ECCLESHILL United’s quest for automatic promotion from Division One of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League was wrestled out of their hands by a defeat at play-off chasing Hallam.

The Eagles were beaten 3-1 at the Sheffield club’s Sandygate ground and, although they remain in second place behind champions Knaresborough Town, the second automatic place is back up for grabs.

Hallam are just outside the play-off places but have two games in hand and trail by just four points.

They deserved their victory over an Eccleshill side who for so long looked nailed on to go straight up without the lottery of the play-offs.

Ben Thornton gave the Countrymen the lead, and Sam Smith doubled it with a chip after Eagles keeper Dom Smith had raced off his line to clear.

The game was still in the balance at half-time but the home side crushed any hopes the Eagles had of a comeback when Thornton added his second just six minutes after the interval.

Luke Harrop netted a consolation for Eccleshill, who enjoyed late pressure but couldn’t turn that into goals, with Hallam’s keeper David Darwent in top form.

The Eagles have just two games to play and could now be overtaken by both third-placed Grimsby Borough and fourth-placed Yorkshire Amateur, who have three games remaining.

Campion won 2-1 at home against Dronfield Town but results elsewhere mean the red and blacks, who are immediately behind Hallam in the table on the same points, cannot now reach the play-off places.

James Bicknell’s men needed sixth-placed Glasshoughton Welfare to drop points but they won 2-0 at basement outfit Retford United.

Campion took the lead through Graham Hall minutes before the break but after Mark Fereday netted a late penalty for Dronfield, the home side needed a last-minute Piteu Crouz winner to claim their maximum.

Thackley had to come from a goal down to earn a 2-1 home win over Parkgate in the Premier Division.

Andy Fox gave the visitors an 18th-minute lead but Nicky Matthews levelled eight minutes from time and Matt Broadley hit a last-gasp winner.

Parkgate remain second from bottom, while the win takes the Dennyboys through the 40-point barrier.

It was a bad day for both of Thackley’s top-tier neuighbours, with Albion Sports losing 3-1 at home to Penistone Church, while Liversedge went down 5-0 at Pontefract Collieries after having a man sent off early on.

Sedge’s Matt Walker was shown a straight red card for an alleged stamp midway through the first half, the visitors were two goals down at the time after shipping two inside the first five minutes.

Former Campion striker Eli Hey opened and closed the scoring with a brace while Jack Greenough, Spencer Clarke and Aaron Moxam were also on target for the Colls.

Sedge are back in action tomorrow when they host Hall Road Rangers in the first of three midweek games, Tuesday and Thursday being their other nights.

Albion were blown away in the first half at Throstle Nest.

Penistone led 3-0 at the break after goals from Lewis Dickinson, Duncan Richards and Danny Howes.

The Lions failed to mount a comeback but Kesiolu Omolokum did snatch a late goal.

Silsden reclaimed the leadership of Division One in the Hallmark Security League with a narrow victory at fourth-placed Whitchurch Alport, while title rivals Litherland REMYCA were beaten 3-2 at home by AFC Blackpool.

Niall Sultan headed in the only goal of the game at Alport five minutes after the break, but the Cobbydalers ended with ten men after Kyle Hancock was sent off in stoppage time for a late challenge.

With four games remaining, Danny Forrest’s men are three points clear again after REMYCA led on goal difference going into the weekend.

Silsden need six points from four matches to be sure of the title.