Bishops Cleeve follow 4-0 with 4-0 as Weymouth stay unbeaten

Few sides in the Southern League can match Bishops Cleeve's recent scoring burst. Paul Collicutt's team followed a 4-0 win at Barnstaple Town with another 4-0 victory away at Sporting Club Inkberrow, Reegan Messenger scoring twice following earlier goals from Jamal Lawrence and Charlie Holliday. It leaves the Mitres third in Division One South, with the manager admitting his side had faced an unbeaten opponent and come away "really really chuffed" with the response. At the top of that division, Weymouth continue to purr, their unbeaten start extending through the FA Cup, where they beat Bath City away, and into the FA Trophy, where a penalty shootout win over Hartpury took them into the third qualifying round to face Chippenham Town.

Didcot Town have made a habit of grinding out results without matching the eye-catching scorelines of Bishops Cleeve. A 1-0 win at Barton Rovers continued their unbeaten start in Southern League Division One Central, following a 4-0 FA Trophy win at AFC Stoneham that equalled the club's record victory in the competition and set up a third qualifying round tie against Bracknell Town. Coach Paul Bedwell called it a case of rolling sleeves up rather than relying on free-flowing football, and after three away wins in a row the club can point to genuine momentum heading into three successive home fixtures.

In the Isthmian League, Faversham Town remain the story of the South East Division. A 6-2 FA Trophy demolition of Horley Town was followed by a 4-3 win over newly promoted Punjab United, with Kane Haysman and Jack Evans among the scorers. The Lilywhites have now scored freely in six successive home matches at the Aquatherm Stadium and sit fifth, with two derby tests against Herne Bay and Whitstable Town to come. Whitstable's own week ended in cup misery, losing on penalties to Egham Town in the FA Trophy having already exited the Kent Senior Cup to Margate, a third knockout defeat inside eight days before Cray Valley arrive in the league.

In the South Central table, Bognor Regis Town remain unbeaten at the summit despite bowing out of the FA Trophy on penalties to Hastings United. Utility man Robb credited recruitment and squad depth for the club's start. Deal Town continued their own upturn with a 3-2 win over Merstham, a second home win in a row following an FA Trophy victory over Sheppey United, while Southall beat Ascot United 2-1 to stay competitive in the same division.

At Step 4 North, the Northern Premier League tables are being shaped as much by cup exploits as league form. Bootle remain the division's outstanding side, six wins from six in Division One West and now into the FA Trophy third qualifying round after away cup wins of 5-0 at Liversedge and 5-1 at Silsden. Stafford Rangers, meanwhile, have sold in excess of 2,000 tickets for their FA Cup second qualifying round tie against Hereford, a reflection of a season in which they have won ten of eleven matches, including further FA Trophy progress at the expense of Kidsgrove Athletic.

In the Midlands Division, Rugby Borough sit top after an unbeaten away record, though Wellingborough Town remain the division's form side with six wins from six, a run that has included victories over Basford United, Boston Town, Rugby Borough and Nuneaton Town. Belper Town slipped to defeat against Rugby Borough despite a promising first-half display, while Nuneaton Town continue to struggle, an FA Trophy exit at Matlock Town compounding a difficult September alongside a 1-0 home defeat to Wellingborough. Barwell produced the result of the week in that division, thumping high-flying Sutton Coldfield Town 3-0 with ten men against them for most of the second half.

In the East Division, Matlock Town have appointed Lewis Duckmanton as permanent manager alongside assistant Sam Hird after a run of four wins and two draws in six games, while Ashington finally banked a first league win of the season, beating Garforth Town 2-1 after a penalty shootout exit from the FA Trophy the previous weekend against Guisborough Town.