Saturday's Blue Square North Wrap

Kettering Town opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the Blue Square North table after defeating Nuneaton Borough 3-2 while second-placed AFC Telford received a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Southport.

Kettering Town 3-2 Nuneaton Borough

Craig Westcarr was first off the mark at the A-Line Arena with a well-taken goal after just 5 minutes.

But Alex Rodman's 10th minute equaliser set the tone for the match as the play switched ends amid some free-flowing football. Christopher Beardsley's 45th minute effort gave the home side a first-half advantage and when Jon Brady netted a third with 15 minutes to play, the Poppies thought the game was in the bag.

But Robert Taylor's 82nd minute strike ensured a tense finish although Town managed to hold on for all three points.

AFC Telford 1-5 Southport

Telford were taught a lesson they won't soon forget after conceding five at the hands of Southport at the New Bucks Head Stadium on Saturday.

Tony Gray and Michael Rae both grabbed a brace with Neil Robinson adding a fifth late on. Gray scored from the penalty spot on 28 minutes after Lee Vaughan had handled in the box with Rae adding a second on the stroke of half time as new signing Rodney Jack fed the loanee, who fired low just inside the box.

It was three on 54 minutes as Rae netted his second, and while Charlton pulled one back in the 74th minute with an excellent curling a free-kick, it was all in vain as Gray grabbed his second and Southport's forth just two minutes later before sub Neil Robinson added a fifth with minutes to play.

Stalybridge Celtic 1-0 Worcester City

Stalybridge closed the gap to just four points behind AFC Telford as they won their Blue Square North encounter at the Bowler Fold by a solitary Alex Meechan goal.

The 28-year-old midfielder popped up on 69 minutes with 10-placed Worcester unable to muster a response.

Harrogate Town 0-0 Leigh RMI

445 fans endured a dismal afternoon of football at Wetherby Road as home side Harrogate Town were held to a nil-nil draw to bottom-side Leigh RMI.

The draw ends Town's run of two defeats while Leigh have now picked up four valuable points in their last two games in their fight against relegation.

Burscough 2-2 Blyth Spartans

Blyth Spartans picked up a vital point in their bid to stave off relegation but it might have been more had they just been able to hold on to a second-half lead.

Ciaran Kilheeny set the home side on their way after just eight minutes but Burscough weren't able to add to their dominance as they conceded two goals in quick succession.

Martin Houlahan netted with 52 minutes played with Robert Deal then giving his side an unexpected lead just four minutes later.

But it wasn't to be as Brian Moogan snuck in with seven minutes to play to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Gainsborough 1-0 Tamworth

Gainsborough fans will just about admit to their play-off hopes as Wes Parker's 27th minute goal earned his side a vital three points this Blue Square Saturday.

The home side dominated Tamworth for large parts of this game and have now stretched their lead over the Lambs to nine points although they three played games more.

Redditch 3-1 Boston United

Boston dropped one place to 12th in the Blue Square North as they went down to a spirited performance from Redditch, who remain in 13th spot.

Graham Deakin opened the scoring with his 13th minute effort but Jonathan Rowan's 27th minute strike put his side back into the tie.

The home side came out the stronger of the two teams in the second half, however and wrapped up the match with goals from Liam Daly on 65 minutes and Carl Heggs with 69 minutes of the game played.

Workington 1-0 Vauxhall Motors

Graham Anthony's 37th minute goal was all that separated Workington and Vauxhall Motors at Borough Park on Saturday.

Vauxhall have one win from their last six games and are virtually going through the motions with relegation looming while Workington look set to end the season with a safe but unspectacular mid-table finish.

Alfreton Town 0-0 Solihull

Alfreton failed to do the double over Solihull after their 0-0 draw at North Street on Saturday. The Reds won their first meeting 3-0 at Damson Park on October 23rd but were unable to repeat that feat in only the second ever game against the Moors, a merger of Moor Green and Solihull Borough last year.

Hinckley Utd 2-1 Hucknall

Relegation candidates Hinckley and Hucknall swapped places with Hucknall dropping into the relegation zone after their 2-1 loss to the Knitters.

Owen Story got the scoring underway after just five minutes with Adam Webster adding a second a further five minutes later.

With time slipping away, Oliver Ryan answered his manager's call with his 59th minute effort but unfortunately for the away side, that was how the match was to end.