The disparity between Eccleshill United and Albion Sports’ seasons was highlighted in the pair’s Boxing Day rivalry yesterday.
Eccleshill took an unexpected early lead in their Northern Counties East League Premier Division battle, only for Albion to come back with three goals in the closing half-hour to win.
Albion’s victory lifted them up to fourth, right in the battle for the play-offs, while Eccleshill remain third-bottom, just two points above the drop zone.
Yesterday, the smart money was on an away win, but Eccleshill threatened to rip up the formbook when Brice Ghussein put them ahead after only 10 minutes.
Albion’s superiority paid off in the end, with the prolific Robbie Fox equalizing on the hour mark.
Lewis Waddington put the visitors ahead early on, before Adam Priestley scored a third Albion goal in second-half stoppage time to put Eccleshill away for good.
Silsden came agonizingly close to claiming a huge Boxing Day scalp in the same division, but were held to a 1-1 draw at leaders Campion.
Casey Stewart put the Cobbydalers ahead early on with a deflected free kick, only for veteran midfielder Nicky Boshell to equalize for the hosts in second-half stoppage time.
It was a fascinating match, and a draw would have been a fair outcome, but a point apiece did neither side any favor.
As a result of that late concession, hosts Silsden drop to eighth place, when a win would have taken them fifth and into the play-offs on goal difference.
Campion presently has a two-point lead at the top, with Emley having three games in hand, in a season where only the title winners advance automatically.
Emley would have surpassed Campion with a win on Tuesday, but they were stunned 1-0 at home by 10th-placed Penistone Church, their first league defeat since mid-August.
Thackley remain a long way behind the top two, and they were forced to settle for a 1-1 home draw against West Yorkshire rivals Golcar United.
The hosts dominated the game, but all they had to show for it was Corey Billy’s equalizer on the stroke of halftime.
High-flying The rivalry between Route One Rovers and mid-table Steeton in the North West Counties Football League First Division North at Marley was called off owing to gas supply concerns at the site.
Brighouse Town were relieved that their Northern Premier League East Division game against Winterton Rangers was on, as they scored two late goals through Jack Crook and Mo Qasim to win 2-1 and move six points clear of the relegation zone.
Due to a waterlogged surface, Liversedge’s home game versus Ossett United in that tier was canceled.
In the NPL Premier Division, Guiseley were defeated 3-2 at home by struggling Marske United, with Tom Pratt’s late red card exacerbating their misery.
Finally, Farsley Celtic fell five points short of the play-offs after losing 2-0 to National League North leaders Scunthorpe United.
