Hednesford Town surge towards summit continues with "professional" win

Saturday's success came courtesy of a 1-0 goal victory and the work was done in the opening minute as former Pelsall Villa youngster and Grimsby Town frontman Akheem Rose turned well to fire home inside the area.

Gavin Hurren's visitors were largely comfortable from then on in a competitive affair with goalkeeper Tony Breeden not overly stretched.

Bootle, who are in good form and won at Stafford Rangers earlier in the week, did see an effort cleared off the line with 10 minutes to go but Hednesford claimed the points to climb to third in Northern Premier West.

Hurren said: "I'm really happy, we knew this would be tough and Bootle down lose many points at home, I though we owed them from last time and the boys delivered. It was a professional performance, everyone was outstanding to a man."

Neil Kitching's Stafford Rangers returned to winning ways with a fourth victory under the new boss to move further clear of relegation concern.

The Boro are up to 16th and four points clear of the drop zone after Saturday's 2-1 victory at Wythenshawe Town, who they leapfrogged.

Kitching oversaw wins in the first three matches upon his return to the club but a draw and defeat checked progress slightly.

Rangers struck either side of half-time to take the game away from their Manchester hosts.

Kaiman Anderson struck in first-half stoppage time and Callum King-Harmes doubled the lead five minutes into the restart. The hosts' Luke Nock pulled one back before the hour and Boro saw Scott Wara dismissed for a second yellow card.

"It was a fantastic win - and performance," Kitching said. "You take the win any time they come but when you can perform like that it makes it even sweeter.

"I thought to a man, goalkeeper to centre-forward, we were excellent from start to finish, far better than how we started on Tuesday night.

"I'm so pleased with them, we dealt with everything. It was all about how we were going to bounce back from a defeat."

Chasetown slipped out of the play-off places with a late home defeat to Runcorn Linnets.

Jack Langston twice equalised for the Scholars, the second from the penalty spot on the hour, but Runcorn's Lewis Crane converted an 89th-minute winner.

There were home draws for promotion-hunting Sporting Khalsa and Darlaston Town in Northern Midlands.

Khalsa occupy the final play-off place of fifth despite being twice pegged back by Coventry Sphinx, including in the 94th minute. Andre Landell and Kristian Green netted for the hosts.

Darlaston Town were also pegged back late on. Aaron Bishop's goal on the stroke of half-time looked to have won it but Wellingborough Town hit back in the final 10 minutes. 

Second-bottom Lye Town played out a goalless draw away at relegation rivals Rugby Town. The Flyers trail Rugby by a point and safety by four points. Lye lost Michael Adenusi to a late red card.