Kidderminster and Halesowen secure vital wins in their promotion races

Ashley Hemmings scored a hat-trick as Phil Brown’s side eased past lowly Needham to register a 4-1 victory and remain five points from league leaders Scunthorpe. 

Hemmings gave his side the lead in the 33rd minute, and then he added his second of the afternoon just past the hour mark. 

Maziar Kouhyar made it three in the 71st minute, but Seth Carroll-Chambers got one back to make it a nervy finish until Hemmings completed his hat-trick deep into stoppage time at the end of the match. 

Harriers manager Brown said Hemmings is laying down a statement for the league. 

 He said: “After a tough night against Scunthorpe on Tuesday night, I knew it was going to be a big ask, and I knew the first goal was going to be important. 

“I am not saying they came with a gameplan, and they came to frustrate, but it was not the same tempo as Tuesday night, but the only shot they had was when we conceded a goal, and that was when there were 15 minutes to go. 

“Did they have enough? I don’t think they did, and we managed to get another goal, and it was another goal for Ashely and another hat-trick, he is putting a massive statement down to everybody. 

“At this club, to everyone he is playing against, he is a damn good player.”

Rushall Olympic were on the end of late heartbreak as Darlington snatched a point in the 93rd minute in their clash. 

Matty Cornish gave the home side the lead in the 18th minute, only for Rushall to hit back within four minutes when Theo Williams scored. 

Austin Samuels put the Pics ahead just after half-time, but Andrew Nelson rescued the home side a late equaliser to leave Rushall 11 points from safety. 

Halesowen Town returned to the top of the Southern League Premier Central after beating Lowestoft 3-1. 

It was the visitors who led when Kyle Haylock scored in the 25th minute. 

The Yetlz equaliser came just after the half-hour mark when Ryan Wynter fired in from close range after a scramble in the box. Alex Cameron then gave the home side the lead for the first time in the game. 

McKauley Manning then added a third inside first-half stoppage time. 

Yeltz boss Russ Penn said his side made life difficult for themselves. 

“We had a few major issues today with the illness that has gone around the club this last week,” Penn said. “Wragg and Donnelly were unable to play, and one of my staff was unavailable because of it. 

“We did not make the game easy, but credit to Lowestoft for that. We found vulnerabilities in them from set-piece situations, which we took advantage. That was a big part of the win.” 

In the same league, Stourbridge are in mid-table, and they were held to a 2-2 draw at Royston Town - Alex Moore and Alex Bradley were on the scoresheet.