Top two claim comfortable victories, seven on the spin for AZ, while Utrecht make jump from eighth to fourth in the Eredivisie, writes Neil Adderley.

ADO Den Haag 0 v 2 PEC Zwolle: Dekker and Veldwijk volley PEC to victory

PEC returned to winning ways at the Kyocera Stadium thanks to two stunning volleys.

Rick Dekker was first to strike for the visitors, the young midfielder notching his debut goal for PEC with an unstoppable volley from the edge of the area just before the break.

New ADO hero Dennis van der Heijden came off the bench and the teenager almost brought the sides level, heading against the crossbar before seeing another header come back off the post.

PEC soaked up the pressure and finally hit ADO with a sucker punch when striker Lars Veldwijk smashed a stunning angled volley beyond keeper Martin Hansen.

AZ Alkmaar 4 v 1 Groningen: Seven wins on the spin for AZ

AZ continued a spectacular run of form with an all too easy win over toothless Groningen.

The hosts pinned back Groningen from the start and the pressure eventually told as top scorer Vincent Janssen stabbed home from close range on 24 minutes.

John van den Brom’s side doubled the lead nine minutes later through Ron Vlaar, however AZ failed to take a three goal lead into the break when Padt pushed away a Markus Henriksen spot kick.

The hosts wouldn’t have to wait long to register again as Ridgeciano Haps made it 3­0 shortly after the break.

Michael de Leeuw pulled one back for Groningen from the penalty spot, but AZ would not be denied and Henriksen made up for his penalty miss with a fine finish into the roof of the net.

Heerenveen 1 v 1 NEC Nijmegen: Brad Jones denies Heerenveen with late penalty save

Ex­Liverpool keeper Brad Jones stunned Heerenveen with an 86th minute penalty save.

The home side took a first half lead when Henk Veerman beat Jones with a deflected shot.

NEC responded in the second period and substitute Joey Sleegers brought the teams level on 65 minutes.

NEC looked to be content with what they had, but a reckless challenge in the box from captain Rens van Eijden handed Heerenveen a golden opportunity to claim all the points.

However, striker Mitchell te Vrede saw his 86th minute penalty saved by Brad Jones to leave both sides having to settle for a point apiece.

PSV Eindhoven 2 v 0 Heracles Almelo: PSV cruise past Heracles

Goals from Davy Propper and Gaston Pereiro gave the champions an easy victory at the Philips stadion.

Heracles came into this one in third place in the table, but PSV outclassed the team from Almelo without getting out of second gear.

In form midfielder Propper fired PSV in front with just three minutes on the clock, while Pereiro doubled the advantage from 12 yards after Jeffrey Bruma was hauled down in the box.

John Stegeman’s men failed to muster any threat to the PSV defence, and while the home side continued to dominate, Heracles had stopper Bram Castro to thank for keeping the score respectable on a disappointing evening for the visitors.

Twente 3 v 0 Cambuur Leeuwarden: Twente resurgence continues with emphatic victory

Twente recorded a fourth straight win to all but ease any lingering relegation worries.

The Tukkers opened the scoring on 27 minutes when the unfortunate Marvin Peersman put through his own goal after Hakim Ziyech had burst past two Cambuur defenders.

The lead was quickly doubled with a wonderful 25 yard strike from Jerson Cabral leaving Leonard Nienhuis helpless in the Cambuur goal.

Twente eventually made the points safe when Ziyech cheekily chipped an injury time penalty kick over Nienhuis.

Another defeat for Cambuur leaves the Frisians in deep trouble at the foot of the table, while Twente now sit comfortably in 13th place.

De Graafschap 2 v 2 Vitesse Arnhem: All square in Gelderland derby

De Graafschap continued the mini­revival by holding Vitesse at De Vijverberg.

The derby burst into life when Vitesse midfielder Marvelous Nakamba fired past keeper Hidde Jurjus from distance.

But De Graafschap hit back as striker Vincent Vermeij volleyed home on 40 minutes.

And the hosts hit the front after 47 minutes when Vermeij netted his and De Graafschap’s second with a close range finish.

The home team went in search of a third goal and came closest through the excellent Andrew Driver, however a stunning late strike by Vitesse Lewis Baker ensured the derby spoils were shared.

Utrecht 2 v 1 Willem II: Boymans at the double for Utrecht

A goal in each half by striker Ruud Boymans saw Utrecht move into fourth place in the Eredivisie table.

The big forward, who caused Willem II problems all afternoon, opened proceedings with a 32nd minute low strike.

Willem II, second best throughout, were handed a lifeline on 77 minutes when Utrecht keeper Robbin Ruiter upended Bartholomew Ogbeche in the box.

The former Cambuur striker dusted himself down before making no mistake from the spot to bring the sides level.

However, Utrecht pushed for a winner and Boymans delivered with another low strike to hand the hosts a deserved three points.

Ajax 3 v 0 Excelsior: Milik and Klaassen keep Ajax in the race

An Arkadiusz Milik double and a late Davy Klaassen strike was enough for Ajax in a comfortable victory at the ArenA.

Excelsior came to frustrate the Amsterdammers and almost shocked the home team when Stanley Elbers fired narrowly past the post.

The early scare fired Ajax into life but Frank de Boer’s men, in particular Riechedly Bazoer, Amin Younes and Anwar El Ghazi, failed to convert the created opportunities.

A now dominant Ajax were eventually rewarded when Milik curled home with his left foot on 41 minutes.

And the Polish striker doubled the lead after 55 minutes with another left footed strike.

Ajax continued to press for a third goal and it finally came in the 85th minute as Klaassen tapped home a Robert Muric ball.

Feyenoord 1 v 1 Roda JC: Rotterdammers held at home by Roda

After recording seven straight defeats Feyenoord claimed a point at De Kuip. However, the result will have felt more like a loss after yet another poor performance.

Roda comfortably held Feyenoord at arms length throughout a disappointing first half, until Dirk Kuijt headed home a 44th minute free kick.

But the visitors, growing in confidence after the break, deservedly hit back through substitute Maecky Ngombo.

To their credit, Feyenoord pushed for a late winner, but firstly Anass Achahbar, and then Eljero Elia, who smashed a close range shot against the underside of the bar, could not bring Giovanni van Bronkhorst a much needed first win in eight games.