Saturday's Premier Division action review

Spartans moved a massive fourteen points clear at the top on Saturday when they won 2-1 at promotion-chasing Stourbridge and the other top five teams all dropped points.

A crowd of 1,376 at Amblecote saw Robbie Dale and Dan Maguire give the visitors a 2-0 interval lead with goals in the 24th and 45th minutes. Tom Tonks thundered the ball home in the third minute of stoppage time but it was little more than gloss on an afternoon when Blyth showed just why they are running away with the title.

Whitby Town started the game in second place but ended it in third after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Turnbull Ground to Barwell.

And that was despite taking the lead a minute before half-time through Luke Bythway. Callum Ball equalised four minutes after the restart and then won it for the Leicestershire side 16 minutes from time.

Buxton moved into second but they had to make do with a point from a 1-1 draw at the Brewery Field against another of the top five contenders, Spennymoor Town.

In front of a gate of 538, Brad Abbott put the Bucks in front after 10 minutes but Andy Johnson`s 32nd minute equaliser eventually saw the points shared.

And to make it a really good day for Blyth, the teams lying fifth, sixth and seventh also failed to win on Saturday, meaning that Barwell`s win at Whitby lifts them to ninth, but only four points off a top five spot!

Nantwich in fifth had to make do with a home point from a 1-1 draw against Corby Town, for whom this was a fifth game without defeat to leave them fifth-bottom.

Matty Bell put the Dabbers ahead two minutes before half-time but a Stefan Moore effort on 65 minutes earned the Steelmen a point.

After seventeen matches and a new season record, Grantham Town lost 2-1 at Mickleover Sports.

Pablo Mills put the hosts in front on the half-hour mark and another veteran, Clinton Morrison, doubled their advantage right on half-time. Lee Shaw reduced the deficit on the hour-mark but the Gingerbreads couldn`t find a leveller and their long unbeaten record was at an end.

Workington AFC suffered a 3-2 defeat at Marston Road against Stafford Rangers in front of a crowd of 653.

Rangers led 2-0 with goals from Kyle Perry after just four minutes and then Levi Reid on 25 minutes. Josh Calvert pulled one back for the Reds on 38 minutes and Dave Symington equalised from the spot right on the interval whistle before Josh Gordon won it for Rangers immediately after half-time.

Matlock Town were the only movers upwards into eighth after a 2-1 home win over Marine AFC, who are now only three points above the bottom four.

Marcus Dinanga gave the Gladiators a 26th minute lead that Matt Hamilton cancelled out six minutes later before Curtis Morrison`s goal five minutes from time proved decisive for Matlock.

Rushall Olympic could have moved into the top eight had they won at Westfield Lane against strugglers Frickley Athletic but goal on his debut from Gibraltar international Adam Priestley after 17 minutes earned the Blues three crucial points.

Another crucial winner was Shaun Goater in his first game as manager of Ilkeston FC as he saw Dexter Atkinson`s fifth minute goal win the game at the New Manor Ground against fellow bottom five side Sutton Coldfield Town.

And goals from George Washbourne, Stuart McNaught and Dan Brennan in the first half and Danny Glover and David McDermott in the second, sealed a nap hand for Hednesford Town at Keys Park against bottom-markers Skelmersdale United.

Elsewhere, A Danny Hattersley goal right on the stroke of half-time proved enough for Warrington Town at Cantilever Park against Halesowen Town, while Ashton United were 3-1 winners at Owen Street over Coalville Town.

Domenico Maiese after 15 minutes and Ryan Crowther 20 minutes later saw Ashton in command. A Dominic Smalley own goal pulled the Ravens back into the game five minutes before the break but Benny Lowe sealed the points for the visitors a minute from time.

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