Thackley did as much as they could to maintain the pressure on the three Kool Sport Northern Counties East League clubs above them in the Premier Division table with an exhilarating home win over the club immediately below them.

The Reds beat Scarborough Athletic 4-2 in front of a crowd that would have doubled the average gate at Dennyfield this term.

The first half was a tight affair and ended all square with the clubs locked at 1-1, Scarborough having broken the deadlock in the 17th minute with a direct free-kick from Mike Price.

Thackley goalkeeper Ben Higginson had made two very important saves before Rob Morgan equalised minutes before the interval.

Harry Thompson got on the end of a cross early in the second half to stab the home side into the lead for the first time but, with Thackley becoming dominant, Ryan Blott levelled against the run of play.

Nicky Matthews netted a superb shot from an almost impossible angle to restore the lead and Ross Daly completed the scoring six minutes from time.

Neighbours LIVERSEDGE put a halt to a two-game losing run with a 3-3 draw at home to Nostell MW.

A chip from Jamie Wasley put Sedge in front and Ben Hardy doubled their lead after two shots had been blocked by the Nostell keeper.

The game turned on its head as a double from Josh Hope and a low strike by Dave Nicholls saw the visitors 3-2 up at the break.

But with 15 minutes remaining, Hardy scored his second to earn the home side a point.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN stayed top of the lower tier with a 3-1 win in a feisty game at Barton Town Old Boys.

Town scored the only goal of the first half when Ben Charlesworth crossed in after a half-cleared free-kick and Darryl Leach netted with a deft chip.

Lee Burgess doubled the lead early in the second half before an off-the-ball incident led to an altercation that resulted in the hosts being reduced to nine men.

The referee spoke to his assistants before showing one straight red and a second yellow card.

Town substitute Danny Toronczak made it 3-0 but the home side’s nine men ruined the clean sheet when Adam Crane netted in the last minute, which angered manager Mark Brier.

ECCLESHILL UNITED moved closer to hauling themselves out of the bottom two with a 2-0 home win over Teversal.

Eagles forward Declan Corby was brought down in the area midway through the first half and Ryan Wood netted from the spot.

Corby weighed in with the second goal, which proved enough for victory even though Wood had a later penalty well saved by the visiting keeper.