TADCASTER Albion’s lead at the top of the Northern Counties East League premier division was cut to three points as they drew 2-2 at ten-man Thackley.

The Brewers stretched their unbeaten run to 24 matches, but Barton Town Old Boys closed the gap with a 2-0 win over Maltby.

Albion, one of seven top flight sides to apply to be considered for promotion to the Evo-Stik League, fell behind to Chris Davey’s sixth minute goal for fourth-placed Thackley.

However, they levelled from a 20th-minute Terry Taylor corner as Damian Hopkins glanced into his own net at the back post, and the visitors also hit the woodwork three times in a frantic first half.

Albion were forced to put Will Pepper in goal at half-time in place of the injured Leon Wrigglesworth, but striker Carl Stewart had put the visitors in front on 54 minutes.

Stewart was denied in a one-on-one with the Thackley ’keeper and the home side then had a man sent off before James Firth got the equaliser six minutes from time.

Fifth-placed Brighouse Town spiked Pickering Town’s recent run of form as they came away from Mill Lane with a 3-1 victory.

Jimmy Beadle grabbed the Pikes’ consolation three minutes from time, while Brighouse led at the break through Joe Jagger’s 16th-minute goal before Ernest Boafo and Tom Matthews scored in the second period.

Seventh-placed Selby Town kept pace with the top six with an eye-catching 3-1 home win over division one leaders Shaw Lane Aquaforce.

Louis Blackwell destroyed the table toppers with a stunning 12-minute hat-trick, netting in the 32nd, 39th and 44th minutes at Flaxley Road.

Aquaforce’s response was a 70th-minute goal from Mark Whitehouse.

Knaresborough Town were 4-0 winners at home to Hall Road.

Danny Wright opened the scoring on 32 minutes and Josh Garbutt made it 2-0 six minutes before the break.

Colin Heath grabbed the third on 54 minutes and Garbutt wrapped it up with a last-minute penalty.

Michael Woods scored a 16-minute hat-trick either side of the break as Harrogate Town beat Gloucester 4-2 in Conference North.

Woods broke the deadlock in front of a 1,400 crowd at Wetherby Road in the 43rd minute and got his second a minute after half-time.

His hat-trick goal on 59 minutes was followed by a superb strike from former York City winger Craig Nelthorpe on 69 minutes.

Gloucester netted twice in the last 14 minutes, but the damage was already done.

A goal from Ossett Town’s Fernando Moke sank Harrogate Railway Athletic in Evo-Stik League division one north, while Scarborough Athletic were 3-1 winners at Eastwood Town in division one south.

Ryan Blott netted twice in the first half, either side of an Eastwood goal, and Gary Bradshaw made sure of the points with a third 13 minutes from time.