Blue Square North leaders Southport dropped two points on Saturday a they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ilkeston Town at Haig Avanue.
Richie Holmes put the visitors ahead 4 minutes before half time, with Robbie Booth equalising on 66 minutes.
With Droylsden`s home Tameside derby with Stalybridge Celtic being called off, Eastwood Town slipped into second spot, four points behind Southport, after beating Blyth Spartans 3-1 at Croft Park.
Craig McAughtrie finally came to grip with the elements to open the scoring on 62 minutes for the Badgers.
Anton Foster doubled that on 79 minutes and Ian Holmes made sure with a third with less than 3 minutes to go, although Paul Brayson did manage a late consolation for the home side.
It proved a good day for the Badgers, as not only did the leaders drop points, so did chasers Alfreton Town and Corby Town, who both suffered defeats.
Corby went down to a 2-0 defeat at their own wet and very windy Rockingham Triangle to mid-table Workington, whose Gareth Arnison on 64 and Jonny Wright on 75 minutes were the scorers, while Alfreton were beaten 2-1 at Hinckley United, whose Richard Lavery on 20 minutes and Adam Webster on 82 minutes had sealed victory after Anthony Howell had equalised for the Reds in the 79th minute.
Biggest winners of the day were ambitious Fleetwood Town, who hammered Redditch United 8-0 at Highbury.
Former Aston Villa and Blackburn full back Alan Wright opened the scoring in the very first minute and a Jamie McGuire brace in the 11th and 30th minutes made it 3-0 at the break.
Fleetwood then went nap in the second half with Adam Warlow and Nick Rogan both bagging braces and Jamie Milligan netting the other.
There was only one goal at Marston Road, but it proved enough for Stafford Rangers to beat Gloucester City – Jake Moult the scorer after just 8 minutes.
Just one goal also proved enough for struggling Farsley Celtic to pull level on points with visiting Solihull Moors, courtesy of David Syers` 20th minute effort.
And it finished all-square at 1-1 between two other struggling sides, Gainsborough Trinity and bottom-markers Harrogate Town, at the Northolme.
Mark Hudson put Trinity in front immediately after the half time interval, only for recent signing Kieran Leabon to equalise with 17 minutes remaining.
