SCARBOROUGH Athletic and Whitby Town had their respective play-off charges halted by costly away losses against table-topping rivals.

Whitby, targeting three Evo-Stik League premier division wins on the trot, led 2-1 at Skelmersdale United with 86 minutes on the clock but agonisingly went down 4-2.

Forward Graeme Armstrong netted for Whitby as the teams were level at half-time. Former York City striker Craig Farrell’s strike, set up by Armstrong, restored the away team’s lead before the hosts took over.

Whitby go to Grantham Town on Saturday (3pm).

Scarborough, meanwhile, suffered heartbreak in their trip to Staffordshire as they were beaten 2-0, and leapfrogged in the Evo-Stik League division one south table, by Newcastle Town.

Athletic are now three points off fifth-placed Sutton Coldfield after goals from Dan Skelton and Josh Gordon either side of half-time sealed victory for the hosts.

Eighth-placed Boro, now three points off the play-offs, visit midtable Rainworth on Saturday (3pm) looking to complete a league double after a 4-0 home win in October.

Next Tuesday, Boro host sixthplaced Mickleover Sports (7.45pm).