THE two pacesetters in the Premier division are beginning to put daylight between themselves and their rivals after two vital wins.
Leaders Whalley Range were convincing 4-1 winners over Spurley Hey with two early strikes from the prolific John Murphy getting them on to the victory trail.
Danny Heffernan and Rob Kinsella also netted for Range.
Second-placed Govan Athletic had to work harder for a 2-1 win over Mellor as Sean Dinneen and Nick Stone put Govan in charge but they had to defend stoutly to keep Mellor at bay.
Old Ashtonians kept in touch with a gritty 4-3 win over Abacus Media while Rochdalians and Old Stretfordians both lost ground as they shared six goals.
Hooley Bridge Celtic and Hazel Grove were also locked at 1-1 and Moston Brook eased their relegation worries with a 3-1 win over Bedians.
Stoconians kept on top of division one with a 3-2 win at Chorltonians and they were in the comfort zone with Matt Chilton 2, and Brad Dempsey putting them 3-0 ahead.
But Chorlts showed their battling qualities to reduce the arrears to 3-2 with two fine strikes from Tony Hardy and have Stocs grateful for the final whistle.
Cheadle Hulme Villa won their eighth successive game to stay in second spot as they beat Burnage Metro 5-3.
Metro took and early lead Chris Bough netting but Villa came back well with strikes from Lee Wright, Dean Gibson, Danny Grantham and Tony Thornton 2, with Metro adding to their tally with strikes from Craig Worthington and Mike Eastham.
Eagle FC lost ground as they went down 3-2 hosting Hollingworth OB and Gatley suffered their heaviest defeat of the season crashing 6-1 at Alkrington Dynamoes.
Standians lost 4-3 against North Reddish WMC and Heaton Mersey went down 3-2 to Droylsden Ams.
There was a welcome 4-1 win for VIP FC against Norris Villa while New East Manchester were too strong for Manchester Rovers in a 5-0 cruise.
Goals were in short supply for Stoconians lower teams with the seconds crashing 0-6 to Alkrington Dynamoes.
Stocs thirds managed a 1-1 draw with Govan Athletic with Danny Turega grabbing the point-saver.
Stocs fourths went down 0-3 to Burnage Metro who had Russell Hoyte, John Leonard and an own goal in their favour.
Stocs fifths hit back hard for the club as they walloped Bedians fourths 7-0.
Burnage Metro seconds kept up their good form in a 3-0 win at Hollingworth OB with the strikes coming from Adam Harrison, Kurt Greenhalgh and Eddie Adby.
Metro fourths shared six goals at Milton and the fifths looked set for victory as they led with a Paul Sutcliffe special only to concede two late goals to Staly seconds.
Mellor seconds showed great determination as the held division A leaders Bedians to a goalless draw.