....cup competitions, to move eight points clear at the top of the table.

The 2-1 home win over Stocksbridge Park Steels looks tight, but, in front of a crowd of 466, it wasn`t quite as close a game as the scoreline suggests.

The hosts took an early 4^th minute lead through David Carson and added a second 13 minutes later, courtesy of Jeff Henderson.

But they had Sam Hodgson correctly shown a straight red card for lunging in two-footed after 37 minutes.

They went on to manage the rest of the game with ten-men quite comfortably until Steels managed to breach their defence through Luke Mangham 3 minutes from time.

Lincoln United`s excellent season continues as they slipped into second spot after a 3-0 win against county rivals Spalding United at the Sir Halley Stewart Fields.

And it was a hat-trick by experienced midfielder Rob Norris in the 11^th, 19^th and 72^nd minutes that earned the Whites a comfortable victory.

Tadcaster Albion moved into the top five after a 3-1 win at Christchurch Meadow against a Belper Town side who they were level on points with at start of play.

But Billy Whitehouse after 19 minutes, Paddy Miller 6 minutes before the break and Joe Lumsden 11 minutes from time killed off the Nailers, who replied 9 minutes from time through a Pitou Cruz penalty.