Eccleshill United gave Baris Northern Counties East League Division One leaders Athersley Recreation a bloody nose with a 3-1 away win – and once again it was Charlie Flaherty who inspired victory for the Eagles.

The Eagles’ leading scorer fired in another double as the top outfit failed to cope with his mercurial skills. Flaherty struck just before the break with a direct free-kick after CJ Lyle had been fouled.

Athersley levelled through Jason Bentley on the hour but Flaherty was still causing the home side problems and, after jinking into the area in the 70th minute, his progress was halted by a foul challenge but Ben Lamb missed the resulting penalty.

Flaherty did get Eccleshill back in front when he netted the goal of the game, curling a 77th-minute shot into the top corner, and Victor Balas wrapped up the win with another good strike from distance four minutes from time. Athersley stay top despite the defeat.

Meanwhile, Brighouse Town could not cling on to top spot in the Premier Division as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Retford United that dropped them to third.

Retford’s Rob Sanderson grabbed the game’s only goal early in the first half against Town who had reached the summit in midweek when they were the first club to breach the 20-point barrier.