Tuesday's Premier Division action review

Sceptics who suggested North Ferriby United wouldn’t be able to sustain a place at the top of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division table for long may have to think again after their late win at The Meres against Grantham Town took the Villagers five points clear, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Things didn't look good for the high-flying visitors, however, as the Gingerbreads raced into a 2-0 lead by half-time with goals from Rhys Lewis after just seven minutes and then Conor Higginson just before the whistle.

Chris Bolder reduced the arrears just before the hour-mark and then Ferriby's strength in depth showed as Ryan Kendall came off the bench to bag a brace in the 70th and 80th minutes to win the game.

The victors' celebrations increased later when it came through that second-placed Marine had been beaten at Wincham Park by a Witton Albion side who lost at Ferriby last Saturday.

In front of a decent crowd of 347, Steve Foster marked his return to the club by breaking the deadlock four minutes into the second half. And 16 minutes from time, Matty Cross made sure the points stayed in Cheshire with Albion's second.

That defeat also saw the Mariners lose second place to AFC Fylde, who leap-frogged Chorley after beating the Magpies 4-1 at Victory Park.

The bumper crowd of just under 600 saw the home side take a 23rd minute lead when Ciaran Kilheeney netted from the penalty spot. But an exciting and dramatic final 30 minutes or so saw Fylde equalise through Adam Farrell after 62 minutes, former Magpie Jack Dorney give the visitors the lead seven minutes later and then Farrell went on to complete his hat-trick with further goals in the 83rd minute and then in stoppage time.

To add to the Magpies' misery, they also had skipper Andy Teague and Chris Denham sent-off within a minute of each other late on with the game already lost.

Eastwood Town's mini revival came to a crashing end on Tuesday with a 5-1 home battering by Buxton.

Steven Istead gave the Bucks a great start with the opening goal inside six minutes and increased that eight minutes later through Lee Morris. David Haggerty made it almost game over by the quarter-hour mark when he added the visitors' third.

Mark Reed on 76 minutes and Michael Towey four minutes later made it a nap hand for Martin McIntosh's side, with Greg Simmons adding a last-minute consolation for the Badgers.

Stocksbridge Park Steels moved out of the bottom two after a 3-0 Bracken Moor success over top ten side Rushall Olympic.

Recent signing Nathan Joynes gave Steels a 25th minute lead that they finally doubled nine minutes into the second half through Danny South. And Joynes' second 17 minutes from time confirmed a good three points for the hosts.

Ilkeston FC were one of the teams that Stocksbridge moved above in the table after the Robins went down to a 2-1 defeat at Marston Road against Stafford Rangers.

Simon Everall gave Rangers the boost of an early third minute lead and hit Ilkeston again two minutes after the interval when Everall made it 2-0. Jack Watts did manage to reduce the deficit in the 73rd minute, but Rangers held firm.

Nantwich Town missed the opportunity of moving into the top five after being held to a 1-1 draw at the Weaver Stadium by Hednesford Town.

It was the Pitmen who went ahead on the half-hour mark, courtesy of Elliott Durrell. The Dabbers finally pulled back on level terms 11 minutes from time through Christian Smith.