Although Halloween was still three days away, Harrogate Town suffered a true nightmare on Rivacre Road when they travelled to Merseyside to take on UniBond League division one leaders Vauxhall Motors.
Gregg Blundell led the way with a four-goal salvo to put him clear at the top of the division's goalscoring charts with 14 in the 8-1 hammering of Mick Hennigan's men.
Nicky Young also made it into double figures for the season with Motors' fourth goal, while other strikes came from Nesbitt, Lynch and Lawton.
Town's sole reply came on 80 minutes through Peter Wrigley.
Ugly scenes marred Selby Town's 2-0 Northern Counties East League premier division defeat at Denaby United.
They allegedly involved home fans and the Robins dugout, after Selby defender Andy Hart was sent off just after the interval for an outburst at an assistant referee.
Hart had seemed to be tripped by United's centre-forward as they chased a long ball, but although Town eventually cleared the danger, the full-back remained incensed the officials had not blown for a free-kick.
As he left the pitch, however, a home fan allegedly grabbed Selby manager Bob Lyon round the neck, and it took time for calm to be restored.
Selby, who had started well but failed to take their chances, had been 1-0 down after 18 minutes thanks to an Ian Newey strike after a mistake by 'keeper Matthew Potter.
Despite the sending off, they took command of the game in the second half but missed chance after chance, Andy Hart being the main culprit, before Vill Powell killed the game off with a controversial second for Denaby on 86 minutes.
There was no way back for Town, and to add insult to injury, Lyon was sent from the dugout in the dying seconds for his protests.
Goole were shocked to lose 2-0 at home to Garforth Town, Andy Baldwin and Rudi Coleano scoring, while the lead changed hands as Harrogate Railway drew 2-2 with Glasshoughton Welfare.
Liam Gray had put Railway ahead on 55 minutes and, after John Rickers and Darren Morris had reversed the scoreline, netted an equaliser ten minutes from time.
Pickering Town's 5-1 division one win over Yorkshire Amateur was marred by an injury to Adam Wash, who burst a blood vessel and needed hospital treatment at Malton and then York.
He was kept in over the weekend and, although due to leave hospital today, is expected to be out of action for at least a fortnight.
Wash had bagged a brace before his injury, as the Pikes hit three goals in six minutes after Ams' Lee Murphy had cancelled out Matty Morton's second-half opener.
Alex Wilgrass scored the last two goals for Jimmy Reid's men, who move to third in the table.
Tadcaster Albion's match with Bridlington was postponed, as were the West Yorkshire League Premier Division Cup ties between Wetherby Athletic and Knaresborough Town and Whitkirk and York RI.
Nestl Rowntree's tie with Rothwell Athletic went ahead at Mille Crux, though, with the hosts enjoying a comfortable 3-1 win.
Martin Cowl opened the scoring only for Rothwell to equalise before the break.
However, midway through the second half, Steve Ward beat three men in the visitors' box to set up Brent Terry to make it 2-1 and then Terry broke down the right to put in Matty Wain to round off the scoring.
Nestle boss Jim Collis said: "The conditions and heavy pitch were difficult and made it hard to play good football, but we were well on top.
"Their equaliser gave them a bit of spirit but we won through. We could have had another two or three after our third, but in the cup it doesn't matter if you win by nine or ten or just 1-0."
North Riding won 2-1 at West Riding in their Northern Counties Youth clash, Andrew Bell and Andrew Scott netting for the North and Daniel Langfield replying six minutes from time for the West.
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