The Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title race swung further in Cleethorpes Town's direction after they were the only side in the top three to win on Saturday.A 2-0 home victory over
Handsworth Parramore means they are now two points clear of
Pickering Town and five ahead of
Bridlington Town with four and three games in hand over their rivals, respectively.
Brody Robertson opened the scoring for the Owls on eighteen minutes before the win was assured with an injury-time second from Andrew Taylor.
The Pikes lost ground as they had to come back from 2-0 down at home to bottom side
Retford United to draw 2-2 after Cameron Dear and Bradley Kilner had seemingly put the visitors on their way to a vital victory.
But, Ryan Blott and Joe Dale netted to snatch a point for the hosts, leaving Retford now nine points from safety.
Bridlington, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw at
Maltby Main.
A 4-0 home win for
Thackley over
Armthorpe Welfare, thanks to a brace from Daniel Broadbent and goals from Mike Garrod and Luke Robinson, strengthens their grip on fourth as they are now four points in front of Handsworth.
And,
Albion Sports moved four points clear of
AFC Mansfield in sixth spot, Daniel Facey, Alex Cusack, Karl Hall and Ferdinand Amor with their goals in a 4-1 victory at
Bottesford Town.
Mansfield went down 2-1 at
Parkgate having taken the lead on 78 minutes through Philip Buxton as Alex Lill equalised and then an injury time Kieran Hirst penalty grabbed a win for the hosts.
Parkgate, however, remain in the relegation zone alongside Retford and Armthorpe, two points behind
Barton Town Old Boys who won 2-0 at home to
Rainworth Miners Welfare, Thomas Waudby's penalty and an Edward Rogerson goal doing the damage in the opening half hour.
That means Rainworth, who are eighteenth, will now be looking nervously over their shoulder at the bottom three as the gap between them has closed to seven points.
Top scorers of the day were
Hemsworth Miners Welfare who, thanks in part to two goals each from Nash Connolly and Richard Collier, won 8-1 at home to
Harrogate Railway Athletic after the visitors had scored the first goal of the afternoon through Stephen Bromley.
Elsewhere in the top flight,
Athersley Recreation won 3-1 at
Garforth Town whilst it finished 1-1 in the match between near neighbours
Worksop Town and
Staveley Miners Welfare.
AFC Emley return to the top of Division One as they took advantage of no game for Pontefract Collieries to leapfrog them at the summit with a 5-0 victory at
Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Ashley Flynn, Thomas Brennan, Thomas Robinson, Samuel Jerome and Callum Charlton all finding the net for the Pewits.
Third-placed
Hall Road Rangers remain five points behind Emley with two games in hand after their 4-0 home win over
Brigg Town, Ashley Dexter's late brace confirming the win after Joe Cooper and Christopher Spinks had put them in control.
Grimsby Borough are up to fourth and have virtually sealed a play-off place as they won 2-1 at
Campion, Jack Debnam and Paul Ashton finding the net for them in the opening four minutes.
They go above
Penistone Church who drew 1-1 at
Knaresborough Town, Daniel Barlow putting them ahead on 20 before Colin Heath quickly restored parity, but the result was ideal for Penistone as it means their hosts can no longer catch them in the race for the play-offs.
Hallam also boosted their ambitions of a play-off spot as they won 5-0 at
Winterton Rangers to move eight points clear of seventh-placed Knaresborough, a Tom Roebuck hat-trick helping them to a comfortable victory.
Basement side
Nostell Miners Welfare who were confirmed as relegated in midweek, were beaten 1-0 at
Dronfield Town, thanks to a 78th minute Daniel Wood strike.
Westella & Willerby, who occupy the other relegation place, were unable to ease their worries as they went down 4-0 at
Glasshoughton Welfare, Nathan Keightley with two of the home side's goals, to leave them twelve points away from survival with seven matches remaining.
Yorkshire Amateur won 3-0 at
Teversal to move up into thirteenth whilst there were draws in the other two games, ending goalless for
Ollerton Town at
Selby Town and 1-1 in
Shirebrook Town's home clash with
Eccleshill United.