Only goal difference separates the top three sides in the Premier Division after Saturday's matches in what is promising to turn out to be one of the closest title races in the Toolstation NCEL in recent years.

And, with the added incentive of three promotion places to Step 4 of the FA's National League System, the jostling goes all the way down to seventh spot where there is now only a five point gap to the summit.

Penistone Church's 84-day reign as leaders came to an end as they were held 1-1 at home by Grimsby Borough who also remain in the chase for glory despite dropping to seventh.

Thomas Jamieson put Borough ahead on 31 minutes but Jordan Coduri rescued a point for the Penguins with under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

Penistone are now third, overtaken by Staveley Miners Welfare and Liversedge who both won, Staveley going top for the second time this season after a 2-0 victory at bottom side Athersley Recreation.

Joseph Pugh struck the opener midway through the first half before Michael Burke doubled their advantage in the 85th minute in a tight match that belied the difference in the positions of the two sides.

Sedge, meanwhile, were 10-1 home victors over Handsworth to boost their goal difference with Oliver Fearon's hat-trick added to by doubles for Joe Walton and Mark Simpson, whilst Paul Walker and Alfie Raw got on the scoresheet alongside an own goal that piled on the misery for the visitors.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare are three points behind the top three in fourth after a 2-2 draw at next-to-bottom Bottesford Town, Adam Wilson and Jason Davies putting them in front before Dayle Hutson made it a point apiece with an 83rd minute equaliser for the Poachers.

A 3-0 home victory over AFC Mansfield has seen Yorkshire Amateur leap up into fifth, courtesy of a second-half brace from Harrison Blakey and an Aiden Savory strike against a Bulls side reduced to ten men in the first half with the dismissal of Phil Buxton.

As well as Grimsby Borough, the Ammers jumped over Bridlington Town who are now sixth after a 1-1 draw at Garforth Town, Billy Logan with the Seasiders' leveller after Sam Barker had put the hosts in front.

Jonathan Irving and Tabish Hussain netted for Eccleshill United in a 2-0 victory at Thackley that lifts the Eagles into eighth, above Garforth on goal difference, whilst Maltby Main join them both on 29 points with a 2-1 home win over Albion Sports.

Jonathan Hill and Aaron Moxam scored for Main before there was an injury-time consolation from Luke Aldrich for Sports who stay in fifteenth.

Barton Town climb into twelfth after the Swans came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Goole AFC, a Matthew Bloor own goal on 74 minutes deciding the match in their favour.

And, Knaresborough Town were the only side in the bottom seven to win, Gregg Anderson and Colin Heath scoring in a 2-0 victory at Silsden who are one place above them in sixteenth.

Winterton Rangers are now four points clear at the top of Division One after their fifth straight victory, a tight 1-0 home win over Hall Road Rangers with Luke Anderson getting the only goal of the game in first half stoppage time.

Skegness Town stay second but lose ground on the leaders after they were beaten by a single goal by visitors Parkgate, Zak Khalifa the match-winner for the Steelmen who are twelfth.

Carl Stewart's winner midway through the second period sealed Selby Town a 2-1 home victory over Nostell Miners Welfare, a result that sees the Robins up into third, leapfrogging Campion who fell to a home defeat.

Aidan Kirby gave them a sixteenth minute lead against Swallownest but Alex Nightingale restored parity by the half-hour mark before Matthew Morton and Jay Evison struck in the last quarter of the game to give the away side a 3-1 win that consolidates them in eighth spot.

Retford FC and North Ferriby stay seventh and fifth, respectively, after they played out a goalless draw at the Rail, sandwiching Glasshoughton Welfare who drew 1-1 at home to Hallam.

Ashley Bell put them ahead on 26 but Samuel Fewkes claimed a point for the eleventh-placed Countrymen early in the second period.

Bottom side East Hull are now twenty points away from safety after they went down 10-1 at home to the side who started the day just outside the relegation zone, Ollerton Town.

Sam Foulds struck five times for the visitors with Benjamin Partridge's hat-trick and further goals from Sean Dickinson and Lewis Bingham completing the division's biggest away victory of the season.

Ollerton now have an eight-point cushion between themselves and the bottom two as Harrogate Railway Athletic, the side in nineteenth, were beaten 4-1 at Dronfield Town.

Samuel Bebbington's double had Dronfield ahead before Connor Chapell and Mark Fereday's late goals made it a much more one-sided scoreline.

Rossington Main fall to eighteenth after a 2-0 home loss to Brigg Town, Ryan Thompson and Jake Reed with first half goals for the Zebras, but, like Ollerton, Main are eight points above the relegation zone.

And, four goals in the last ten minutes, two each for Steven Simpson and Kai Hancock, secured a 5-1 home win for Worsbrough Bridge Athletic over Armthorpe Welfare that moves them up to fourteenth and ten points away from danger.

Photo: A shot at goal for Glasshoughton Welfare during their 1-1 draw with visitors Hallam in Toolstation NCEL Division One on Saturday. (Picture: Keith A Handley)