PICKERING TOWN were always on the back foot against promotion chasing Handsworth Parramore as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

The Recreation Ground pitch passed a morning inspection but manager Paul Marshall’s men were behind in the fourth minute as Luke Fletcher netted following a goalmouth scramble.

Pickering got back into the game just after the quarter hour mark when Ryan Cooper also scored following a melee in the box.

But both sides were reduced to ten men when Handsworth’s Kieron Wells and Pickering’s Cooper were sent off for violent conduct.

The visitors went in at the break with the lead, though, as Fletcher notched his second a minute before the end of the half.

Marshall’s half-time team talk counted for little as Pickering fell 3-1 behind within a minute of the restart, Jon Froggatt getting the goal.

Matthew Turnbull did reduce the deficit but his strike, three minutes from the end, only proved to be a consolation.

Tadcaster Albion’s game at Maltby Main was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch and the Brewers fell to third in the premier division table as a result.

Worksop Town and Bridlington Town both cashed in on the Ings Lane club’s inaction, the former beating Athersley Recreation 4-0 to go to the top of the pile.

Bridlington won 2-1 at Nostell Miners Welfare but Billy Miller’s men - a point adrift of both - have four games in hand on Brid and one on Worksop Town.

Selby Town’s long wait to get back into NCEL division one action goes on. The Robins’ clash with Winterton Rangers was postponed with the Flaxley Road pitch still waterlogged and they haven’t played a competitive match since December 8.

Knaresborough Town enjoyed better luck as they swept aside Teversal 3-0 thanks to a Bradley Walker hat-trick.

Scarborough Athletic and Harrogate Railway both came to grief in Evo-Stik first division north. The Seadogs suffered a heavy home defeat as Bamber Bridge won 3-0.

Chris Marlow’s opener in the 26th minute was added to by a brace of second half goals from Jamie Milligan - the first from the penalty spot.

Tom Kilfin’s 64th minute header saw Lancaster City edge out Railway 1-0. It was their fourth defeat in a row and leaves them second bottom of the table, three points adrift of safety but with games in hand.

Harrogate Town had to hold off a late comeback at Hednesford Town as they picked up three points with a 3-2 victory in National League North.

It looked to be a straightforward task for the Wetherby Roaders when Paul Clayton and Jack Emmett put them two up inside eight minutes.

England C International Clayton made it 3-0 two minutes after the restart but two goals in the last 13 minutes, from Stephane Ngamvoulou and Shelton Payne, set up a nervy finish for the visitors.