Tuesday's Premier Division action review

The top three in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Premier Division were all in action on Tuesday night and all lost, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

Leaders Skelmersdale United must have assumed their six-point lead would be reduced after losing 1-0 at Hurst Cross to a ninth minute Martin Pilkington goal for Ashton United. But when they returned to the dressing room they discovered that second-placed Buxton and Ashton's Tameside neighbours Curzon Ashton had also lost.

The Bucks were beaten 3-1 at The Meres by a Grantham Town side who are now sixth after a fourth consecutive victory.

Rhys Lewis gave the Lincolnshire side a 16th minute lead that Alex Simmons doubled 12 minute later. Jordan Hemptenstall added a third for the Gingerbreads just before the hour-mark, with Liam Hardy netting a late consolation for the visitors.

Curzon lost by the odd goal in five at Borough Park against Workington AFC. And to make matters worse for the Nash, they were two-up, courtesy of goals in the 13th and 20th minutes from Tom Brooks.

But Scott Allison reduced the arrears five minutes into the second period and seven minutes later a poor back pass was intercepted by Conor Tinnion who beat the visiting keeper to equalise. And the Reds won it in the very last minute of normal time when Gareth Arnison headed home after a shot had come back off the bar.

Those results allowed fifth-placed King`s Lynn Town to close the gap on Buxton to just four points after edging out bottom-markers Belper Town at The Walks, George Thompson scoring the only goal of the game to see off the battling Nailers in the 67th minute.

FC United of Manchester had a crowd of 1,739 at Bower Fold to see if they could put pressure on the top five with a victory against another struggler in Blyth Spartans. But the game ended goalless to leave the Reds in eighth, four points adrift of Lynn.

Stourbridge, with a couple of games in hand on most above them, moved to within a point of FC United after edging out Nantwich Town by the odd goal in five at the Weaver Stadium.

The match had an explosive start when, in the second minute, a poor touch by Andre Francis saw the Glassboys' defender lunge at Kyle Blake in an over-enthusiastic attempt to win back the ball, and the referee had no hesitation in producing a red card to leave Stourbridge with an uphill task.

But Paul McCone gave them an 11th minute lead and then seven minutes into the second half the ten-men doubled their advantage through new boy George Bowerman. Aaron Burns pulled one back for the hosts with nine minutes left, only for Reece Hales to make it 3-1 in the 85th minute. Burns scored his second a couple of minutes from the end, but the Glassboys held on.

Second-bottom Witton Albion were beaten again, this time 1-0 at The Grove by Halesowen Town, for whom Neil Mackenzie scored the only goal after 25 minutes.

Barwell recovered from last Saturday`s FA Cup defeat against Altrincham to beat Rushall Olympic 3-0 at Dales Lane.

Callum Woodward gave the Canaries the lead five minutes before half-time, and then eight minutes after the break Danny Jenno added a second. Woodward made sure with Barwell`s third midway through the second half.

Matlock Town pulled themselves three points clear of the drop zone and to within a point of visitors Frickley Athletic after a comfortable 3-0 Causeway Lane victory.

Danny Holland put the Gladiators in front on the half-hour mark. An own goal from recent signing Jamie Green doubled their lead five minutes after half-time and then Joe Leesley made it 3-0 in the last minute of normal time.