ECCLESHILL United snatched a late equaliser at home to Barton Town to just about stay on track in their hunt for the title.

Barton are only in mid-table in the NCEL Premier Division, but they were the better team at the Mitton Group Stadium on Saturday, until a costly red card for last man Josh Lacey early in the second half.

Both team created half-chances in the opening 20 minutes, before Barton should have gone in front midway through the first period, but Tom Waudby’s header from point-blank range was brilliantly tipped over by Eagles stopper Ed Wilczynski.

But then Will Waudby produced some fantastic work on the left for the visitors, before feeding Curtis Bateson.

He cut inside the area, before taking a shot, which was deflected past Wilczynski to give his side the lead.

Barton striker Ben Hinchcliffe was denied right at the start of the second half by Wilczynski, before Lacey was dismissed for a foul as the last man.

Eccleshill proceeded to score from the free-kick, but after some confusion, it was eventually ruled out for offside.

The Eagles went close with another free-kick, but Barton keeper Mike Emery made a fine save.

Eventually, Eccleshill did break through against the 10-men, with Ellis Wade finding the net in the 85th minute to salvage a point for the second-placed hosts.

Even better, the Eagles did not lose any ground on leaders Grimsby Borough, who remain five points in front of them, having played a game more, after their 3-3 draw at home to Silsden.

Grimsby took the lead three times, but on each occasion the prolific Jack Normanton equalised.

And hat-trick hero Normanton wasn’t the only one to take the plaudits for Silsden, with outfield player and captain Arley Barnes having to go in goal late on, when Sammy Lee was sin-binned, and keeping a clean sheet.

Thackley also had to put an outfield player, Dan Vinten, in goal after Luke Wilson had to be substituted early on at home to Penistone Church after a nasty collision left him with a bad head injury.

That cost Thackley dearly, as they lost 3-1, with their only goal a 90th-minute penalty from Albert Ibrahimi.

In the NWCFL First Division North, Campion lost 3-1 at Bacup Borough, but that result quickly paled into insignificance, as a Bacup fan collapsed in the main stand.

A defibrillator was used, but despite that, and the best efforts of the Bacup physio, a couple of players and the emergency services, he sadly passed away.

Elsewhere in that division, goals from strike duo Kayle Price and Andy Briggs helped Steeton to a 2-2 draw with Atherton LR.

Liversedge remain four points clear at the summit of the NPL East Division after they thumped Ossett United 6-0, with Joe Walton, Gav Allott, Nicky Walker, Jack Hardacre, Ben Atkinson and Lewis Whitham all scoring.

In the same division, Brighouse Town conceded late on to lose 1-0 at home to Shildon.