The race for the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division and Division One titles went into its final month with all those involved winning their latest matches on Saturday.Cleethorpes Town remain at the summit of the top flight and stay strong favourites to lift the trophy after their 4-2 win at
Liversedge.
The Owls went behind to a fifth minute opener from Vaughan Redford before Liam Davis and Jonathan Oglesby struck in quick succession to give them the lead but they were pegged back by the break with a Brandon Kane equaliser for Sedge.
However, Cleethorpes struck twice in the second period through Peter Winn and Andrew Taylor to maintain a two point gap over
Pickering Town with three games in hand.
The Pikes kept the pressure on as they won 1-0 at fifth-placed
Handsworth Parramore, Samuel Denton with the vital strike on the quarter-of-an-hour mark.
Bridlington Town's slim title hopes were dealt a big blow as they went down 2-1 at home to
Barton Town Old Boys, William Waudby and Gary Bradshaw with goals that help Barton in their fight to avoid relegation whilst Joel Sutton's late goal was a consolation for the Seasiders who are now eight points off the summit.
Barton, meanwhile, are now four points clear of the drop zone as two of the three sides below them,
Armthorpe Welfare and
Parkgate, drew 1-1 with Alex Lill breaking the deadlock for the visitors before Jack Waldron restored parity late on.
Armthorpe move off the bottom of the table, going ahead of
Retford United on goal difference after the Badgers were beaten 1-0 at home by
Bottesford Town, Wayne Graves with the 78th minute winner.
There were victories for
Harrogate Railway Athletic and
Rainworth Miners Welfare to further ease any relegation worries as they are now eleven and nine points away from danger, respectively.
Stephen Bromley's injury-time strike claimed Rail a 1-0 home win against
Clipstone whilst the Wrens beat
Worksop Town, 2-0, at Kirklington Road with goals from Matthew Harris and Declan Brewin.
AFC Mansfield and
Staveley Miners Welfare also enjoyed victories on their own patch, Philip Buxton's late winner gave the Bulls a 2-1 triumph at home to
Garforth Town and Steven Carty netted the only goal as Staveley saw off fourth-placed visitors
Thackley.
And, six goals were shared as Tom Copping's 84th minute equaliser for hosts
Athersley Recreation saw their game finish 3-3 with
Hemsworth Miners Welfare.
The chase for the Division One crown is still very tight as the three sides in contention,
AFC Emley,
Pontefract Collieries and
Hall Road Rangers, all picked up maximum points.
Thomas Robinson and Ashley Flynn scored for Emley to keep their two point advantage at the top with a 2-0 win at home to
Shirebrook Town.
The Colls remain their closest rivals after a Michael Dunn brace earned them a victory by the same scoreline over visitors
Campion whose play-off ambitions are now over.
And, Rangers keep within four points of the summit as Jamie Coulson and Ashley Dexter struck in the last twenty minutes to win 3-1 at
Dronfield Town after Christian Savage, who had put the home side ahead, scored an own goal to level matters around the hour mark.
There were also wins for
Grimsby Borough who stay fourth following their 3-1 win at home to
Yorkshire Amateur whilst fifth-placed
Penistone Church confirmed a play-off place by beating visitors
Worsbrough Bridge Athletic by a single goal, James Stafford with the breakthrough on 19 minutes.
Knaresborough Town, who know they cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to sneak up and finish in the top six, won 1-0 at
Teversal with Simon Parkes scoring to move them within five points of the side who occupy the last play-off spot, Hallam.
Next-to-bottom
Westella & Willerby were unable to take advantage of a defeat for the side just outside relegation zone, Worsbrough, as they stay nine points from safety after a 1-0 loss at home to
Winterton Rangers, Lewis Exall's early own goal proving to be crucial.
There were also single goal victories for
Selby Town at
Eccleshill United, Liam Flanagan with that strike, and for
Ollerton Town at home to
Glasshoughton Welfare, Lewis Bingham the match-winner in that encounter.
And,
Rossington Main came from behind to win 3-1 at
Brigg Town with Lee Holmes and Jordan Buckham securing the victory in the last twenty minutes.