Nationwide South leaders Histon took full advantage of second-placed Salisbury City's slip up on Friday night to move seven points clear at the top.

The Stutes hammered second-bottom Hayes 5-0 at the Glassworld Stadium on Saturday, with Robbie Nightingale proving to be the hero, netting a hat-trick after 36, 48 and 73 minutes - his second coming from the penalty spot.

Five minutes after the break John Kennedy made it 3-0 and five minutes after that Antonio Murray added a fourth before Nightingale completed his treble.

And it proved to be a decent afternoon for Histon as both Havant & Waterlooville and Bishop's Stortford lost, leaving the title race looking more and more like a two-horse race leading up to Easter.

Histon's neighbours Cambridge City did them a favour by beating Havant 3-0 at Milton Road, with another hat-trick man in Charlie Henry scoring in the 25th, 40th and 90th minutes - his last effort coming from 12 yards.

Stortford's game at Woodside Park against Bognor Regis Town was delayed until 3.30pm due to the Rocks' late arrival and to make matters worse for the home side, the visitors escaped with the points courtesy of a Scott Chamberlain effort four minutes before half-time.

As a consequence, Welling United's win at struggling Weston-super-Mare leaves them one point behind Bishop's Stortford and two adrift of the Hawks.

The Wings left it mighty late though after trailing to an Andy Gurney goal in the 35th minute. Tony Battersby equalised on 66 minutes and then Danny Kedwell won it in injury-time from the penalty spot.

Braintree Town were unable to make up much ground in sixth after a goalless draw at Sutton United, but Eastbourne Borough, with games in hand, may yet have a say in the play-offs after hammering Yeading 5-2 at The Warren.

Boro were behind to a 21st-minute Mark Cousins goal but by the time Richard Goddard scored Ding's second on 78 minutes they were 5-1 down.

Allan Tait bagged a brace, equalising on 24 minutes and then scoring the fifth on 76, with Pat Harding on 26 minutes, Scott Ramsay on 71 and Duncan McArthur on 72 adding the others.

Farnborough Town, now surely safe, and Dorchester Town shared a 1-1 Cherrywood Road draw in which Tyrone Smith put the home side in front six minutes into the second half, with Simon Browne levelling with 12 minutes remaining.

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