BROOKLYN got the upper hand in the race for promotion from York Minster Engineering league division one - and kept alive faint hopes of snatching the title.

Brooklyn went five points clear in second place as they won 3-0 at Heslington while neighbours Malton & Norton, in third, were being held to a 1-1 draw at Tockwith.

They also closed the gap to F1 Racing to five points after the leaders’ title celebrations were put on hold by a surprise 2-1 defeat at Cliffe.

F1 Racing still only require a point from their last two games to secure the crown.

Nevertheless, the second promotion spot is now Brooklyn’s to lose after goals by Marcus Godsell, Andy Metcalfe and Karl Richardson sealed maximum points against struggling Heslington on Saturday.

Andrew Phillips, Dave Thompson and Chris Seager had all returned to bolster Brookyn’s squad after missing last week’s success at Pocklington.

A small, uneven pitch and windy conditions was something of a leveller and in the first quarter there was little to separate the sides.

However, the game swung the visitors’ way on 25 minutes as a cross from the left from Metcalfe saw Godsell gain half a yard thanks to quick footwork and fire across the keeper on the half-volley.

Heslington pushed forward but never looked like troubling Andy Slaughter in the Brooklyn goal thanks to resolute defending by Stevie Clay, Max Fraser and impressive centre-backs Richardson and Kristian Wilkinson.

Brooklyn nearly doubled their lead as neat build-up play resulted in Ryan Gaughan firing goalwards from 12 yards, the keeper saving at his near post.

The hosts began the second half the brighter despite playing against the wind and should have levelled on the hour mark from a corner, a gilt-edged chance being headed over.

Instead, Brooklyn doubled their lead with 20 minutes to go as a throw-in from Clay was controlled by centre-back Richardson, who drifted away from his marker before hooking the ball over the head of the helpless keeper. With five minutes remaining, Metcalfe got on the scoresheet as he closed down the keeper, robbed him of the ball and tapped it into an empty net to cap victory and his man-of-the-match award.

Meanwhile, Matty Reeves scored for Malton & Norton, but they were kicking themselves as Tockwith left with a point after a 1-1 draw.

The have three games left to Booklyn’s two but really need to win all three and hope their neighbours drop points.

That race is put on hold this weekend, though, as both sides face Minster League Senior Cup ties, Brooklyn going to Cliffe while M&N host Heslington.

Terrington Glory, who had no premier division match on Saturday, also go to Poppleton United in the same competition.

Settrington had a double-header against title-chasing Cawood in division four - losing 6-2 and 4-1 as Cawood sealed promotion.

James Darlison hit a hat-trick in the first game, with Daniel Smith, Darren Davis and Matthew Ward also netting. The same four players scored again in the second game.

In reserve ‘A’, lowly Old Malton seconds drew 2-2 at Copmanthorpe, for whom Jamie Storey and Dom Hogarth found the net.

In reserve ‘B’, bottom side Malton & Norton reserves lost 6-5 in a goal fest at unbeaten leaders Church Fenton White Rose, man-of-the-match Adam Beavers getting four goals for the victors, while Brooklyn reserves drew 2-2 in a mid-table encounter at Bishopthorpe.