Double hat-trick hero James Walshaw helped Emley AFC to a 9-2 home victory over Bottesford Town in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division to keep them firmly in the title chase going into the festive period.

Three of his six goals came in the last ten minutes as the Pewits put the Poachers to the sword at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground with Ross Hardaker, Samuel Pashley and Alex Metcalfe also getting on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Reece Moody and Danny Walker were the scorers for Bottesford who remain in sixteenth spot whilst Emley stay second, now a point behind leaders Campion with three games in hand and ten points ahead of third-placed Thackley.

The table-toppers did not have a game whilst Thackley were also winners, Thomas Greaves and Kieran Suddards with their goals in a 2-1 victory at bottom side Goole AFC whose consolation came from Liam Flanagan.

Silsden AFC, Rossington Main and Knaresborough Town climb to sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, after their home wins.

Luke Brooksbank scored twice for Silsden in their 4-2 defeat of Frickley Athletic, Kayle Price and Jake Cassidy adding to their tally with Alhassane Keita and Keegan Townrow netting for their visitors who drop to tenth.

Ross Hannah grabbed the only goal of the game as Rossington triumphed over Golcar United whilst a double for Ewan Gregson added to Lewis Stephens' opener for Knaresborough as they beat Maltby Main 3-0 with the away side remaining out of the basement on goal difference.

Penistone Church leapfrog Hallam up into eleventh after beating them 3-1, an Antony Brown penalty added to by Ryan Johnson and Lennon O'Grady whilst Scott Ruthven scored what was an equaliser for the visiting Countrymen.

And, in the Friday night game, Barton Town secured a 2-1 home victory over Tadcaster Albion and are up to thirteenth after the weekend action.

Oliver Norman put the away side ahead on 43 minutes but that lead was instantly cancelled out by James Playford and Fraser Papprill got what proved to be the Swans' winner early in the second period.

There were ten games, meanwhile, in Division One but remarkably there were only two goals scored by away sides with both securing 1-0 victories.

One of those came very much against the run of form as bottom three side Armthorpe Welfare beat hosts and leaders Wakefield AFC, courtesy of Evan Fortune-West's 33rd minute strike.

And, Hayden Covill got the matchwinner for Retford FC at Nostell Miners Welfare to move his side up into eleventh.

Elsewhere, however, the home teams reigned supreme with second-placed Parkgate closing the gap to Wakefield to three points as a Jamie Austin hat-trick and a Ross Duggan double secured a 5-0 victory over visitors Athersley Recreation.

Lewis Macaskill struck twice to add to Marcus Day's early deadlock breaker as Shirebrook Town tightened their grip on third as they won 3-0 at home to Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

Jason Paling's injury-time winner grabbed Wombwell Town a 1-0 victory against Brigg Town and they climb to fourth whilst Retford United are now fifth following their 4-0 defeat of Clay Cross Town.

Three of the Badgers' goals came in the final five minutes, Charlie Baird's quickfire double and Liam Owen completing his brace, to make the scoreline more emphatic than it had looked certain to be.

Max Rhodes and Kenan McKenzie-Gray pounced in the last quarter-of-an-hour as Dronfield Town's 2-0 home win over Glasshoughton Welfare moves them into seventh spot.

Staveley Mines Welfare won 3-0 at home to Selby Town, Kian Tansley netting twice with Dustyn Grierson adding a third, and the Trojans leap up to ninth.

There were goals for Jordan Smith and Harris Dunn as Louth Town jump up to tenth with a goal in each half as they defeated visitors Glasshoughton Welfare 2-0.

And, in the battle of the bottom two, it was hosts Swallownest who triumphed, Nathan Mossolo, Billy Stafford and Ben Marro with their goals in a 3-0 win over Ollerton Town who are now five points adrift in the basement but with five games in hand of their rivals.

Photo: Double hat-trick hero James Walshaw slots home one of his six goals in Emley AFC's 9-2 home victory over Bottesford Town in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division on Saturday. (Picture: Mark Parsons)