Tuesday's Premier Division action review

Tuesday night saw FC United of Manchester put pressure on Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders Chorley after beating Grantham Town 3-0 at Bower Fold on Tuesday night, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

The Reds, beaten last Saturday at home against Buxton, knew they couldn`t slip up again if they were to maintain the pressure on the Magpies going into the final three games of the season.

And another terrific crowd of 1,732 turned up at Stalybridge to see them attempt to hang onto the tails of the leaders. They were forced to wait until the 65th minute for the breakthrough to arrive when Matty Warburton netted from close range.

But just four minutes later it was virtually game over when the in-form Tom Greaves headed home number two. And Wolfenden added the icing on the cake by scoring a third two minutes from time to leave FC United in second, three points behind Chorley, although third-placed AFC Fylde have a game in hand and trail by a further three points, making the run-in still more fascinating.

Rushall Olympic's play-off hopes are all-but over after a second successive defeat.

The Pics` hopes were severely dented last Saturday when their ten-game unbeaten run was ended by FC United`s victims last night, Grantham Town. And their latest reverse, a 2-1 Dales Lane defeat by Trafford has virtually ended their top five hopes.

They got off to a great start when Ahmed Obeng put them in front inside the opening two minutes. But Trafford turned the game in their favour shortly before half-time with two goals in three minutes – the first from Luke Heron and the second from Shelton Payne – his 23rd of the season to date.