AFC Mansfield's lead at the top of the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division has grown to eight points whilst Division One's pacesetters Knaresborough Town extended their advantage to three points in the last round of matches before Christmas.

Rudy Funk's side won 5-1 at Hemsworth Miners Welfare on what was a perfect afternoon for the Bulls as second-placed Handsworth Parramore and Pontefract Collieries, who are third, were both beaten.

Philip Buxton and Nicholas Guest gave Mansfield the perfect start before Nash Connolly pulled one back for their hosts on 17 minutes but Guest's second came soon after with Oliver Fearon and Matthew Plummer completing the job in the final quarter of the game.

Parramore went down to a 2-1 defeat at Athersley Recreation, Aaron Moxam's late consolation coming after Lee Garside and Joe Singleton netted for the home side in the opening half to move them up into sixteenth.

And, it was the same scoreline for the Colls at Garforth Town although they took the lead on 50 minutes with an Eli Hey penalty whereupon Mark Simpson quickly levelled and Callum Ward got what proved to be the winner for the Miners on 71.

Fourth-placed Pickering Town salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Liversedge, Billy Logan with an injury time equaliser after a Rhys Davies brace had seemingly given the visitors the victory.

Maltby Main will spend Christmas in fifth spot after a 3-0 win at Staveley Miners Welfare, climbing above Hemsworth thanks to goals from Ross Duggan, Steven Hopewell and Ryan Carroll.

Victories for Rainworth Miners Welfare and Bottesford Town keep them seventh and eighth, respectively, the Wrens enjoying a 6-1 home win over Harrogate Railway Athletic with two goals each for Kyle Jordan, Charlie Dawes and Nathan Modest in a match that was 2-1 going into the last quarter-of-an-hour.

Declan Bacon's second of the afternoon in stoppage time secured Bottesford a 2-1 win at next-to-bottom Parkgate after the hosts had taken an opening minute lead through Andrew Fox.

The day's best individual goalscoring performance came from Albion Sports' Daniel Facey who struck four times in their 6-1 victory at basement side Clipstone whilst the honours were even at the King of Soho Stadium between Worksop Town and visitors Penistone Church.

Brett Lovell put Penistone ahead late in the first period but Matthew Templeton ensured both sides got a point for the festive season with an equaliser on 75 minutes.

In Division One, Knaresborough maintained their unbeaten home record with a 2-1 victory over Selby Town, Stephen Bromley giving them a 28th minute lead before Joseph Dale restored parity and a Daniel Thirkell penalty early in the second half proved decisive.

A Luke Mascall hat-trick helped Grimsby Borough to a 5-2 win at FC Bolsover to move the Wilderness Boys up into second, above Eccleshill United who drew 3-3 at home to Nostell Miners Welfare.

The Eagles trailed 3-1 at the interval but Antony Brown and Jonathan Irving made it a point apiece with Nostell moving out of the bottom three.

Fourth-placed Yorkshire Amateur drew 1-1 at Dronfield Town, Frank Zalo putting them ahead on 41 minutes with Ryan Ruddiforth hitting back for the hosts midway through the second period against an Ammers side that ended the match with nine men.

A double from Joe Cheeseman, added to by Kieran Watson, saw Shirebrook Town claim a 3-0 win at next-to-bottom Retford United and the Langwith Road side climb up to fifth, leapfrogging Selby.

Campion stay seventh but they needed an injury-time equaliser from Graham Hall to get a point in a 2-2 draw at basement side Brigg Town.

Lewis Bemrose' strike on 50 minutes gave Winterton Rangers a 1-0 home win over East Yorkshire Carnegie to keep themselves in eighth, ahead of Hallam who beat visitors Armthorpe Welfare 3-1, Jake Currie and Jack McCarthy ultimately earning them the points.

Glasshoughton Welfare drop to tenth after a 2-2 draw at home with AFC Emley, the visitors thinking they had taken the points with an 89th minute Josimar Bradshaw strike putting them 2-1 up before Jamie Simpson made sure the spoils were shared in stoppage time.

Rossington Main complete the top half as club legend Lee Holmes struck twice in his return to the Oxford Street side in a 4-0 home win over Worsbrough Bridge Athletic who drop into the bottom three.

And, Ollerton Town raced into a two-goal lead at home to Swallownest with Gavin King and Lewis Bingham netting in the opening seventeen minutes but they would be pegged back for a 2-2 draw.

Meanwhile, in the only midweek match, Campion bowed out of the West Riding County Cup at the Quarter-Final stage at home to Farsley Celtic, Danny Stocker bringing them back to 2-2 in injury time in a dramatic finale where the visitors then struck to edge through with a 3-2 victory.

Photo: A challenge for the ball during Division One leaders Knaresborough Town's 2-1 home victory over Selby Town on Saturday. (Credit: Craig Dinsdale)

Match Highlights