Retford United suffered a brief stutter in their title challenge as they went down 3-1 at a rapidly improving Armthorpe Welfare.

The Badgers were also reduced to nine men during the game as Karl Colley was sent off after just five minutes and Peter Duffield also got his marching orders at the start of the second period.

Mick Godber had put Retford ahead, though, after ten minutes before Armthorpe made their numerical advantage pay.

Bruno Holden equalised midway through the first half before Adam Lee and Liam Radford found the net to make it three wins out of their last four for Welfare.

It means the gap between Retford, who are second, and leaders Sheffield, who were without a game, stays at ten points.

But, the Badgers have three games in hand and the two sides are yet to meet each other in the league so the quest for the NCEL crown is still very much alive.

Garforth Town moved up to third after a goalless draw at home to Selby Town, replacing Maltby Main who went down to a single goal to visitors Long Eaton United.

At the foot of the table, next-to-bottom Shirebrook Town picked up three priceless points at Glasshoughton Welfare.

They had gone ahead through Valadmir Santos Farrell but found themselves behind by the break thanks to goals from Richard Britten and Stuart Dove.

The game then turned around once again in the last twenty minutes as Lance Mulligan grabbed a brace and Santos Farrell claimed his second for a 4-2 victory for Shirebrook.

Danny Gildea, Matthew Biggins and Steve Baxter found the net for Pickering Town as they won 3-1 at home to Hallam to move up to twelfth.

Christopher Coy got a late consolation for the visitors who drop to ninth.

And, the points were shared at Gedling Road as Arnold Town played out a 2-2 draw against visitors Eccleshill United.

United were twice ahead through Scott Broughton and Gareth Hamlet but Arnold showed great resilience with Tom Watson and Lee Sutton getting on the scoresheet.

In Division One, leaders Parkgate saw their lead cut to seven points as they were held 2-2 by visitors Staveley Miners Welfare.

Adam Fretwell had put them ahead before Ben Kistell scored on either side of half-time for the Derbyshire side.

Brian Cusworth levelled things on 52 minutes and that is how it stayed.

Second-placed Winterton Rangers took full advantage as they thumped South Normanton Athletic, who were fourth at the start of the day, 5-1.

Two first-half Rob Northen penalties put them on their way and three goals in the first seven minutes of the second period, two from Andy Catton and one from Matthew Plant, made sure of the victory.

The Shiners did get on the scoresheet as Matthew Baxter found the net with eighteen minutes remaining.

Rangers are now seven points behind Parkgate with two games in hand whilst Teversal drop to sixteenth.

Nostell Miners Welfare stay third after a 3-0 win at AFC Emley - Oli Johnson, Craig Stephens and Martyn Hewitt with their goals in a comfortable victory.

A Rob Lund strike in the opening minute of the second half saw Lincoln Moorlands replace South Normanton in fourth after a 1-1 draw at Dinnington Town.

Simon Mirfin had put the hosts ahead in the first sixty seconds of that encounter.

The points were shared in two other matches as Borrowash Victoria claimed a 0-0 draw at Worsbrough Bridge and Tadcaster Albion were held 1-1 by visitors Hall Road Rangers.

Bottom side Rossington Main are now eight points adrift of the rest after losing by a single goal to the team that were just above them at the start of play.

Ashley Beck struck for Yorkshire Amateur that sees them leapfrog over Teversal into fifteenth.

And, Pontefract Collieries have moved up to ninth with a 2-1 home win over Gedling Town.

Kevin Duckworth and Chris Shaw put them well on their way before Matthew Turner pulled one back to make it a tense finale.