Pickering Town leapfrogged Selby Town and Harrogate Railway into the top six of the Northern Counties East League premier division after a one-goal win at Long Eaton United.

The Pikes held off a potential battering from Long Eaton as the home side dominated the match to eke out a 1-0 win when Steve Swales polished off a defensive fumble in the second half to seal the points, maintain Pickering's unbeaten away record and lift them up to sixth after a slow start.

Selby Town slipped down to 11th in the table after a 70th minute rocket consigned them to a 1-0 reverse.

Robins keeper Adam Mitchell could do nothing about Chris Wood's strike from more than 30 yards and Selby failed to level the score before full time.

The North wind was blowing particularly hard on Harrogate Railway as they were knocked sideways by Mickleover Sports thanks to a masterclass in attacking from Shannon North.

He opened the scoring after following up his own shot, pounced on a Tom Betteridge-induced parry just after half-time to make it 3-0 and then flicked the ball on to Matt McCall for a volley.

Mark Strzyzewski had made it 2-0 at half-time after firing a free-kick straight into the net.

Railway had the last word through Ryan Haigh, but it was simply consolation.

Goole's penalty executioner Gary Shaw was again at his lethal best as he sent the Vikings to a 1-0 UniBond League division one win at Chorley.

The spot-kick king followed on from the cool-as-you-like effort against Gainsborough Trinity in Tuesday's FA Cup second qualifying round replay to despatch Chorley - and gain revenge for a yellow card for diving in the first half.

Chorley's Paul Horridge, who also instigated the earlier claim, tripped Mark Willougby in the box on the hour mark and Shaw stepped up with ease to convert the goal and vital three points that takes them up to 13th.

Tadcaster Albion were not in action in NCEL division one because of FA Vase second qualifying round action.

York City's youth team missed out on making it Minstermen double in their Football League Youth Alliance North & Midlands East Conference match at home to Lincoln CIty.

The young guns slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the Wigginton Road training complex just hours before the senior team's 4-2 rout of Exeter City at KitKat Crescent.

Updated: 11:37 Monday, October 03, 2005