Blackstones beat Rainworth Miners Welfare in the United Counties League

Blackstones blasted six goals for the second successive Saturday after a fantastic first half performance helped fire the promotion-chasers to victory on Saturday.

The Stamford side scored all of their goals in the opening 45 minutes of their United Counties League Division One clash at Rainworth Miners Welfare.

It tightened their grip on fourth place in the table on a day where the three teams above them all dropped points.

Table-topping Retford drew at Sandiacre while second-placed Clay Cross Town were held to a stalemate at Pinxton.

Stones' success saw them move level on points with third-placed Retford United who were beaten at Stapleford Town.

Stones had gone into the match against their struggling visitors looking for a sixth successive league win and aiming to bounce back after their midweek county cup reversal at Bourne Town.

They took the lead after 14 minutes when Nathan Rudman picked out Josh Barrett with a fine pass and he cut inside before curling home his finish.

The lead was then doubled just before the half-hour by Will Bestwick as Stones scored five times in a sensational 16-minute spell.

Barrett teed up Bestwick to make it three before he scored his second goal of the game with a fine finish for a 4-0 advantage.

Rudman's close range tap-in from Logan Robinson's cross extended the advantage further before Bestwick latched onto a Harry Peasgood pass to complete his hat-trick with Stones' sixth goal before the break.

Rainworth did pull a goal back after the break through Nathan Moss but Stones comfortably saw out the game for their ninth win from the last 10 league games.