BLACKROD Town shared the spoils with Leyland Motors in a 1-1 home Premier Division draw.

The first half was full of breathtaking end to end action with Town taking the lead on the half hour mark when Darryl Martinus volleyed home a beauty following good work by man of the match Noel Corrigan. On 75 minutes Blackrod keeper Martin Gibbs dropped a cross and in the ensuing melee Graham Neal tripped an opponent and suffered double punishment with a sending off and a penalty awarded.

Gibbs got a hand to the spot kick but it was firmly struck and squirmed over the line.

Town pushed for a winner in the closing stages, Darren Shalliker going close before David Sutch's seemingly goalbound effort hit a defender in the face and was cleared.

Town's Reserves took the lead away at the same opposition through John Saxon but went down to a penalty and a last minute goal for the home side.

Eagley lost 3-2 at Barnoldswick United having been 2-1 up with just five minutes left. "All we had to do was be professional about it and play time out," moans manager Billy Williams. "But no - we have to go and over-commit going forward and they hit us with two in those last five minutes. It's going to be a long hard haul now."

That it may not be Eagley's day was perhaps hinted at in the first half as they held the upper hand but reached the interval a goal down through an own goal from Richard Collum. Neil Johnson and a quality strike from Clinton McLoughlin appeared to have put Williams' side in the driving seat until that late lapse in concentration. Striker Mel Bentham was voted man of the match.

Tempest United boosted their promotion hopes with a fine 4-0 Division One away win at Burnley Belvedere.

The points were virtually in the bag after just twenty minutes as two goals from Sean Whorlow and a 25 yard free kick from Steve Settle opened up a three goal cushion. Richard Collier added a fourth ten minutes from time to send Tempest in to tomorrow night's home clash with Wigan SMR (ko 6.00pm) in second place in the table. Experienced centre back Rob Graham was nominated man of the match. United's Reserves lack of good fortune continued in a 2-1 home defeat by Poulton Town, Aaron McKay grabbing the consolation.