A hat-trick from Jonny Irving helped Eccleshill United to a 4-1 home win in Saturday's top two Toolstation NCEL Premier Division clash that closes the gap to opponents and leaders Grimsby Borough to four points.Lewis Collins had given the visitors a fifth minute lead as they looked to stretch their advantage at the summit to almost double digits but Sam Bradley quickly levelled for the hosting Eagles.
Irving then struck either side of half-time before grabbing his third on 69 to inflict Borough's first league defeat of the season.
The sides third and fourth also faced each other with
Sherwood Colliery taking an early lead through Klarke Greenham but it was hosts
Garforth Town who took the points with goals towards the end of the first period from Daniel Coupland and James Burgess in a 2-1 win.
Garforth are six points off the top in third but there is now a twelve point gap between Borough and fourth-placed Colliery who have three games in hand.
Luke Ayris netted both of
Bottesford Town's goals as they came from behind to win 2-1 at
Albion Sports and the Poachers climb to fifth whilst
Maltby Main are up to sixth having won by the same scoreline at
Knaresborough Town.
Connor Cutts grabbed a 66th minute winner after their opener from Bradley Morton had been cancelled out by Mitchell Hamilton.
Thackley drop to seventh following a 1-0 home loss to
Handsworth, Sam Smith with the only goal of the game on 43 minutes, whilst a double from Brandon Webster helped
Staveley Miners Welfare to a 4-2 defeat of visitors
Winterton Rangers to stay eighth.
The top ten is now completed by
Silsden AFC who, courtesy of two each from Jack Normanton and Mohammed Qasim, were 4-0 victors at bottom side
Athersley Recreation, and Handsworth who are a point behind the Cobbydalers in tenth.
Barton Town were 5-1 home winners over
Emley AFC with Benjamin Hinchliffe netting twice and there were two 1-1 draws as
AFC Mansfield picked up a point at
Hemsworth Miners Welfare and
Penistone Church's home clash with
Goole AFC ended all square.
In Division One,
North Ferriby's unbeaten run of fourteen games now sees them second in the table behind leaders
Brigg Town on goal difference.
The Villagers took advantage of a free weekend for the table-toppers and
Hallam's game at
Ollerton Town postponed due to water supply problems to maintain their charge up the division.
Josh Whiteley and Danny Emerton found the net in the first-half in a 2-0 victory at
Selby Town that moves them above Hallam.
Rossington Main drop to fourth following a 2-0 loss at
Retford FC who climb to sixth, Liam Bennett and Alex Wonham deciding the game in the final half-hour, whilst
Harrogate Railway Athletic are up to fifth after a 4-1 home victory over injury-ravaged
Rainworth Miners Welfare.
The visiting Wrens took an early lead through Morgan Boyle but Marcus Day and Fatlum Ibrahimi had the Rail in front by the tenth minute before Daniel Thirkell and Joseph Crosby sealed the win with goals in the second period.
Nostell Miners Welfare were beaten 5-0 at
Parkgate, Brandon Bagley, Jack Bancroft, Frederick Tracey, Haydn Ward and Thomas Staniland with the goals that move the Steelmen up to eleventh whilst Nostell are now seventh.
An injury-time winner from Sean Dickinson grabbed
Armthorpe Welfare a 2-1 success at
Glasshoughton Welfare whilst
Worsbrough Bridge Athletic came from two goals down to win 3-2 at home to
Clipstone, Alfie Dodsworth with the decider on 68.
And, in the battle of the bottom two sides,
Dronfield Town were 3-1 home victors over
Teversal, Samuel Bebbington's second of the afternoon and a last-gasp strike from Mark Fereday securing the points that lifts the hosts up to eighteenth whilst their visitors stay in the basement.
Photo: The second goal of Jonny Irving's hat-trick as Eccleshill United win Saturday's top-two Toolstation NCEL Premier Division clash 4-1 to move to within four points of their opponents and league leaders Grimsby Borough. (Picture: Peter Cusack)