Former York City junior Mark Wood was the star of the show for title-chasing Pickering Town.

Wood hit all three goals for the Pikes, who transformed a pallid first-half display into second-half power for a 3-1 victory over Rossington Main.

With current Northern Counties East League first division leaders Hall Road Rangers surprisingly toppled at Louth United Pickering now trail the pace-setters by one point with two games in hand.

Manager Jimmy Reid was not over-enamoured by his side's overall display, but he praised the battling qualities of the hosts, who trailed at half-time to a Rossington opener from Jim Batchelor.

Said Reid: "We never played particularly well, but it's a good sign that despite a poor display we can go on to win.

"If anything, Mark Wood was the one bright light. He got all three goals and deserved the hat-trick for his work-rate."

The opening goals summed up Wood's tireless efforts in the front-line. Chasing a lost cause Wood bravely blocked a clearance from the Rossington 'keeper to force the ball home. After that leveller he struck another brace to complete his triple feat.

Pickering are next in action tomorrow when they entertain Northallerton Town in the North Riding FA Cup, kick-off 7.45pm.

Mid-table Selby Town spurned a solid opportunity to move into the top half of the NCEL premier division when they were held to a goal-less draw at bottom-placed Armthorpe Welfare.

In a scrappy first-half Selby came the closest to scoring, Andy Cygan's shot coming back off the inside of an upright with the home 'keeper well beaten.

After the break the Robins created a succession of chances, but all went begging with Cygan and Collier the main culprits.

Tomorrow night's scheduled League Cup second round tie sending Selby to Borrowash has been called off because the hosts are in FA Vase duty.

Goole Town's Sean Lanighan was far more incisive in front of goal.

Lanighan lashed in two goals before half-time to put the hosts ahead against Thackley. Though the visitors trimmed the arrears through Matt Surtees midway through the second-half Goole held firm, boosted by net-minder Phil Dobson's heroics.

A water-logged pitch KO'd Harrogate Railway Athletic's clash at home to Alfreton Town.

Over at neighbours Harrogate Town's Wetherby Road ground there was no such trouble as the hosts' UniBond League first division revival gathered momentum.

Town beat Trafford 4-1 to clamber further away from relegation peril. But it was not a wholly convincing performance with the Town defence sliced open regularly in the first-half only for Trafford's strikeforce to squander those openings.

Harrogate finally got their act together with two goals from Iain Dunn, the second from the penalty spot, and second-half strikes from Dave Merris and Steve Underwood.

On a heavy pitch West Yorkshire League champions Nestl-Rowntree were unable to reproduce their customary slick passing.

But Trees still possessed too much fire-power and grit for visitors Pontefract to register their 13th win in 14 games this term.

Said manager Jim Collis: "The conditions were a great leveller, but we showed a lot of character in a battling performance to make sure we got the win."

Scott Barley put the hosts on their way with the opening goal, which was cancelled out within 50 seconds of the start of the second-half.

Then after several clear-cut chances were wasted, Trees' sealed the points with an opportunist goal from Matty Wain.

Fellow WYL side Knaresborough Town were involved in cup duty, their Premier Division League Cup first round tie switched to Manse Lane after opponents' Wetherby Athletic's pitch was deemed unfit.

Trailing to a Gareth Williams' strike Knaresborough countered superbly to lead 3-1 at half-time. On target were Dale Latimer, Gambian-born striker Sal Njie and Lee Shaw.

Wetherby hit their second goal ten minutes from time through James Cartwright, but it was a rare retort as Knaresborough dominated only to let slip a flurry of openings.