The meeting between bottom and top in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division went to form on Saturday as Grimsby Borough cantered to an 8-0 win at Athersley Recreation.

A hat-trick from Thomas Jamieson, a brace from Jack Bradbury and one each from Thomas Hipwell, Jack Debnam and Adam Drury gave the visitors the victory that moves them fourteen points clear at the top of the table.

Ten points from their last five games would guarantee Borough the title whilst the Rec remain thirteen points from safety with eight matches left to play.

The gap at the top grew because Eccleshill United suffered their second defeat in three games as they were beaten 4-1 at home by Winterton Rangers, Zackary Sangster getting the Eagles' solitary strike.

Josh Walker and Jack Varley had put the visitors 2-0 up before Sangster halved the deficit prior to half time but Rangers made sure of their sixth straight league win in the second period with another from Josh Walker before Daniel Walker netted the fourth ten minutes from time.

Garforth Town move above Eccleshill into second after Charlie Marshall's goal grabbed them a 1-0 victory at Staveley Miners Welfare.

Reece High put Penistone Church ahead at Silsden AFC but a 1-1 draw, courtesy of a Josimar Bradshaw equaliser, sees them stay fourth and they lose a little ground on the top two, now three points behind Garforth.

Fifth-placed Sherwood Colliery were 2-0 winners at Thackley, Lewis Weaver and Gareth Curtis scoring to keep their promotion challenge going as they stay two points ahead of Winterton who are sixth.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare's 4-2 home loss to Maltby Main means they remain in the relegation zone, a Rieves Boocock double for Main helping to condemn them to a defeat that keeps them two points behind Albion Sports whose trip to Barton Town was one of two Premier Division games called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

There were also two goals for Joe Jagger as Emley AFC prevailed 5-1 at Knaresborough Town whilst AFC Mansfield and Goole AFC played out a goalless draw at the Forest Town Arena.

Bottesford Town's home clash with Handsworth was the other match to be postponed.

In Division One, third-placed Brigg Town missed out on a chance to narrow the gap to the top two who were both without a game as the Zebras fell to their third straight defeat, this time a 4-2 loss at play-off chasing Retford FC.

Dayle Hutson and Martin Pembleton scored for Brigg but the hosts took the points thanks to goals from Graeme Severn, Adam Scott, George White and Liam Bennett.

Brigg stay ten points off the top whilst Retford are now four points behind fifth spot after the match between the two sides above them, Harrogate Railway Athletic and Rossington Main, was postponed.

Parkgate have stretched their unbeaten run to nine games and keep their play-off hopes alive in eighth after Brandon Bagley's hat-trick secured them a 3-2 home victory over Shirebrook Town.

It is as-you-were for the bottom four with Teversal falling to a 4-2 loss at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic and they stay seventeen points from safety in the basement.

FC Humber United's home match with Hall Road Rangers was called off and Clipstone lost 2-0 at Glasshoughton Welfare, late goals from Lewis Stephens and Jordan Chippendale condemning them to their fate, to keep them both in the drop zone.

The two sides above the dreaded dotted line met with Rainworth Miners Welfare picking up a priceless 2-0 victory, courtesy of Morgan Boyle and a George Simpson penalty, to move them eight points clear of danger whilst hosts Swallownest stay just a point ahead of Clipstone.

Owen Lester, Jake Hatton, Callum Mawbey, Mark Fereday and Connor Chapell scored one each for Dronfield Town in their 5-0 home win over Nostell Miners Welfare whilst Ollerton Town defeated visitors Armthorpe Welfare 5-3 in an enthralling game, Luke Francis with two of the hosts' goals.

Photo: Daniel Walker scores Winterton Rangers' final goal in their 4-1 win at second-placed Eccleshill United to make it six wins in a row in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division. (Picture: Paul Tong)