BROOKLYN heated up the promotion race in York Minster Engineering League division one with a vital 3-1 win over Tockwith.

Malton & Norton’s trip to Hamilton Panthers was one of many games in the league to fall foul of the wintry weather and neighbours Brooklyn took full advantage to draw level with them in second place, only goal difference separating the pair.

F1 are clear at the summit, while Hemingbrough stayed in the promotion hunt, four points behind the two Ryedale teams but with two games in hand, after seeing off Heslington 2-0 with efforts from Craig Rowden and Luke Zacharenko.

Brooklyn, who travel to Colburn Town for their North Riding County FA Challenge Cup quarter-final this Saturday, went into last weekend’s game on the back of a shock defeat to lowly Pocklington.

They welcomed back Andy Phillips, who joined Matty Turnbull and Chris Seager on the bench, but were again without the injured Mikey Brown.

George Moore was given a deserved chance on the left side of Brooklyn’s front three.

The game started with the away side trying to take advantage of the wind but solid defending kept them at bay, with Richard Webster excelling for the whole contest.

As the half progressed the home side started to find their stride as the tireless Dave Thompson continued to give the Tockwith left-back a torrid time.

This paid off in the 25th minute as Marcus Godsell released Thompson, whose his pace and power saw him brush past three men before cutting the ball back for Andrew Metcalfe, who fired high into the net.

On the half-hour mark, centre-back Karl Richardson was harshly adjudged to have impeded the Tockwith forward, and the resulting free-kick was struck high into the net giving keeper Andrew Slaughter no chance.

The next goal was likely to be crucial and it was the home side who got it, Metcalfe this time turning provider on 37 minutes.

His chipped pass over the back line saw the prolific Godsell race through, head over the onrushing keeper and finish on the half-volley.

Tockwith’s captain could easily have walked after two hefty challenges, Moore on the receiving end and needing in lengthy treatment, but he stayed on the pitch.

Nevertheless, the hosts pinned Tockwith back after the interval as the midfield three dictated play.

It was no surprise that they struck again, the goal arriving as Metcalfe’s free-kick from the right cannoned off the head of a Tockwith defender and was spilled by the keeper - Phillips, on for the injured Moore, pouncing first the stab home.

Brooklyn wasted chances to make the scoreline more emphatic, and they were later grateful for a fine Slaughter to keep the two-goal lead intact.

But the game was pretty much all over on 75 minutes when Tockwith were reduced to 10 men after Phillips raced away from a Slaughter clearance only to be hauled down.

Meanwhile, in the premier division, second-placed Riccall United drew level on points with leaders Old Malton St Mary’s after despatching fourth-placed Wigginton Grasshoppers 4-1.

With Saints’ match against Harrison Signs another to be postponed, Riccall took advantage, giving the Grasshoppers a lesson in finishing with goals by veteran Gary Collier, Ian Beckram and Chris Coxon (2).

Dunnington, in third, also closed in by defeating Church Fenton White Horse 2-1, Olly Newby bagging both their goals in the first half.

Kirkbymoorside assumed control at the top of division three - after a 5-0 win at Selby RSSC saw them move level on points with Civil Service with the significant luxury of having five games in hand.

Veteran Alex Strickland upped his goal tally with another hat-trick, with strike partner Sarjo Cham and defender Aaron Rivis also netting, while left-back Joshua Butler was man of the match.

Stamford Bridge, also in the promotion shake-up, defeated Huby 5-3.

Man-of-the-match John Cavanagh hit a hat-trick, with Chris Bowles and Nathan Spreckley also on target.

Old Malton At Mary’s reserves boosted their chances of beating the drop in reserve ‘A’ with a 3-1 win in a six-pointer against bottom club Haxby United seconds.

In reserve ‘B’, Malton & Norton reserves were edged out 3-2 by promotion-seeking Harrison Signs.

Cameron Sanderson bagged a match-winning hat-trick for the visitors. Thomas Garbutt hit the home side’s two responses.