An astonishing 51 goals were scored in ten Premier Division matches on Saturday on a day of high drama once again in the NCEL top flight.

Twelve of those came in the clash of two of the bottom three sides as Thackley shared a 6-6 draw at home to Shirebrook Town.

The hosts had a two-goal advantage three times but Shirebrook showed immense resilience to come back each time, even when they went down to ten men towards the end of the game.

It was the visitors who had taken the lead in the opening two minutes through Johnny Cullen but Thackley were quickly back on level terms through Andy King and Dean Walters added two more, one a penalty, to put the home side 3-1 up.

However, Shirebrook halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time through a second from Cullen.

Jamie Tagg then equalised on 66 minutes before two goals in a minute from Sean Clifford made it 5-3 to Thackley.

Cullen claimed his hat-trick and Shirebrook?s fourth on 84 minutes but the game looked all but over when Dave Woofenden restored the two-goal advantage for Thackley.

However, the away side came back again through Lee Eason and then Chris Rhodes ended the scoring with a last-gasp equaliser in what was a truly remarkable match.

Shirebrook remain bottom of the table but have closed the gap on Brodsworth Welfare to two points after Welfare were beaten in another high-scoring game, 6-2 at Long Eaton United.

Two each from Aidan Brady and Lee Sutton plus goals from Aaron Brady and Mark Strzyzewski secured a comfortable three points for the home side but they remain twelfth in the table.

Robert Brady and Aidan Barnett got the goals for Brodsworth.

Another team to hit six was Glapwell as they moved up to sixth after demolishing Hallam at Sandygate.

The match was level at 1-1 at half-time as James Tevendale cancelled out an early strike by Colin Cockerill for the visitors.

Ian Brown put Glapwell back ahead before Hallam had their goalkeeper, Scott Dinnigan, sent off and the game ended as a contest.

Nathan Hollingworth, Cockerill, Brown and a John Drennan own goal sealed the victory, leaving Glapwell top of the form table, unbeaten in their last six and scoring 25 goals in the process.

Meanwhile, the two games that were seen as the matches of the day in the Premier Division, turned out to be much tighter affairs.

Sheffield maintained their ten-point lead at the top of the table with a goalless draw at second placed Mickleover Sports.

And, third-placed Maltby Main were held 1-1 at home to fifth-placed Retford United although the hosts will probably feel aggrieved having hit the woodwork five times during the game.

In the end, Adam Kerley claimed the point for the visitors on 51 minutes shortly after Ashley Longstaff?s penalty had put Main ahead.

Garforth Town have quietly put together a good run and have moved up into fourth after a 3-1 win at Pickering Town.

Jason St Juste, Shane Kelsey and Greg Kelly grabbed the goals in the second half after Phil O?Reilly had given the Pikes a lead by the interval.

That means four wins out of five for Simon Clifford?s side as their potential seems finally to be turning into points.

Another side picking up in form are Sutton Town who claimed a 3-2 win at Eccleshill United, although they remain in eleventh despite the good, if dramatic, victory.

Phil Massingham claimed the injury time winner for the Snipes as a brace from Gareth Hamlet proved not enough for the home side.

A youthful Arnold Town side grabbed a much-needed victory at home to fellow strugglers Armthorpe Welfare, as two from Fabian Smith, one from the spot, and one each from Jason Bedward and Ashley Harrison saw them win 4-1.

A Damien McKenzie strike eighteen minutes from time gave Liversedge the points in a single-goal victory at Glasshoughton Welfare.

And, Selby Town edged out hosts Carlton Town, 4-3, in a seven-goal thriller to move up into eighth.

Things were just as dramatic in Division One even though goals were harder to come by, apart from at Green Lane where leaders Parkgate pummelled Yorkshire Amateur, 8-1.

Hat-tricks from Adam Fretwell and Paul Clayton helped them on their way to an extremely comfortable win whilst a Jacques Joblon penalty on 46 minutes was the only joy for the visiting side.

That means the gap at the top has extended to five points after surprising defeats for two of the three sides chasing Parkgate.

Winterton Rangers were beaten 2-0 at Tadcaster Albion for only their second loss of the season.

And, a Craig Stephens opener for Nostell Miners Welfare was not enough as they lost 2-1 to visitors Worsbrough Bridge, thanks to goals from Peter Hirst and Lee Garside.

South Normanton Athletic took full advantage to move up into third, as Simon Johnson?s 31st minute goal saw them pick up all three points at Lincoln Moorlands who stay fifth.

That is now eight wins in a row and four consecutive clean sheets for the Lees Lane side.

Gedling Town remain in sixth despite a 1-0 win at Hall Road Rangers, debutant Nathan Scott with the sole strike on 61 minutes.

Wins for AFC Emley and Borrowash Victoria saw them move up one place in the table.

Emley beat visitors and basement side Rossington Main 3-1 with goals from Allan Laud, one a penalty, and Nick Manousios whilst Dean Griffiths grabbed a consolation in injury time.

And, Jamie Pawley claimed a 2-1 victory for the Vics at Staveley Miners Welfare with a winner five minutes from the end.

Dinnington Town stays twelfth despite a 1-0 win over Teversal who drop to fourteenth, Rob Ward with the goal halfway through the first period.

Meanwhile, Pontefract Collieries were victorious by the same scoreline in a friendly at home to Ossett Town with Kevin Duckworth netting the winner.