The chasing pack continued to narrow the gap between themselves and Toolstation NCEL Premier Division leaders AFC Mansfield whilst Knaresborough Town took another giant step towards the Division One title on Saturday.

Mansfield's lead at the summit in the top flight was cut as they drew 1-1 at Garforth Town, Mark Simpson's forty-yard stunner giving the mid-table hosts an eighth minute lead before Bulls top scorer Oliver Fearon made amends for missing a penalty as he grabbed the equaliser midway through the second period.

Their advantage over second-placed Pontefract Collieries is now down to five points after the Colls, who have five games in hand, won 2-0 at home to Bridlington Town for their tenth straight victory, courtesy of second half goals from Kieran Scargill and Aaron Moxam.

Pickering Town also remain in the hunt for the trophy after their 3-0 triumph over struggling visitors Parkgate, Ged Dalton's breakthrough in the opening period added to after the interval by George Bissett and Matthew Turnbull to leave the Pikes eight points off the top with three more matches to play than Mansfield.

Fourth-placed Handsworth Parramore may now have too much to do in the title chase after their goalless draw at the side in fifth Maltby Main but will still be aiming for a top two finish.

Rainworth Miners Welfare have tightened their stranglehold on sixth spot after their 2-1 home defeat of Athersley Recreation, coming from behind in the second half with goals from Tomas Poole and Kyle Jordan.

Penistone Church climb up to seventh as goals from Tom Brennan, Kieran Ryan and Nathan Keightley earned them a 3-1 victory over Hemsworth Miners Welfare at the DSM Memorial Ground to leapfrog their opponents and Bridlington.

At the foot of the table, Clipstone's relegation is all-but confirmed after a 5-1 home loss to Barton Town, Thomas Waudby, Bill Law, William Waudby, Ashley Lattimore and Gareth Barlow all netting for the Swans who climb to sixteenth.

The Cobras, who have picked up only one point in the whole campaign, now need to win all eight of their remaining games to have even the slightest chance of staying up after the side just outside the drop zone, Harrogate Railway Athletic, won 2-1 at Liversedge.

There is movement in the relegation places as Hall Road Rangers go above Parkgate into twentieth after Fraser Hansen and Joshua Batty scored in their 2-0 win at Staveley Miners Welfare and Rangers are five points from safety whilst Parkgate are now seven points behind Harrogate.

In the day's other Premier Division clash, Thackley won 1-0 at Worksop Town, Mike Garrod's early strike settling the mid-table affair.

Division One leaders Knaresborough extended their lead at the top to seventeen points on what was another perfect afternoon for Paul Stansfield's side, winning 4-0 at home to next-to-bottom Retford United.

Brad Walker and Matthew Donnelly had them two up by the break with Stephen Bromley and Sam Cook adding to the scoreline in the second half.

Eccleshill United move up into second, ahead of Grimsby Borough who were without a game, as Luke Harrop and Charlie Flaherty made sure of a 2-0 victory at Rossington Main in what is surely now an intriguing battle for promotion rather than for the title.

Shirebrook Town are now fourth and are just six points away from the automatic promotion places after Declan Brewin's hat-trick helped them to a 4-2 victory at Campion, going above Yorkshire Amateur who went down 1-0 in their away game against Winterton Rangers that was played at Barton Town's ground.

Rangers moved into the play-off zone themselves thanks to Luke Anderson's 25th minute winner as the battle for play-off places hots up with only three points separating them from ninth-placed Hallam.

Glasshoughton Welfare are a point off the top six after braces from Conor Glavin and Andrew Horbury claimed a 4-0 win at basement side Brigg Town whilst Selby Town drop to eighth after a 1-1 draw at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

Gary Collier levelled for the Robins early in the second period after Ben Grech-Brooksbank netted the opener for the hosts around the half-hour mark.

And, Hallam kept up their challenge for the play-offs as they won 5-0 at FC Bolsover, Samuel Smith getting a hat-trick for the Sandygate outfit.

In the battle to avoid relegation, Bolsover stay six points clear of the bottom two in nineteenth whilst Worsbrough, who are twentieth, move four points ahead of Retford and six ahead of Brigg.

Elsewhere, AFC Emley and Swallownest climb to twelfth and thirteenth, respectively, after victories with Jordan Townend and Alex Slack scoring for Emley as they beat hosts Ollerton Town 2-1 whilst there were goals for Alex Lill and Jason Short as Swallownest dispatched visitors Nostell Miners Welfare 2-0.

And, Armthorpe Welfare were 3-1 victors at East Yorkshire Carnegie with Darren Mansaram's 62nd minute strike confirming the win after Luke Williams and Alan Jackson had found the net in the opening period.

Photo: Pickering Town's Matthew Turnbull scores the final goal in the Pikes' 3-0 home victory over Parkgate in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division on Saturday. (Picture: Ian Parker)

Match Highlights