Hallam are on the brink of the Toolstation NCEL Division One title after the midweek action that also saw the last two League Cup Semi-Final slots filled and the chase hotting up for second spot in the Premier Division.Barton Town and
Penistone Church join
Staveley Miners Welfare and
Grimsby Borough in the final four after League Cup Quarter-Final victories.
Thomas Waudby got the only goal of the game, breaking the deadlock midway through the second half, as Barton won 1-0 at home to
Thackley.
Reece High's hat-trick helped Penistone to a 4-0 victory at
Bottesford Town with Nathan Keightley completing the scoring on a comfortable night for the Penguins.
All of the four sides involved in the race for the runners-up position in the top flight and a possible promotion had matches with two of them facing each other as
Garforth Town entertained
Winterton Rangers.
A 2-0 win for the hosts came courtesy of an early strike from James Burgess and a Jed Zanos penalty near the hour mark as Garforth stay fourth but closed the gap on their visitors to one point.
Rangers, meanwhile, fall to third, replaced in second by
Eccleshill United who won 3-1 at home to
Silsden AFC and now have a three-point cushion with two games to play.
Josimar Bradshaw had put the away side ahead in the seventh minute but the Eagles turned the game around in the second period with a Jonny Irving equaliser added to by Sam Bradley and Luke Aldrich.
Fifth placed
Sherwood Colliery, meanwhile, drew 1-1 at
Knaresborough Town and are all but out of the running for second now after Colin Heath equalised late on for their hosts after Ethan Wiesztort had given Colliery a 68th minute lead.
That draw ensured safety for Knaresborough whilst
Albion Sports have moved to three points clear of the bottom two after their home match with
Handsworth finished 2-2.
Robbie Fox gave the Lions a twelfth minute breakthrough but parity was restored prior to half-time by James Eyles and a Leon Howarth penalty almost midway through the second period put the visitors ahead.
Marcus Harper, however, made sure the spoils were shared with a leveller seven minutes from time to give the hosts what could be a vital point.
In Division One, leaders Hallam defeated visitors
Worsbrough Bridge Athletic in front of a massive midweek crowd of 826 to lay one hand on the trophy.
Steven Wankiewicz's opener was added to by a Liam Royles brace and an injury time strike from Richard Patterson to move the Countrymen six points ahead of second placed
North Ferriby with two games to play and a far superior goal difference.
Rossington Main have almost claimed the final spot in the play-offs following their 1-0 win at a side already in them,
Harrogate Railway Athletic.
Bradley Grayson popped up for an injury-time decider that moves Main seven points clear of sixth placed
Selby Town.
FC Humber United kept their hopes going of a late escape from the relegation zone with a 5-2 victory over visitors
Ollerton Town.
Jack Durkin's second, along with goals from Brandon Burke and George Green turned the game fully in their favour in the final quarter-of-an-hour.
That moves Humber up a place to nineteenth, four points away from safety with four games remaining.
Rainworth Miners Welfare and
Retford FC, meanwhile, were winners on their travels, Morgan Boyle netting for Rainworth as they beat
Hall Road Rangers 1-0 whilst Haydn Goddard and Matthew Parkin secured a 2-0 scoreline for Retford at
Shirebrook Town.
Photo: Rossington Main's 1-0 victory at Harrogate Railway Athletic on Tuesday night has given them a seven point cushion in the Toolstation NCEL Division One play-off zone. (Picture: Craig Dinsdale)



