A FRANTIC final 15 minutes cost Selby Town dear as they went down 3-2 to Armthorpe at Flaxley Road in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

The game seemed to be heading for a stalemate until a thundering 25-yard drive from Selby's Ryan Carmody after 77 minutes sparked a late goal-rush.

The visitors hit back immediately, with Turner netting within a minute and Johnson giving them the lead after 83 minutes.

Armthorpe, who saw Roden's first-half penalty saved by Craig Code, were a constant threat on the break and Golightly extended their lead in the 86th minute.

But the Robins refused to give up the fight, with Andy Cygan pulling a goal back in the final minute.

A Danny Hope strike 15 minutes from time robbed Harrogate Railway Athletic of a point as Brigg snatched a 1-0 victory.

Goole Town, meanwhile, gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 1-0 win against Buxton. Andy Baldwin netted the only goal.

Pickering Town face a fixture backlog after their match against Borrowash Victoria was postponed at 12.40pm.

The Pikes were all set for the visit of their premier division rivals, only to receive a telephone call little more than two hours before kick-off, telling them the Derby-based side could only raise seven players for the match and would not be travelling.

The match will now have to be fitted in before the end of the season, leaving Jimmy Reid's men with the prospect of playing two matches in the space of three days.

Championship-chasing Harrogate Town closed in on the UniBond League division one crown with a 2-0 hard-fought victory over Spennymoor.

On-loan Pickering midfielder Danny Farthing marked his home debut with a goal when his cross beat everyone including the goalkeeper just before the break, while Ian Blackstone converted Stephen Ball's cross to seal the result 11 minutes from time.

However, boss John Reed had to endure a few nervy moments against a battling Spennymoor side.

"They are the best side to have come to Harrogate," he admitted.

"We had to work really hard for this result as for long periods we were second best, but our defence, and Chris Hudson in particular, was outstanding."

Hudson, whom Pickering Town are interested in taking on loan for the rest of the season, was also among Harrogate's best performers in their previous outing when they drew 0-0 with title rivals Ossett Town.

Updated: 11:54 Tuesday, April 02, 2002