GRAHAM Marchant went goal crazy as Harrogate Railway crushed Glasshoughton Welfare 8-1.

He scored five times as Martin Haresign's team moved up to fourth place in the premier division of the Northern Counties East League .

Marchant got the ball rolling in the 14th minute and added his second three minutes later.

Paul Mattison soon pulled one back for Glasshoughton but Marchant completed an 11-minute hat-trick and by half-time Railway were 6-1 up, Marchant having added a penalty to go with strikes from Liam Gray and Scott Ryan.

Marchant grabbed his fifth five minutes after the interval and former Leeds United junior Steve Ball, on loan from Guiseley, completed a Railway debut to remember with the eighth goal 20 minutes from the end.

But the second half was marred by three red cards - two for Glasshoughton and one for Railway.

Second-placed Pickering Town maintained their title charge with a hard-fought 3-2 home win against Eccleshill United.

James Drinkall fired them in to a seventh-minute lead but Eccleshill roared back to equalise through Andrew Patterson mid-way through the half.

Steve Baxter restored the Pikes' lead on 32 minutes and Michael McNaughton made it 3-1 from the spot with 15 minutes remaining.

Jamie Buchan fired in a penalty for Eccleshill near the end but Alex Mathie's side remain within touching distance of leaders Buxton.

With the top sides rained off, Tadcaster Albion moved to within a point of the top of the Northern Counties East League division one with a 2-1 victory over Staveley Miners' Welfare.

All the goals were compressed into a five-minute spell midway through the second half.

Simon Keogh netted both Albion goals with the visitors' effort from Gary Eades sandwiched in between.

Albion entertain Halifax Town in the West Riding County Cup second round tomorrow night (7.45pm). Halifax, who do not have a reserve side, are expected to include some Conference players in their line-up.

Selby Town's game against Shirebrook at Flaxley Road in the premier division was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Goole dug in for a point in their UniBond League first division fixture at Rossendale.

Twice they trailed to Stuart Tulloch goals but conjured up equalisers from Wayne Benn and James Chafer.

Updated: 11:36 Monday, December 05, 2005