HARROGATE Railway's phenomenal scoring feats reached a new level against Armthorpe Welfare in the Northern Counties East League premier division as they racked up their 153rd goal of the season in a 7-1 rout, writes Tony Curtis.

A packed season of fixtures has seen the Railwaymen play 58 games in all competitions - including 18 in the past 52 days - and they have not been short of goals.

Leading the way has been diminutive front-man Steve Davey, who after chalking up 41 last season, now has 43 this term.

And five in yesterday's crushing win over Armthorpe will have strengthened Davey's chances of finishing the campaign as the league's leading scorer.

Michael Jordan and Mick Woodcock also got on the score-sheet to complete the win, and this after Rail had gone 1-0 down after little more than a minute.

Pickering Town will be looking to kick-on to their half-century points target after securing their premier division safety with a 2-1 win over Liversedge.

Steve Brown's men now have 41 points from the season and with three games left want to reach the 50-point mark.

Goals from Danny Farthing and Gavin Dickinson were enough to edge them past Liversedge.

Selby Town went down to a 2-1 defeat against third-placed Ossett Albion at Flaxley Road.

In a tight first half, the Robins nearly took the lead five minutes before the break when Alan Jackson hit the bar but Ossett broke away to score with Danny Toranczak netting.

The visitors took control in the second half and extended their lead in the 66th minute when Rob Ward scored from close range.

There was a late fightback from Selby when a good ball from Marc Thompson set up Richard Gladwell to volley home in the 76th minute but they were unable to snatch an equaliser.

Harrogate Town completed their first-ever home campaign in the UniBond League premier division with an emphatic 5-2 rout over local foes Bradford Park Avenue.

Town, who wrap up a productive season at Worksop on Saturday, treated their home fans to some total football as they strengthened their grip on a top-six spot.

They fell behind when their own player Dave Donaldson, who is on loan at Park Avenue, fired home after 18 minutes.

The slip-up fired Harrogate into action with three goals in a seven-minute spell putting the Wetherby Roaders in complete control.

Paul Sykes levelled with a thumping 30-yard drive, while an exquisite volley by Colin Hunter from James McDaid's cross saw them 2-1 up. Hunter then turned from scorer to provider as he teed James Turley to volley home.

Maxwell cut the deficit for Park Avenue after the interval, but Sykes completed his hat-trick to put the result beyond doubt.

Turley put him away for his second, while two minutes later he applied the finishing touch to Marc Smith's cross.

Updated: 11:50 Tuesday, April 22, 2003