Leicestershire Constabulary put a dent in Blaby & Whetstone Athletic's title ambitions last weekend.

A 1-1 draw at St Johns was not the result that Athletic were looking for as they attempt to chase down leaders Anstey Nomads.

The stalemate left Nomads, who had no fixture at the weekend, five points clear of their nearest rivals and they also hold a game in hand.

Fast-finishing Ashby Ivanhoe are beginning to emerge as the major threat to the Cropston Road side.

A 2-0 win over Highfield Rangers pushed them to within two points of Blaby – and they also have a game in hand on Athletic.

Sam Bartram and Rich Hanslow were their scorers as they produced a fourth consecutive win.

Over at Enderby, Lyndon Seal put the Constabulary in front against his former club, Jordan Meredith netting the equaliser to salvage something for Blaby late in the day.

Nomads remain strong favourites to lift the title. They return to action this weekend with a visit to Birstall United, where nothing is ever straightforward for visitors.

Perhaps the biggest test facing Nomads, however, is that only two of their final seven games are at Cropston Road while they also have to fit in a quartet of midweek games.

That does not worry manager Stu Dealey. "The more away from home the better, facilities-wise it is very poor at Nomads!" he laughed. Thank goodness we have got a good squad with all the midweek games.

"Blaby have to be careful in second because Ashby are going well and are in a strong position. But I've been around the Senior League for many years and I think we are a bit stronger in depth."

Blaby, who have now drawn their last two, travel to Thurmaston on Saturday when they will be favourites to pick up maximum points.

Ashby have a real tester as they tackle an experienced Thurnby Rangers outfit at Dakyn Road.

Rangers extended their unbeaten run to half-a-dozen games last Saturday when they beat Thurmaston 3-1. Jason Knight, Lukasz Tabaka and Mandip Baines were their scorers as they climbed into the top six, Shaun Burdett with the Town goal.

It would take something quite extraordinary to occur for anyone outside the current top three to snatch the title over the last month of the season.

Rothley Imps remained in fourth place on Saturday, ahead of Constabulary on goal difference after a 2-2 draw at Cottesmore Amateurs.

Rothley would have been looking for a better return than that against third-bottom Cottesmore, who have just four wins to their name this season.

Ratby Sports' hopes of pushing into the top half of the table were dented at Birstall when they were beaten 2-0.

Steve White struck both the goals for United, who hit back well from a couple of defeats to climb up two places to seventh place.

Birstall have enough games in hand to move considerably higher than that, as do Saffron Dynamo, currently occupying 10th place.

They face a hectic spell over the next month or so but they looked in good touch as they claimed a 3-0 win over Aylestone Park at Cambridge Road.

Nathan Charles netted a couple for Saffron, Simon Richmond completing a conclusive victory for the home side.

Midweek brought a flood of goals. Highfield Rangers were 6-2 winners at home against Saffron Dynamo, while Rothley Imps produced the same scoreline at Aylestone Park.

Kyle Dawes was the star of the show for Rangers. He hammered in four goals at Gleneagles Avenue, Mark Taylor and Axle Symmonds scored the other goals. Shane Gibbs and an own goal accounted for what were little more than consolations for Dynamo.

Honours finished even at Dakyn Road where Thurnby Rangers and Ratby Sports shared a 1-1 draw.

Elliott Phillips was the man on target for Thurnby, Ratby's goal coming from Martin Paston.

The draw saw Thurnby slip down a place as Highfield went back into the top six.