Alex Le Prevost is all over the back of James Coquelin during Saturday’s Grand Fort Road derby at Northfield. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0693374)

NORTH jumped to five points clear at the top of Division One on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Vale Rec.

In a largely uninspiring affair on a muddy Northfield pitch, the hosts’ goals came courtesy of Glyn Dyer, with two, and Jon Loaring.

‘Three points and we’re still top – that was our aim today,’ said North boss Mick Le Prevost.

‘The pitch didn’t help both sets of players and at the end of the game it was a battle. But we always looked quite comfortable.

‘It was a funny game, but you get that in football. The fluent football wasn’t there as you couldn’t do that today.’

The result now sees the chocolate-and-blues, who last won the title the season before last, on 25 points after 10 matches.

Reigning champions Bels are on 20 points, but have a game in hand.