for the Robins, coming back from being a Josh Hancock goal down five minutes before the break.

Lee Ndlovu equalised 10 minutes after the interval and Liam Marshall then gave Gavin Strachan`s side a 68th minute lead that became a bit more comfortable after Ndlovu`s second with 15 minutes to go.

Third-placed Darlington 1883 also lost after they were beaten 1-0 at Heritage Park by Marine AFC, Lloyd Ellams` penalty with 14 minutes to go sending the majority of the 1,171 crowd home disappointed.

Salford City and Buxton complete the top five, but only the Ammies won on Saturday, Jordan Hulme scoring the decisive goal in the 31st minute in a 1-0 win at Frickley Athletic's Westfield Lane in an eventful game that saw three dismissals but only one goal.

Buxton were involves in one of three goalless draws on the day, held at seventh-placed Sutton Coldfield Town while the other 0-0 encounters came between Rushall Olympic and Skelmersdale United at Dales Lane and Halesowen Town and Whitby Town at The Grove.

Anthony Carney bagged a brace as Barwell ensured Ramsbottom United`s search for that elusive first win stretched into a thirteenth game.

Carney opened his account from the spot after 28 minutes and after Matt Crothers had equalised two minutes after the break, he restored the Canaries` lead on 66 minutes before Iyseden Christie made it 3-1 with four minutes remaining.

Stourbridge are sixth after winning 2-0 at Ewen Fields againsy Hyde United.

Karl Hawley gave the Glassboys a 13th minute lead that was eventually doubled 13 minutes from the end with Matt Dodd`s spot-kick conversion.

Elsewhere, Danny Holland scored the only goal of the game to move Matlock Town above Ashton United into twelfth spot – Holland`s goal coming in the 19th minute.

Colwyn Bay won the bottom-end battle against Stamford AFC at Llanelian Road to move out of the bottom four.

But they had to come back from being an 18th minute Nathan Hicks goal down to win, John Dillon giving Bay parity from the spot less than two minutes later before what proved to be the crucial winner came from Luke Denson after 31 minutes.

Workington AFC and Mickleover Sports shared a 2-2 draw at Borough Park.

Massiah McDonald gave the Derbyshire visitors a great start with a goal inside four minutes. And when Anthony Griffiths Jnr made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later, things didn`t look good for the majority in the 460 crowd. But Matty Tymon reduced the deficit 10 minutes before the break and then loanee Sam Smith earned the Reds a point with a 72nd minute equaliser.