North Greenford United kept up their pursuit of the title with a thumping 4-0 win over Hartley Wintney at the weekend and a 1-1 draw at Cove on Tuesday night - but they slipped further behind leaders Bedfont Green, writes Patrick Hillier.

Bedfont were 2-0 winners over Raynes Park Vale and the gap is now nine points with 10 games to play.

Saturday's match was won after the interval, with United dominating play in the second half - striker Ricky Pither scoring a fine hat-trick.

The first half told a different story, for although Greenford went in at half time a goal to the good, they struggled against a hard-working Hartley Wintney side battling to avoid relegation.

Front players Daniel Seward and Warren Cunningham looked particularly dangerous for the visitors, but United's Michael Murray opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a great individual effort.

Receiving the ball in the centre of midfield, Murray took a touch before producing a terrific low drive from outside the box into the bottom corner of the net, which easily beat Wintney keeper Bledian Fejzullahu.

United raised their game after the interval, and began to control play in all areas of the park. With the hour approaching, Gary Senior knocked the ball on to Pither, who showed tremendous persistence and determination inside the box, fending off the attentions of two Wintney defenders before forcing the ball past Fejzullahu.

On 75 minutes, Pither extended United's lead with the goal of the game. In a move again involving strike partner Senior, Pither was played in behind the Wintney defence and, noticing Fejzullahu off his line, he produced an exquisite chip that had the visitor's keeper clawing at thin air.

Six minutes later Pither secured his hat-trick and with a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection.

After an enthralling though goalless first half at Cove, the game came to dramatic life 10 minutes into the second period - when United were reduced to 10 men.

Cove keeper Chris Foster handled the ball outside his area and, although referee Andy Maidsby awarded a direct free-kick to the visitors, he took no further action.

With a similar strike to the one he had made in open play on Saturday, Michael Murray drove a powerful low shot into the corner.

But moments later, new signing Joe Sparrowhawk was adjudged to have used an elbow in his attempt to win a loose ball, and was sent off.

It felt that it was only a matter of time before Cove would benefit from their one man advantage, and with 20 minutes remaining, dangerous striker Rob Parrott was played in behind the United defence, and though Gary Jallow got a hand to his shot, he could not prevent the ball hitting the back of the net off a far post.

To their credit, United team continued to defend well, Jallow leading the way with an outstanding performance between the sticks, and thoroughly deserved to come away from Squirrel Lane with a share of the points.

This Saturday, United travel to mid-table Colliers Wood.