Bootle make it ten from ten in Northern Premier West

The most striking record at Step 4 belongs to Bootle. A 6-3 win over 1874 Northwich after trailing 3-1 early in the second half made it ten wins from ten in the Northern Premier League West, with Ste Edmondson scoring four, by his own account after asking to take the spotlight. A week earlier the club reported 2-0 wins over Stalybridge Celtic and Nantwich Town. Stalybridge have since parted company with manager Jon Macken and named Liam Tongue caretaker.

In the Isthmian South Central, AFC Portchester remain unbeaten and second. Tommy Scutt's stoppage-time volley won the game at Hartley Wintney on a dry, patchy pitch, and Gav Spurway collected the division's manager of the month award for September. The league's citation singled out the draw at leaders Bognor Regis Town. Hartley Wintney then lost 7-0 at Bognor in midweek.

The Isthmian North was lively at both ends. Brightlingsea Regent won their first league game of the season, 5-0 against Lowestoft Town, who had conceded four to AFC Sudbury on the Saturday. Wroxham won 4-3 at Sudbury, and Gorleston beat Felixstowe & Walton United 1-0 through a Travis Cole goal in added time. Canvey Island ended a poor run with a 2-0 win over Takeley, while their vice-chairman Harry Palmer publicly backed manager Kevin Horlock.

Down the Southern League, Dorchester Town won 1-0 at Swindon Supermarine through Ilya Ihnatenko's first goal for the club, a seventh straight league win that took them top of Division One South. Hartpury lost 3-1 at Tiverton Town after beating Barnstaple Town with a Billy Osborn winner in the 93rd minute.

At the other end of the Northern Premier League East, Ashington have lost four in a row. Marc Ellison said the visitors "were better than us on the night" after the 2-1 defeat by Pontefract Collieries, and spoke of trying to bring in fresh faces. Shifnal Town and Stocksbridge Park Steels have both made managerial appointments, with Elliott Bennett and Jason Blunt respectively.