After an enforced ten-day break due to bad weather, the Toolstation NCEL returned to action in midweek with a feast of goals in both the Premier Division and Division One.

The jostling continues for promotion spots in both divisions with Pickering Town temporarily moving up into second place in the top flight after a 9-1 home demolition of Harrogate Railway Athletic on Tuesday.

There was a hat-trick for Billy Logan, Matthew Turnbull and Ryan Blott struck twice each, and Ged Dalton and Eddy Birch also got on the scoresheet for the Pikes whilst Shane Hamilton found the net for Rail who remain four points away from the drop zone.

Pickering climbed above Handsworth Parramore and Pontefract Collieries but they both returned the favour on Wednesday night with victories of their own.

The Amber Parras won 3-1 in the Sandy Lane derby as the landlords - the away team on this occasion - defeated tenants Worksop Town courtesy of goals in the last seven minutes through Jonathan Hill and then Jordan Turner from the penalty spot.

The deadlock had been broken on 70 with Lee Cooksey netting for Handsworth before Mitcham Husbands restored parity eleven minutes later in front of a crowd of 428.

Pontefract, meanwhile, were 1-0 victors at Albion Sports with Aaron Moxam scoring the vital goal just before the interval.

It means leaders AFC Mansfield have had their advantage at the top cut to seven points with Handsworth and ten points to Pontefract and Pickering.

Maltby Main consolidated fifth spot as they heaped more misery on bottom side Clipstone with a 10-3 victory at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium on Tuesday.

The home side led 2-1 after 24 minutes and were only 5-3 down going into the final quarter-of-an-hour of the match when the floodgates opened with Steven Hopewell scoring twice to complete his hat-trick, Ryan Carroll adding his second, and Cameron Rigby and Dean Smith also finding the net for the visitors.

Main are now seven points clear of sixth-placed Rainworth Miners Welfare who, along with visitors Bridlington Town, did not enter into the goalscoring spirit, as they played out a goalless draw at Kirklington Road.

Bridlington stay ninth and are now five points behind the team just above them Penistone Church after the South Yorkshire side's 4-1 win at Staveley Miners Welfare, Andrew Ring's second-half twenty minute hat-trick ensuring the victory.

Division One leaders Knaresborough Town are now ten points clear of their nearest rivals after Brad Walker, Ben Parkes' penalty and an own goal secured a 3-1 home win over Armthorpe Welfare.

Grimsby Borough moved into second with a 6-0 victory over visitors Nostell Miners Welfare, Luke Mascall and Jack Bradbury with two each whilst Adam Drury and Joshua Venney also added to the scoreline.

Winterton Rangers and Glasshoughton Welfare have closed to within touching distance of the play-off spots, Robbie Start and Luke Anderson claiming a 2-0 win for Winterton at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic whilst Conor Glavin's first-half hat-trick helped Glasshoughton defeat visitors Dronfield Town, 4-1.

Despite leading twice through Matthew Thompson and Reece Treasure, basement side Retford United could only draw 2-2 at home with Selby Town, Joseph Dale and George Foster-Vigors earning a point for the visitors.

And, there were home wins for Swallownest and Ollerton Town, a 4-1 defeat of East Yorkshire Carnegie moving Swallownest up to twelfth whilst Ollerton remain fifteenth after beating Campion, 4-3.

Photo: Robert Youhill shields the ball during Knaresborough Town's 3-1 home win over Armthorpe Welfare that stretched their lead at the top of Division One to ten points. (Credit: Craig Dinsdale)

Match Highlights