There were draws this weekend for both leaders of the Premier Division and Division One on Saturday to give further hope to the chasing pack that they can be caught as the NCEL title races enter the final couple of months.

It had promised to be the first Saturday of the season with a full programme of fixtures in both divisions.

Bad weather, cup competitions and an increase in Friday night games had stopped that from happening before and it was the first of those reasons that denied it this weekend as Golcar United's home clash with Frickley Athletic was postponed an hour before kick-off due to an unplayable pitch.

But, twenty games did go ahead, providing plenty of talking points and entertainment on a cold, wet and dull mid-February afternoon.

Silsden AFC drew 0-0 at Knaresborough Town but their lead at the summit of the Premier Division remains at ten points due to Golcar's postponement and a defeat for both Thackley and Beverley Town.

George Brown and Omar Sanyang struck at the end of each half as Pickering Town won 2-0 at Thackley to move up into seventh whilst their hosts remain in fourth spot.

Beverley, though, drop to fifth after they were beaten 7-0 at Hallam, the home side going above them into second spot with the victory thanks in part to a hat-trick that has taken Rio Allan's tally for the season to 28.

Leon Howarth's double and one each for Brodie Litchfield and Brandon Bradbury also helped to secure the three points that sees the Countrymen go above Golcar on goal difference as the play-off positions continue to be keenly contested.

Albion Sports have closed the gap on the top five to two points as they won 3-1 at Penistone Church, the Lions' goals coming from Nathan Cartman, Ellis Wade and Fernando Moke Tumba whilst Nathan Keightley got on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Scott Ruthven struck twice in the second period to match Allan's goalscoring feat for the campaign and secure a 4-3 home win for Handsworth over Campion in a game that was level at 2-2 at the interval.

It was another frustrating afternoon for the two sides in the relegation zone as the battle to avoid the drop approaches the final furlong.

Goole AFC stay in the basement despite stretching their unbeaten run to four games in a 0-0 draw at home against Eccleshill United.

Meanwhile, the other side below the dotted line, Winterton Rangers, were beaten by a last gasp goal by Jonathan Nyantou as they went down 1-0 to visitors Bottesford Town.

It leaves both Goole and Winterton twelve points away from safety with ten and nine games remaining, respectively.

Robert Guilfoyle, Thomas Waudby and Oliver Baldwin found the net for Barton Town in a 3-1 victory at Parkgate whilst James Knowles was the matchwinner for Tadcaster Albion as they beat visitors Rossington Main 1-0.

In Division One, a top three clash ended all square as Gibril Bojang's opener for Horbury Town was cancelled out by Joshua Batty, his 32nd goal of the season, for hosts Brigg Town in a 1-1 draw.

Horbury's lead at the summit is now down to eight points and they now find themselves catchable as second placed Wombwell Town have three games in hand following their 2-0 victory at Selby Town.

Jordan Kershaw and Kane Reece found the net in the second period to give Wombwell a sixth successive victory.

Brigg, meanwhile, stay third, ahead on goal difference of Wakefield AFC who were involved in a goalless game at Shelley.

Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Dearne & District and Ilkley Town all won to keep their play-off ambitions on track.

The Briggers keep hold of the prized fifth place, a point ahead of their two rivals, as a Keelan Grist hat-trick plus one from Connor Glavin saw them canter to a 4-0 win at Nostell Miners Welfare.

Jamie Austin scored four, Harry Anderson-Richardson struck a brace and there was also a goal from Curtis Wilkinson as Dearne defeated visitors Glasshoughton Welfare 7-1.

And, Toby Marriott struck the 79th minute winner for Ilkley as they edged hosts Athersley Recreation in a 3-2 thriller that saw the lead change hands a couple of times before the visitors took the points.

In the race to avoid relegation, Nostell's defeat sees them fall into the bottom three as Louth Town won 2-0 at Armthorpe Welfare to leap out of the drop zone, Brody Robertson and Harry Jacklin with the White Wolves' goals for a priceless victory.

Dronfield Town were also victorious to keep their head above water, Samuel Bebbington's double helping them beat Yorkshire Amateur 3-1 to climb into eighteenth, like Louth two points above Nostell.

The Ammers drop to bottom spot, thirteen points away from safety, with Appleby Frodingham now above them following their 3-1 home win over Maltby Main, Joel Chapman, Ryan Bonser and Nathan Jarman finding the net whilst Ashley Flynn grabbed a consolation for the Miners.

Ben Stobart's injury time winner grabbed a last gasp victory for Club Thorne Colliery as they defeated visitors Harrogate Railway Athletic 3-2.

And, Alex Wonham, Harrison Richardson and Oliver Grey struck in a 3-2 win for Swallownest at South Leeds to ease their relegation worries and put a dent into their hosts' play-off hopes.

Photo: James Knowles slots home the winner for Tadcaster Albion in their 1-0 home victory over Rossington Main in Saturday's NCEL Premier Division encounter. (Picture: Keith Handley)