.....were some bright moments for several clubs across the three divisions of the Hallmark Security League.

In the Premier Division, City of Liverpool extended their lead at the top to five points with a 3-1 win at West Didsbury & Chorlton, with two second half goals from Craig Cairns eventually seeing off the home side.

Congleton Town moved into second place, with goals from Dan Cope, Dean Warburton and Emini Adegbenro earning them a 3-1 win in the Cheshire derby at Northwich Victoria.

They leap-frogged over Runcorn Town, who overcame the loss of two early goals to draw level with Burscough at home, but Jordan Lorde struck the winner for the visitors 6 minutes from time.

Silsden and Barnoldswick Town remain in fourth and fifth place respectively but both lost ground after going down to heavy defeats.

1874 Northwich slammed home five without reply against Silsden AFC, two of them penalties from Scott McGowan, while Barnoldswick Town went 4-0 at Bootle.

The most dramatic finish of the day was at Yockings Park, where Whitchurch Alport came from 2-1 down with 12 minutes remaining to eventually defeat Charnock Richard 3-2, thanks to two goals from Arron Johns, the second coming in stoppage time.

Both Abbey Hey and Hanley Town remain in the bottom four after both fell to 5-1 defeats, with Padiham winning 5-1 at home to Hanley Town, and at the Abbey Stadium Ryan Riley and Dean Ing both scored twice as Abbey Hey fell to a 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Squires Gate.

Two games ended in draws, with Irlam and Ashton Athletic failing to find a goal between them, and Litherland REMYCA were held 1-1 at home to Winsford United.

In the First Division North, Longridge Town continue to set the pace at the top after a 5-1 home win over St Helens Town. 

Daniel Gardener's two late goals put the game to bed for Town, whose lead over Carlisle City at the top remains at two points.

The Cumbrians won 3-0 at Ashton Town, with the prolific Rob McCartney adding another two goals to his already impressive tally for the season.

Avro remain in third place but are now ten points behind Carlisle City, after a 90th minute equaliser from Duncan Knott salvaged a point from a 3-3 draw at home to AFC Blackpool.

Goals from Daniel Keane and Mathew Waller earned Shelley at 2-0 win at Atherton LR that moved them into fourth place.

Two goals from Mason Nevitt helped Lower Breck to a 3-0 win over Prestwich Heys that moved them up into eighth place, and the highest scorers of the day were Chadderton, whose 6-1 home win over Cleator Moor Celtic was their biggest of the season.

Anthony Hall scored twice for Bacup Borough in a 4-0 win at Nelson that moved them into mid-table, and there was some good news at last for Daisy Hill, who recorded their first league win of the season with a 2-0 win over Garstang.

Both goals were scored by Ashley Stott, taking his tally to 6 in three games.

The win for Daisy Hill also moved them out of the bottom two as Holker Old Boys lost 2-1 at AFC Darwen.

The Stags had taken the lead through John-Paul Stanway, but goals from Dan Taylor and Elliot Pond secured the points for the home side.

There was one game played on Friday night, with AFC Liverpool taking a point from a 3-3 draw at home to Steeton, thanks to a stoppage time equaliser from Jordan Foster.

The top of the First Division South table continues to look congested, with just four points separating the top five teams.

The top spot is occupied by Rylands, who continued their run of goalscoring form with a 5-0 win at home to Barnton, Jay White's hat-trick being the highlight of the afternoon.

Abbey Hulton United are level on points with Rylands but stay second on goal difference following their 2-1 home win over FC Oswestry Town, earned by two goals from Josh Tune.

Cheadle Heath Nomads are in third place after Karl Bailey's 88th minute equaliser earned St Martins a 1-1 draw at the Venue. 

Nomads had led through a first half opener from Phil Yuille.

Wythenshawe Amateurs are in fourth place, eventually having to settle for a 3-3 draw at home to Stone Old Alleynians after two goals from David Wright had helped them to 3-1 lead 8 minutes into the second half.

A few miles away across town, goals from Brad Byrne, Chris Middleton and Dylan Stringer-Moth ensured a 3-1 win for Wythenshawe Town over Vauxhall Motors that moved Town into sixth place.

Sandbach United's good run of recent form was temporarily halted as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to New Mills.

All the goals came in the first half, with Jordan Milne and Adam Farrand scoring for the Millers, while Kieran Garner-Knapper and James Kirby from the penalty spot replied for United.

Stockport Town were the division's highest scorers, Matt Hanson and Adam Etches both scoring twice in the 5-1 home win over Eccleshall, and Stone Dominoes dropped into the bottom two after going down 2-0 at home to Alsager Town.

Ellesmere Rangers remain bottom after losing 2-1 at home to Maine Road, and in the other game, Cheadle Town shared a 1-1 draw with Cammell Laird 1907 at Park Road, with Ben Dutton-Kelly earning a point for Lairds with a 79th minute equaliser to cancel out a first half goal by Luke Hincks for Town.

Ian Templeman