ECCLESHILL UNITED’S recent good home form continued when they held second-placed Clipstone to a goalless draw.

The Eagles created the better chances and were on top in the second half after weathering a good opening by the visitors. Clipstone went into the game hoping to stay within striking distance of Toolstation Northern Counties East Division One leaders Pontefract.

Eccleshill ruined those plans with another solid home performance and it could have been better for the home side as Matt Burras saw his free-kick hit the bar and Steve Rivera had a glorious late chance to snatch all three points.

Eagles skipper Charlie Flaherty delivered a cross straight to Rivera’s feet but with the goal at his mercy the forward tried to keep possession and play someone else in so the chance was lost.

Head coach Gerard Jones said: “They’re second in the table and are a very good side. It was a good game because both sides battled for it and I think we could have won it, especially towards the end of the first half.

“In the last ten minutes we were pushing and we created chances but I would say overall a draw was a fair result. We kept a clean sheet and are unbeaten at home for six games now - we’re making it a fortress, a difficult place for teams to come.

“I’m pleased with the performance and don’t think I could have asked for more to be honest because both sides gave it 100 per cent. Their aim was to stop us playing and they came at us early on and defended really high for the first 20 to 25 minutes but they began to tire after that and we got into the game and I think we were the better side in the second half.

“Jermaine Springer had a very good game but Matty Burras and James Queerie also played very well. I would say they were our best three players this week.”

In the Premier Division, ALBION SPORTS hosted high-flying Tadcaster Albion at Throstle Nest and came close to causing an upset.

The visitors took all three points but it was a narrow 1-0 victory and Taddy’s keeper Tom Morgan made an excellent injury-time save to keep their slender lead intact.

Josh Greening got the all-important goal shortly after the hour mark.

THACKLEY returned from Parkgate with all three points from their mid-table clash after registering a 2-0 win despite having keeper Ed Hall sent off.

Former Bantam Joe Brown had given them an eighth-minute lead and Dougie Stevenson doubled it five minutes into the second half but Hall transgressed with 15 minutes remaining.

Following his red card the home side missed the chance to cut the Dennyboys’ lead from the resulting penalty.

In the North West Counties top tier, SILSDEN lost 2-0 at AFC Liverpool.

The Cobbydalers had two good chances to break the deadlock early in the second half but Dale Feather and Aaron Hollindrake fluffed their lines.

That allowed the hosts to bank all three points with goals from Ryan Cox, who netted from a tight angle in the 68th minute, and Francis Barry, who was set up by Cox.

The Cobbydalers host West Didsbury & Chorlton tonight in a rearranged game following a 1-1 draw at the Cheshire side’s home nine days ago.