Dorchester make it six straight as Didcot win seventh from seven

No side in the Southern League is in better form than Dorchester Town, who made it six consecutive league wins with a 1-3 victory at Bideford courtesy of two goals from Ethan Taylor and a strike from Haste. First team coach Jason Brookes credited the timing of the goals and the depth of a squad facing a congested October fixture list, with Swindon Supermarine next up in a meeting of second and third. Bideford, by contrast, had only recently collected their first win of the season against Hartpury, having lost their top five appearance-makers from last season including Javan Wright, who departed for Taunton Town.

Elsewhere in the Southern League, Hartpury endured a miserable end to September, following a 2-1 defeat at Bideford with a 1-0 loss at Bishops Cleeve, where Lewis Clayton saved a penalty and a string of other efforts before an own goal settled the contest. Didcot Town continue to set the pace in Division One Central, following up an FA Trophy shootout win over Bracknell Town by beating MK Irish 4-1 to make it seven wins from seven, with Jenson Wright among the scorers, to reach the first round proper for only the third time in the club's history. Paulton Rovers picked up a first league win of the season against ten-man Bristol Manor Farm before drawing with Tiverton Town, while Westbury United stunned leaders Swindon Supermarine with a 3-0 win after the visitors had a man sent off inside 14 minutes.

In the Isthmian League North, Gorleston have been the standout side, winning three matches in a row by an identical 2-0 scoreline — most recently at Buckhurst Hill — to move top of the table. Walthamstow delivered the day's biggest rout, thrashing Lowestoft Town 9-0 with hat-tricks from Joden Trickett and James Collins. Brightlingsea Regent drew 1-1 with AFC Sudbury after a chaotic defeat at Newmarket Town that featured four red cards, while Canvey Island slipped to defeat against Newmarket Town and sit in the bottom four after taking just one point from their opening four games.

Cup competitions shaped much of the week in the Northern Premier League. Bootle continued an outstanding start in Division One West, making it eight straight league wins and earlier thrashing Emley 5-0 in the FA Trophy, a Step 3 side, to reach the first round proper. Mickleover also progressed in the FA Trophy, beating Malvern Town on penalties to set up a Derbyshire derby with Alfreton Town. Stafford Rangers beat Newcastle Town 2-0 through Scott Bakkor and Harvey Washington, with manager Graham Deakin's side preparing for a sold-out FA Cup tie against Halesowen Town that has sold more than 2,750 tickets. Sutton Coldfield Town moved top of the Midlands Division with a stoppage-time winner at Carlton Town, while Grantham Town's under-18s reached the third qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup after an extraordinary ten-round penalty shootout against Harborough Town, settled when goalkeeper Harri converted the winning spot-kick himself having already made a string of saves.

Further north, Dunston beat Guisborough Town 1-0 through Dan Stephenson after exiting the FA Trophy to Avro FC, while Blyth Spartans made it six home wins in a row against Heaton Stannington. West Auckland Town edged Ashington 3-2. Liversedge remain unbeaten at the top of Division One East, while Nuneaton Town moved into the play-off places with a third successive win, Eesa Sawyers converting a late penalty at St Ives Town.