HARROGATE Town old boy Eamonn Elliott popped up in the dying minutes to end his former club's 24-match unbeaten run.

Winger Elliott, a firm favourite among the Wetherby Road faithful during his spells at the club, unleashed a drive from 18 yards to seal a 4-3 victory his current employers Radcliffe Borough.

But for Town, it was a case of letting their UniBond League division one title rivals off the hook.

At 2-0 up after 52 minutes, they should have kicked-on to finish off Borough and virtually seal their place in the premier division next season. However some appalling defensive errors let Radcliffe back into the match.

Craig Elliott had powered Town into the lead, while Colin Hunter doubled the advantage after being sent clear by Robbie Whellans.

But the Town defence, missing the calming influence of the suspended Neil Aspin, suddenly opted to hit the self-destruct button.

A slip-up by Stephen Ball allowed Lee Kissock to strike, while Ashley Connor, the usually impregnable final barrier, failed to clear his lines from a corner and David Bean headed home.

Skipper Whellans fired Town back in front only for the title-favourites to leave the door ajar again, this time Tony Whealing levelled the scores.

And with time running out and the points set to be shared, enter Elliott to beat Connor from 18 yards out to complete the victory.

There was also title disappointment in the Northern Counties East premier division as the inconsistency that has plagued Pickering Town in recent weeks rose its head again.

Having moved to within striking distance of the leaders Alfreton, The Pikes are now nine points adrift following their 2-1 defeat by Hallam.

Jimmy Reid's men have played three games less than the Derbyshire outfit, but that will be scant consolation for a side which could have moved clear at the top if they had won their matches in hand.

And Pickering know they really should have done better, especially as Hallam were reduced to ten men.

Adam Wash had given them the lead after nine minutes only for Hallam to bounce back to with a Jonathan Froggatt strike.

A second yellow card to Hallam's Tim Willis should have spurred the Pikes on, but, as is so often the case, it was the side with ten men that rose to the challenge, with Lee Morris snatching a late winner.

Harrogate Railway's charge up the table continued courtesy of their 4-2 fight back against Denaby United.

The Railwaymen, enjoying their best-ever season in terms of league standings, had to claw their way back from 2-0 down after Matt Clarke and Lee Dews had given Denaby the lead.

However, Steve Davey and Darron Morris both netted to level the scores.

And as the confidence began to flow through the Rail side, Davey popped up twice more to complete his hat-trick.

Selby Town were held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Borrowash Victoria at Flaxley Road after surrendering two goals in the final eight minutes.

Selby took the lead in the 22nd-minute when Peter Collier put Matty Wain through to score. The Robins extended their advantage in the 54th-minute when Richard Tomlinson set up Collier to net from 12 yards.

The hosts squandered further chances to finish off Borrowash and they paid the penalty when Paul Chapman gave the visitors a lifeline in the 82nd-minute.

In a tense finish Chris Seale grabbed the equaliser with just three minutes remaining after the Robins failed to clear a corner.

Goole were held to a 1-1 draw, an Andy Saville strike cancelling out Lee Vernon's goal.

Tadcaster Albion's return to action in division one was not met with success as they went down to a 1-0 defeat against Louth.

In the West Yorkshire League premier division, Nestl Rowntree suffered a heavy 4-1 reverse against Beeston, while Dale Latimer gave Knaresborough Town a 1-0 victory over Bardsey.

Updated: 12:01 Monday, March 04, 2002