Bank Holiday Monday turned out to be a great one for AFC Fylde as they were the only side in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North`s top five to win.
Leaders Curzon Ashton must have come off the field following a 3-3 Tameside derby draw at home to Mossley thinking the worst, but instead stay top as Skelmersdale United, Farsley FC and Witton Albion all lost!
Kristian Dennis gave Curzon a 14th minute lead that Kayde Copping cancelled out 3 minutes later.
But it looked as though the leaders were heading for another win when Chris McDonagh`s penalty made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
However, Lee Rick dragged the visitors back on terms 5 minutes from time and then the sides shared last-gasp goals – ex-Mossley man Michael Fish for Curzon and Peter Band for the Lilywhites.
Skelmersdale went down to a 2-1 home defeat to mid-table Bamber Bridge, whose Aaron Taylor after just 2 minutes and Ali Waddecar in the 34th, gave them a 2-0 lead they held until the 56th minute when Louis Corrigan reduced the arrears. But Brig held firm.
The game at Throstle Nest between Yorkshire neighbours Farsley and Garforth Town ebbed and flowed.
Farsley twice took the lead through Gareth Grant and Simeon Bambrook, but couldn't keep it with Matt Dempsey and Oliver Hotchkiss levelling.
Garforth, who had the lions' share of the game, scored a winner through Paul Walker with 3 minutes to go.
Witton went down to a shock 3-0 defeat to Trafford at Wincham Park.
Paul Ashton after 37 minutes and then two in 3 minutes midway through the second half from Michael Oates and Paul Ashton saw Trafford home.
So Fylde`s 1-0 win at home to a Lancaster City side who were looking to make the top five themselves, courtesy of a goal from Bradley Barnes 10 minutes from time, ended up being crucial.
Elsewhere, Woodley Sports maintained the days surprises by going down to a 2-0 defeat at home to struggling Radcliffe Borough, whose Ben Wharton and Steve Burke scored in either half.
Warrington Town got off to a winning start in 2012 with a stunning five-goal performance against basement cluub Cammell Laird.
In an early kick-off in Birkenhead, Warrington went in at half-time with a 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from the in-form Anthony Hickey and Lee Madin.
Hickey added a further two in the second half along with a strike from Rob Hardwick.
To add to Lairds` woes, second-bottom Ossett Albion picked up a point from a 1-1 draw at Durham City, whose Josh Home-Jackson equalised Marc Thompson`s first minute strike on the hour-mark.
Albion`s neighbours Town hammered third-bottom Wakefield 4-0 at Stade France, with goals from Lee Garside and Darrell Young – both from the spot – Garside again and Darren Thornton.
Clitheroe beat Harrogate Railway 3-1 at home, coming back from being a 14th minute Jon Maloney goal behind to win, courtesy of Marcus Calvert on 75 minutes and then an Ashley Parillon brace in the final 4 minutes – the first from twelve yards.
The game between Salford City and Prescot Cables ended 1-1 at Moor Lane – both goals coming within 2 minutes of each other, with the visitors Steve James after 17 minutes being cancelled out by Danny Heffernan.
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