DROYLSDEN boss Dave Pace refused to blast the shell-shocked Bloods after their dreams of FA Trophy glory were ended in a humiliating 8-0 third-round defeat at Crawley.

The ailing Butcher's Arms outfit's first appearance in the last-16 instantly became one they'd rather forget as they were given a fearful beating by the Sussex full-timers.

But, while dismayed by Droylsden's heaviest loss in living memory, Pace quickly shrugged it off to re-focus on Blue Square Premier survival.

"Hands up, we were well and truly steamrollered by a fantastic Crawley side, but our aim now is to stay in non-League football's top-flight," he said.

When Droylsden visited Broadfield Stadium in September, they were fortunate to escape with a 5-0 beating after having both Jamie McGuire and Steve Daly sent off early on.

But there were no such excuses this time.

Meanwhile, fellow strugglers Northwich failed to take full advantage of the Bloods' Trophy duty as they fought out a goalless draw at Kidderminster.

Stalybridge slipped out of the Blue Square North play-off places as they suffered a second successive home defeat and their eighth of the season in all in losing 2-0 to fellow promotion hopefuls Nuneaton.

That enabled Hyde United to move back to within a point of their Bower Fold neighbours with goals by Mark Innes and Nicky Clee giving them a much-needed 2-1 comeback triumph over visiting Boston, ending a six-game winless stretch.

But relegation-haunted Leigh are now four points adrift at the foot of the table after tumbling to a third minute goal at Solihull.

FC United's clash at Harrogate Railway was one of many games lower down the pyramid to fall victim of the weather.

But Curzon Ashton did manage to beat the freeze at Wakefield, only to be held to a goalless draw which enabled Skelmersdale to knock them off the top with a 7-0 rout of hapless Chorley.

Vodkat League title contenders Salford City and Trafford were also weather victims but they at least had the consolation of seeing leaders Newcastle beaten 2-1 at Squires Gate.