SLICK Stalybridge planted one foot firmly in non-league's new Northern Alliance last night as they romped to a 5-0 home victory over Frickley.

Goals by Chris Denham, Andy Hayward, Nathan Wharton and Phil Eastwood (2) gave Bridge their fourth successive win.

It lifts them to 10th in the UniBond Premier and leaves them needing just eight points from their last nine games to make certain of their Alliance place.

Ashton drop to 11th after crashing 1-0 to visiting Vauxhall but should still make the critical top 13.

But Radcliffe's last hopes of achieving automatic qualification were almost certainly dashed in a 2-0 home defeat by Lancaster.

Hyde's bid to join Boro in the play-offs by winning division one suffered a minor setback as they were held 2-2 at Ossett. Tweet