HARROGATE Town's players and staff were able to return home to finish off their Christmas turkeys after their Boxing Day trip to Spennymoor was called off.

As temperatures continued to plummet, almost the entire UniBond League programme was a 'white-out' with frozen pitches making games unplayable.

However, while Town were left kicking their heels for the second successive game - Saturday's tie at Belper Town was also called off - first division title-rivals Radcliffe Borough were in action.

But the leaders must have wished their game had been cancelled as they slumped to a 3-1 home defeat against Rossendale United.

The defeat means Rossendale move up to third, while Radcliffe are still just two points ahead of Town, who now have four games in hand.

Town boss John Reed said: "It's been a frustrating Christmas period for us with the cancellation of those two games at Belper and Spennymoor, but having seen Radcliffe get beaten that is the perfect Xmas bonus for us."

The only other division one game to escape the weather was the clash between Lincoln United and Eastwood Town, with the visitors Town enjoying a 3-0 victory.

Updated: 12:00 Thursday, December 27, 2001