Selby Town charged to the top of Northern Counties East League premier division yesterday by defeating Thackley 2-0 to maintain their 100 per cent record.

An own goal saw the Robins take a first-half lead and Dexter Tucker wrapped it up with 15 minutes to go.

Selby boss Bob Lyon admitted he did think his side would be top of the league after three games, but was naturally delighted to be there.

"It's more than we expected but I'm obviously happy about it and we've got to keep it going now," he told the Evening Press.

"We did not play as well as on Saturday (in the 2-1 defeat of Goole) but we battled it out and we were never going to lose it."

He joked: "It was typical Bank Holiday game - everyone wanted to be somewhere else."

Goole bounced back from their derby defeat to Selby by beating Liversedge 1-0 at home.

Marcus Bramald got the goal just after the hour mark in a poor match which saw both sides reduced to ten men, Liversedge going a man down in the first half and Goole goalkeeper Phil Dobson being sent off with five minutes to go for a foul outside the box.

Harrogate Railway's unbeaten start to the campaign ended as they lost 3-1 at home to Hallam.

A controversial penalty denied Harrogate Town victory at UniBond League division one rivals Ashton United yesterday.

Town were the better team throughout the clash but could only draw 1-1 after missing chances and seeing Ashton - who finished third in the division last season - handed a first-half lead from the spot.

Player-coach Neil Aspin was harshly adjudged to have com-mitted a foul in the box and Chris Connelly put the spot kick away.

After the break Robbie Wellens equalised following Colin Hunter's cross and Ian Blackstone's knock-back, but both he and Blackstone missed a few chances to win the game.

Town boss John Reed said: "It was a game we probably had 89 minutes of out of the 90. It was our best display of the season, but a dreadful refereeing decision robbed us of a win.

"I had to applaud my players for keeping their discipline."

Nestle Rowntree visit Ripon City Magnets in the West Yorkshire League tomorrow night, while Knaresborough entertain Bardsey. Kick-offs are at 6.15pm.

Rowntree: Smallwood, Bonarius, Dewhirst, Hodson, Barley, Durkin, Bond, Ellis, Simpson, Cox, Gore, Empson, Kilner, Carter. Meet Ainsty 5pm.

Updated: 11:42 Tuesday, August 28, 2001