Sheffield maintained their eight point lead at the top of the Premier Division as their home match with bottom side Shirebrook Town went to form.

David Wilkins opened the scoring on 26 minutes before Chris Dolby made sure of the points in a 2-0 win with just two minutes remaining.

The chasing pack, meanwhile, won their matches as well to make sure the gap did not grow any further with Retford United being the most impressive with a 5-2 win at Carlton Town.

The Badgers were three-up by half-time thanks to goals from Karl Colley, Neil Harvey and Oliver Chappell.

Carlton, however, came back in the game early in the second period through a brace from Daniel Blair.

But, Retford made sure of the points and stay second with two late goals, a Mick Godber strike and an injury-time Mark Shaw penalty.

Third-placed Hallam were single-goal winners at home to Liversedge, James Tevendale scoring after 24 minutes.

With Maltby Main not in action, Mickleover Sports took fourth place from the Muglet Lane side with a 3-2 win against visitors Glasshoughton Welfare.

Maltby fall to fifth while Glapwell claimed their fourth straight win to move up to sixth with a 2-1 win at Pickering Town.

A Colin Cockerill penalty on nine minutes and a strike from Craig Housley midway through the first period gave the visitors a great start.

The Pikes pulled one back from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark through Dan Barwick, in an incident that saw Glapwell have Nathan Hollingworth sent-off.

But, Les McJannet?s side defended well to keep their lead and take home the points.

Garforth Town are moving in the right direction as well with a 3-1 win at Arnold Town moving them up to seventh.

It is as you were at the foot of the table with all three bottom sides losing.

As well as Shirebrook?s defeat, Brodsworth Welfare lost 5-2 at Eccleshill United although the game was all-square at the interval.

Andy Philp had put the home side ahead before David Woodcock levelled matters on 40 minutes.

But, Eccleshill ran away with it in the second half through goals from Rob Cornwall, Darren Fletcher, Luke Hudson and Ryan Senior whilst Sean Perkins pulled on back for Welfare.

Brodsworth remain in nineteenth, one point behind Thackley who were beaten 2-0 by visitors Sutton who picked up their first victory in nine games to move them up to eleventh.

Phil Bignall and Dean Short got the goals in the opening thirteen minutes to bring some welcome Christmas cheer to the Snipes.

Meanwhile, an investigation will take place into the circumstances leading to the abandonment of Long Eaton United?s match at home to Selby Town.

The visitors walked off the pitch after 69 minutes with Long Eaton 3-0 up claiming racist abuse against one of their players as the reason for their departure.

Meanwhile, the recent cold snap put paid to three of the scheduled matches in Division One, but the match of the day that saw first and second against each other survived and produced a classic.

Hosts Parkgate came from two goals down at the break to beat Winterton Rangers 4-3 and remain top of the table.

Andy Holt and Mark Whitehouse had put Rangers in an excellent position before Adam Fretwell pulled one back soon after the interval.

But, when a Rob Northen penalty on 54 minutes regained the two-goal cushion for the visitors, it looked as though Rangers would be first at Christmas.

However, goals from Matt Outram, Bob Moorwood and a second Fretwell strike saw a remarkable turnaround for Parkgate in a game that was a huge credit to Division One.

And, Nostell Miners Welfare took advantage of Winterton?s defeat to move up into second with a comfortable 4-1 home win over Rossington Main.

Ben Gilbert, John Coppinger with two, and Craig Stephens putting them out of reach before Ryan Shelton pulled back a consolation for Main.

Fifth-placed Lincoln Moorlands claimed a 3-0 home victory over Gedling Town whilst at the lower end of the table Dinnington Town moved up to twelfth with a 3-2 win at home to Tadcaster Albion.

Simon Mirfin grabbed the winner fifteen minutes from time after the visitors had fought back level in the first half after going two-down within the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

And, late goals from Joe Pinnock, John Paul Flynn and Allan Laud saw AFC Emley beat visitors Teversal, 3-0.