Non-league football: Five-star Nantwich demolish Eastwood

NANTWICH extended their unbeaten away record to six matches with a 5-1 thumping of Eastwood in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.

A double from Kyle Wilson, plus strikes from Sean Cooke, Lewis Short and Caspar Hughes sent Jimmy Quinn's men up to second in the table – five points adrift of North Ferriby United.

Mat Bailey had twice gone close before the Dabbers eventually broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark.

Cooke caught the home side's defence off guard to send a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner of Sam Andrews' net.

Paola Piliero's drive, which was easily stopped by Jonny Brain, was the closest Eastwood came in the opening stages.

And the strugglers were given a let-off when Cooke blasted a penalty against the crossbar after Josh Lane had been hauled down by Chris Shaw.

However, Nantwich doubled their lead in the 60th minute as Wilson capitalised on a poor clearance to fire home.

Cooke went close a couple more times before Short produced a fine finish into the top corner from McLachlan's cut back.

The Dabbers made it 4-0 with a quarter hour left on the clock, a neat one-two between Short and Caspar Hughes left the latter with acres of space to thread the ball under Andrews.

The fifth came in the 87th minute as Rod McDonald broke down the left-hand side and beat the keeper, leaving Wilson with a simple tap-in.

The hosts scored a late consolation through Greg Simmons, but it couldn't take the shine off a superb Nantwich display.

STAFFORD Rangers were beaten 2-0 by Evo-Stik League Premier Division front-runners North Ferriby United at Marston Road.

But Rangers boss Greg Clowes wasn't impressed by the leaders, who required an injury-time strike to put the seal on their victory.

"The score makes it look as though we have been on the end of an easy win for Ferriby, but they were there for the taking," said Clowes.

"North Ferriby's contribution to the first half was the goal – they did nothing else.

"They do what they do well, but they had to change formation after 20 minutes because we were on top.

"I felt their keeper was a weak link. He was flapping around, his kicking was poor and if we had put him under some serious pressure we could have got something out of it."

Danny Quinn had the pick of the first half chances for Clowes' side – an 11th minute effort that was cleared off the line.

The visitors opened the scoring midway through the half when Russell Fry was first to react after Liam King's header had struck the upright.

Substitute Fabrice Kasiama twice failed to hit the target in the closing stages, while Rangers keeper Adam Alcock did well to keep out a King header.

But any hopes Stafford had of salvaging something from the match ended in injury time when Ryan Kendall broke clear before slotting home.

FIRST-HALF goals from Danny Shelley and Tim Grice proved enough for Leek to take the points from their Evo-Stik League Division One South trip to Lincoln United.

Shelley opened the scoring in the sixth minute, with Grice adding a second 20 minutes later.

George Zuerner reduced the deficit in the 64th minute.

KIDSGROVE edged a five-goal home thriller against Loughborough Dynamo.

Liam Shotton's double, allied to Paul Taylor's strike guided Shaun Hollinshead's men to a 3-2 success.

Loughborough replied through Reece Lester and Shawn Richards in the opening period.

NEWCASTLE TOWN had too much firepower for Gresley as they ran out 3-1 victors.

Christian Miller (15), Thomas France (44) and Neville Thompson (67) put Castle in the ascendancy, prior to Jordan Gough's consolation.

CONGLETON are top of the North West Counties League Premier Division following a 4-2 home win against Bacup Borough.

Richard Bailey, Geoffrey Basford, Mike Koral and an own goal made up their tally.

NORTON UNITED were 3-2 winners at AFC Liverpool, helped by Dan Brown's double, while ALSAGER TOWN claimed a 2-2 draw at St Helen's Town.

STONE DOMINOES were beaten 1-0 by Bootle.

In Division One, ECCLESHALL were thumped 7-0 at home by Oldham, while in the Trophy, LEEK CSOB lost 3-1 at Chadderton.

ROCESTER suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Tipton in the Midland Alliance.