PICKERING TOWN put a huge dent in Cleethorpes Town's Northern Counties East League premier division promotion ambitions with a 3-2 victory in Lincolnshire.

Lewis Taylor, Ged Dalton and Nathan Kamara were on target for Paul Marshall's men as they moved into tenth in the table.

They got off to the perfect start.

Callum Richardson's cross hit a Cleethorpes hand in the box in the second minute and referee Andy Dunne awarded a penalty.

Taylor stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to give the Pikes the lead.

It was 2-0 eight minutes later. A flowing move, involving a number of passes, culminated with Joe Danby's shot.

It was parried but Dalton scored from the rebound.

Cleethorpes, though, fought back strongly. Peter Lawrie saved a one-on-one in the 17th minute but he could do nothing to prevent the home side halving the deficit three minutes later.

A dangerous cross came in from the left and Ash Hope headed into his own net.

Kamara spurned a chance - shooting too high from the edge of the box on the half hour - but Cleethorpes were on top and they were level five minutes before the break through Alex Flett.

Perhaps feeling aggrieved they weren't in front at half-time, Pickering then had to dig in on the resumption and George Bissett cleared a shot off the line 12 minutes in.

The home side could have gone in front when they were awarded a penalty following a foul by George Foster but Lawrie saved from 12 yards and the rebound was struck over the bar.

Marshall's men made Cleethorpes pay for missing that golden chance as, following a great Dalton run, Kamara found the net.

Lawrie still had to pull off a magnificent save with four minutes remaining but any thoughts of a Cleethorpes revival ended deep into stoppage time when they had a man sent off.

Selby Town manager Dave Ricardo's frustration with postponements continued after the Robins' game at Teversal, in NCEL division one, was called off.

Knaresborough Town may have wished their game at Penistone Church had gone the same way.

Daniel Joynes scored in the first minute and Steve Kenworthy and Oliver Fearon added to the misery as they were defeated 3-0.

Scarborough Athletic and Harrogate Railway both suffered defeats in Evo-Stik first division north.

The Seadogs lost 4-2 at Droylsden despite goals from Fernando Moke and Joseph Fox, while Jack Stockdill's 31st minute strike was a mere consolation in a 3-1 reverse to Ossett Albion at Station View.

Paul Thirlwell, though, ensured Harrogate Town would enjoy a Merry Christmas.

His goal, in the first minute of stoppage time, gave the Wetherby Roaders a 1-0 home win over Brackley Town in National League North.