IT WAS a great weekend for Eccleshill United in their battle for the NCEL Premier Division title.

A superb Aiden Day hat-trick helped them romp to a 4-1 win at home to struggling Hemsworth Miners Welfare.

And elsewhere, leaders Grimsby Borough slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Winterton Rangers.

The upshot of all that means the Eagles move just three points behind Borough, with a game in hand to boot.

Day's opener on eight minutes was a little fortunate, as his cross took a slight deflection on its way in.

Jason Davis equalised with a free-kick for Hemsworth, but a minute later Day restored Eccleshill's lead.

Hemsworth keeper Harrison Davison-Hale made a good save at the start of the second half, and at the other end, Edward Cass and Nash Connolly both put great chances off target.

In between those two attempts, Eccleshill added their third, with Hemsworth coughing up possession and the hosts working it nicely to Day for him to complete his hat-trick.

Winger Tabish Hussain added a late fourth to set the seal on a crucial victory.

Despite their defeat, Hemsworth remain a point clear of the relegation zone, and that is because second-bottom Albion Sports suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at Sherwood Colliery.

Sherwood are fourth in the league, but Albion fought superbly on Saturday, hitting the bar in the first half and by and large, edging the contest.

But a 93rd minute winner for Timothy Gregory, from Bradley Newby's cross, ensured the hosts nicked the points.

Albion do still have four games in hand on Hemsworth, and at just one point from safety, they will back themselves to get out of the mess they are in.

Thackley edged a goalless first half at home to Maltby Main, and then took the lead when Owen Murphy capitalised on a defensive error after 50 minutes.

But that sparked Maltby into life, and Johnathan Williams' penalty pulled them level, before they wrapped up a 3-1 win with late goals from Joseph Austin and Robert Chipps.

Jos Bradshaw hit a brace for Silsden, as did Daniel Coupland for Garforth Town, as the two sides played out a 2-2 draw.

Campion grabbed a crucial 2-1 win over West Yorkshire rivals Ilkley Town in their battle against the drop.

Jake Maltby and Aidan Kirby scored for the Red and Blacks either side of the break, with George Gomersall's goal a mere consolation.

Steeton are by no means safe either, but they at least got a point, Andy Briggs scoring in their 1-1 draw with Daisy Hill.

Nicholas Walker scored twice as Liversedge stayed top of the NPL East Division with a 2-0 win over Frickley Athletic.

Brighouse Town's home game with Cleethorpes Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

In the National League North, like Bradford (Park Avenue), Guiseley picked up a crucial win in their battle against the drop, beating Darlington 1-0 thanks to a late Andy Hollins header.

Farsley Celtic are still one point from safety, but they did at least get a 3-3 draw against Chorley on Saturday, in Russ Wilcox's first game in charge.