Hednesford Town and Chasetown fall to defeats in promotion race
Hednesford Town missed the chance to close the gap at the top of the Northern West after falling to a 1-0 defeat against Trafford at Keys Park.
Simeone Maye was sent off just past the half-hour mark and Rio Clegg stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick for Trafford.
That defeat leaves third-place Hednesford seven points adrift of the league summit after leaders Widnes fell to a 1-0 home setback against Witton Albion.
Chasetown lost 2-1 at fellow play-off rivals Stalybridge Celtic but remain four points clear of the chasing pack in fifth spot.
Lewis Rawsthorn powered his header into the roof of the net from Jordan Butterworth to give Stalybridge the lead inside six minutes.
Rawsthorn doubled his tally and Stalybridge's lead eight minutes after the restart when he latched on to Lewis Irlam's through ball to score.
Danny O'Callaghan halved the deficit with a consolation goal for Chasetown in the second minute of second half stoppage time but it proved too little, too late for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Stafford Rangers equalised with the final kick of the game to rescue a vital 2-2 home draw against Runcorn Linnets.
Scott Warra headed Rangers into the lead five minutes after the break before Lewis Doyle restored parity for Runcorn midway into the second half.
Eden Gumbs fired Runcorn into the lead 11 minutes from time but Kaiman Anderson grabbed a 97th-minute equaliser to send Stafford six points clear of the drop zone.
Quorn sealed the Northern League Midlands league championship with a 3-0 win over Darlaston Town at the Paycare Stadium.
Former Accrington Stanley striker Billy Kee, Kain Noble and Oscar Marshall all got on the score sheet for Quorn, as Darlaston were left six points adrift of the play-off spots.
Sporting Khalsa were condemned to a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of second-place Corby Town at the Aspray Arena.
Fletcher Toll scored a hat-trick and Neo Dobson and Rory McAuley also got on the score sheet as Corby ran riot.
Khalsa were reduced to nine-men just before the hour-mark when both Matt Fulloway and Andre Landell were given their marching orders.
That devastating defeat leaves Khalsa in seventh-place, seven points below the play-offs.
Elsewhere, second from bottom Lye Town moved one step closer to relegation after drawing 0-0 against Coventry Sphinx.
They now sit seven points adrift of safety as they extended their winless run to 14 games.
