Haughmond at the double for three points

Howarth's double and a header from Dean Richards saw Haughmond home 3-1 in a keenly contested clash with the fourth-placed visitors.

Haughmond will hope to continue their good form when they entertain Stone Alleynians on Wednesday (7.45pm).

Shawbury United stayed six points clear at the top of the Premier Division with a battling away win at Stone.

Dan Beddows and Jack Hickman gave Dave Richards' under-strength side a two-goal lead in the first 25 minutes.

The home side pulled one back just before half-time, but Shawbury held on for the win.

It leaves them six points above Haughmond, with two games in hand, and 11 points clear of Bridgnorth.

Bridgnorth lost ground on the leaders in their first game since the middle of December with a 3-0 defeat away at Pegasus Juniors.

Captain Andy Hartlebury broke his arm in two places early on and Mark Clyde's team never recovered from that setback, conceding all three goals in the first half.

Clyde now has both of his first-choice centre-halves out injured, with Simon Gregory still a few weeks away from returning from a dislocated shoulder.

Ellesmere Rangers drew 1-1 away at 10-man Wellington. Aaron Morgan was sent off for the home side.

Karl Bailey scored twice in the first-half as St Martins maintained their recent momentum with a 4-2 home success over Stafford to move up to third in Division One.

Having stunned runaway leaders Ludlow 2-0 the previous week, the Saints kept up the good work with another victory against accomplished opposition.

The Saints were ahead on 15 minutes when Shawn Melusi cut in from the left, beat a couple of defenders before smashing his right-footed shot into the top corner.

Five minutes later, that advantage was doubled as Bailey opened his account when shooting across the goalkeeper and finding the net off the far post.

Bailey then capitalised on a mis-kick from the opposition keeper to fire into an empty net to make it 3-0 at the interval.

It got even better for the home side when they went further ahead early in the second-half, as Melusi squared for Jamie Hands to fire a fourth goal.

But Stafford were in no mood to surrender, and staged a determined comeback. Ishmael Reid scored from a corner on 55 minutes, with Andrew Willacy getting a second 10 minutes later.

It became a bit edgy, but the Saints held firm for a victory that kept alive their slim chances of promotion.

The division's match of the day ended all square as second-placed Shifnal Town drew 0-0 at home to fourth-placed Hereford Lads Club.

Division Two leaders Newport Town marched on as they hammered Bilbrook 5-0. Telford Rangers drew 1-1 at home to Powick Rangers.