Two late goals at leaders Goole pitched Pickering Town right back into the heart of the Northern Counties East League premier division title battle.

Ricky Greening latched on to a Liam Salt cross to put the Pikes ahead in the 78th minute before skipper Alex Willgrass fired in a well-struck half-volley in the final minute to seal a crucial league double over Goole and reshuffle the top five cards.

Pickering player-manager Alex Mathie said: "We played very well in the first half and they came at us a little bit more in the second but we got them on the counter-attack.

"It was a good performance but it was all about the winning and that puts us right back in there, especially with Selby drawing as well."

Goole remain top on goal difference from Selby Town, who drew 1-1 at Maltby Main after Adam Wash equalised in the 74th minute.

They had fallen behind despite goalkeeper Adam Mitchell saving an eighth-minute penalty when Lee McMahon got to the rebound and slotted it away.

Harrogate Railway look to benefit the most from Pickering's defeat of Goole after their 13th consecutive away league win at Hallam.

Graham Marchant, last season's reserve league top-scorer, struck the only goal of the game after five minutes to keep them in control of their own destiny with a theoretical two-point advantage over Goole and Selby if they win their games in hand.

But Sheffield too kept their eye on the prize with a 2-1 defeat of Liversedge.

Early NCEL division one favourites Tadcaster Albion waved their last chances of promotion goodbye after losing 1-0 at Retford United.

Paul James was sent off in the 56th minute for a second bookable offence, the first being somewhat dubious, and it finally sparked the lacklustre Brewers into life.

Retford had gone ahead just before half-time but Albion's ten men had the home side hanging on as they pushed in vain for an equaliser.

Deadlocked

Harrogate Town stay fifth in the Nationwide North table after racking up a 0-0 draw at home to Hucknall.

Town went close against the FA Trophy semi-finalists through Marc Smith, Lee Philpott and Lee Nogan but couldn't break the deadlock for the third successive game.

Caretaker boss Neil Aspin will be hoping they rediscover their scoring boots before tomorrow's trip to leaders Southport.

Updated: 10:18 Monday, March 21, 2005