THE first big freeze put paid to all but six Northern Counties East League fixtures, topped by Tadcaster Albion's game against Retford United.

The match in the Midlands was called off leaving Albion unable to press further their claims to the premier division title.

One of the top-flight games that beat the weather involved their nearest challengers Worksop Town who hammered Glasshoughton Welfare 10-0 to close the gap.

Pickering Town were without a fixture, while Selby Town's NCEL division one hosting of Hemsworth Miners Welfare was a victim of the frost.

Knaresborough Town probably wished their trip to Shirebrook had been called off.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Knaresborough bounced back to level with two goals in three minutes shortly after the interval from Mitchell Hamilton and Ben Parker. But Shirebrook nicked a late third to take all three points.

In the Evo-Stik League first division north, there were solid victories for both Harrogate Railway Athletic and Scarborough Athletic.

The Rail routed visitors NewMills 3-0 with all the goals from Nathan Cartman, Malachi Farquharson and Stephen Bromley coming in the second half.

Ryan Williams struck a late winner for Scarborough at Lancaster City, who had cancelled out Alex Peterson's second-minute deadlock-breaker for the Seadogs.

A knockout blow was suffered by Harrogate Town. They crashed 4-0 at FC United of Manchester in the first round of the FA Trophy.