Saturday's Premier Division action review

Recent signing Tyree Clarke scored the only goal in front of a mainly disappointed crowd of 745.

The Quakers` emphatic 5-0 win at Causeway Lane against their mid-table hosts, Matlock Town, reduces the gap between the North East rivals to only seven points with Darlington possessing four games in hand after they returned to second spot.

A crowd of 745 saw Nathan Cartman give the Quakers a good start with the opening goal inside three minutes. Cartman added a second 13 minutes later and Kevin Burgess sent his side into the break 3-0 up with a goal on 39 minutes.

Liam Hardy after 64 minutes and Stephen Thompson 16 minutes from time, made it a nap hand for the visitors, who returned to second place after Salford City were beaten 3-1 at Stormy Corner by a Skelmersdale United side who had slipped dangerously close to being sucked into the relegation battle.

But a hat-trick from Max Hazeldine in the 11th, 42nd and 71st minutes – Danny Webber`s penalty on 16 minutes having brought the Ammies level – should see Skem safe.

Workington AFC moved level on points with Salford in fourth after winning 3-0 at the New Manor Ground against inconsistent Ilkeston FC.

The Robins` youngsters were a 28th minute Anthony Wright goal down at the break but a quickfire Scott Allison brace in the 61st and 67th minutes condemned the home side to defeat.

Stourbridge are back in fifth spot, despite their winning run coming to an end as they were held to a 1-1 draw by visitors Frickley Athletic at the War Memorial Ground.

Luke Hinsley gave Frickley a surprise lead on 24 minutes, tucking the ball past Matt Gould, and they held onto that lead until the break. However, the Glassboys were level within seconds of the restart as Karl Hawley finished calmly from Kristian Green’s pass.

Barwell`s 2-0 defeat at Hurst Cross against seventh-placed Ashton United saw them relinquish a top five spot.

On-loan Craig Lindfield broke the deadlock to give the hosts a 55th minute lead that Martin Pilkington added to with 18 minutes left on the clock.

At the opposite end of the table, bottom-markers Ramsbottom United picked up a point from a 2-2 draw at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium against Grantham Town.

Ashley Story put Ramsbottom ahead on nine minutes after poking home from a goalmouth scramble. The Gingerbreads were level on 24 minutes after Grant Ryan saw his shot saved but Ramsbottom`s Phil Edghill put through his own goal.

Grantham went behind again as Aaron Smith put Rammy 2-1 up on 29 minutes before a second equaliser arrived on 57 minutes from Rhys Lewis.

There were defeats for fifth-bottom Stamford AFC and second-bottom Colwyn Bay, whose 2-0 loss at fourth-bottom Whitby Town was especially crucial as it leaves the Welsh side nine points from safety.

Dave McTiernan gave the Seasiders the boost of an early fifth minute lead at the Turnbull Ground. And Andy McWilliams` second on 37 minutes eventually proved enough to see off Bay.

Stamford lost 3-1 at Silverlands to mid-table Buxton, whose goal from Chris Salt after 21 minutes led until eight minutes into the second period when Jake Newman equalised. But a brace in three minutes midway through the half from Bradley Barraclough killed off the Daniels.

Third-bottom Mickleover Sports shared a 1-1 home draw with a Marine AFC side sitting in sixth-bottom spot.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Andre Olukanmi gave Sports a 55th minute lead that Liam Willis cancelled out nine minutes later.

Hyde United are now only six points above the drop zone after losing 2-1 at Ewen Fields to mid-table Sutton Coldfield Town.

This was also goalless at the break and also saw the hosts break the deadlock with a Scott Spencer penalty nine minutes in. But Joel Kettle equalised after 72 minutes and then Ryan Edmunds won it for the Royals in stoppage time.

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