Bury's power keeps growing as Emley feel the gulf in class at Gigg Lane

There was little disguising the gap in class at the Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane Stadium on Saturday, where Bury put four goals without reply past Emley in front of 3,471 supporters. Robinson struck twice and Evans added a stunning 30-yard free kick as Bury moved to sixth in the table, with the club's own preview noting fifteen goals scored in their previous two home games alone. Emley, by contrast, arrived 14th, and their own account of the game was strikingly honest, describing a side "outclassed for most part" against players with EFL and National League experience, even as goalkeeper Ben Bottomley kept the scoreline down with a string of saves that earned him the WM Sykes Man of the Match award. Emley's report acknowledged the reality bluntly: "despite being in the same league, Bury are effectively levels above Emley and it showed."

The result came only days after Emley had shown their own resolve in the FA Cup, beating Bishop Auckland 2-0 after extra time through Rinor Ejupi and Diego De Girolamo, a tie that finished amid a mass confrontation and two Bishop Auckland dismissals. That victory sends the Pewits into a home tie with Spennymoor Town, a fixture they will fancy rather more than a repeat trip to Bury.

Elsewhere in the division, Cleethorpes Town stayed top on goal difference after a 1-0 win at Ashton United, Lewis Hey's strike settling matters, while Avro climbed further as second-half goals from Harry Salt and James Simms earned victory at Gainsborough Trinity, who were beaten despite Theo Williams and Connor Brown troubling the visitors throughout. Trinity's week was further complicated by a statement condemning an individual impersonating manager Russ Wilcox in approaches to players and clubs, a matter now reported to both the league and the FA.

Guiseley ran out 4-1 winners over Quorn, Kallan Murphy equalising with an audacious flick before Cameron Wilson scored twice, while the visitors conceded in their post-match assessment that they were "once again undone by their own mistakes" as they remain in the bottom four adjusting to life at this level. Whitby Town produced the turnaround of the week, coming from behind at Hyde United to win 3-1 through Joey Phuthi's corner-turned-goal, Callum Hickman's strike and a late header from Stuart Rose. Workington stretched their winning run to six matches with a 3-1 defeat of Ilkeston Town, Luke Hunter scoring twice inside the opening ten minutes, while Redcar Athletic came from two goals down to beat Leek Town 3-2 thanks to an Adam Boyes hat-trick.

Elsewhere, Alfreton Town fell to a narrow defeat at Bamber Bridge, while FC United of Manchester appointed Michael Donohue as club captain after more than 230 appearances for the fan-owned side.