A devastating first half display ensured Brighouse Town secured another vital three points in their quest for Northern Counties Premier glory with a 5-2 home win over Worksop Parramore.

And to further add to their celebrations at full-time, news reached the Dual Seal Stadium that leaders Tadcaster Albion suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Glasshoughton.

Results leave Town in second place just two points off the top, but still with three games in hand over their rivals.

Manager Paul Quinn refused to be drawn on his side’s title-winning chances and instead wanted to focus on the remaining six fixtures and, in particular, tonight’s game at home to Liversedge.

“We’ve got a long six games to go yet. We can’t be saying we’re anywhere near it yet. There’s a lot of points to play for, a lot of points to pick up and I’m sure there will be twists and turns yet to come, but that’s a massive boost for us.

“We look to tonight’s game, a local derby against Liversedge.

“We’re not going to take them lightly. They’ve got local pride to play for.

“We just need to keep picking up points, no big celebrations, we’re just pleased we picked up three points.”

Quinn’s side followed on from their demolition of Lincoln Moorlands as they dominated the first half scoring four unanswered goals in the process.

The ever-energetic Ernest Boafo was at the centre of all things good for Brighouse and it was his pass that played hitman Tom Matthews through to calmly slot home inside two minutes.

Town’s expectant fans were made to wait over 20 minutes for the second, a long time considering what they are now used to. Boafo was again provider, floating a cross for unmarked captain Leon Henry to head home.

In-form Daniel Naidole sent a warning sign to Parramore goalkeeper Steve Hernandez when he powered in a shot but was offside.

Ten minutes later, the flag stayed down and Naidole’s skimming 30-yard effort was spilled again by Hernandez into the path of Matthews, who skilfully lifted it over the keeper before firing it into the net.

Town made it four in first half stoppage time when a Chris Fisher throw-in was held up brilliantly by Boafo.

Boafo then teed up leading scorer Matthews, who drilled an accurate strike from the edge of the area to complete his hat trick.

Matthews was full of praise for his teammates first-half performance and said: “It was exactly as we wanted.

“We came out, we had a plan to play against their weaknesses and we just played really strong as a team.”

The second period was not so much straightforward despite starting the half in the same manner as the first.

Matthews was again involved as Worksop struggled to deal with his trickery, forcing Ryan Johnson to bring him down in the area. Boafo stepped up and emphatically rifled in a deserved goal.

Just as Town fans were expecting another 9-0 rout on the cards, a lapse in concentration during a free-kick led to substitute Sam Hewitt bundling the ball into his own net.

Ten minutes from time, more slack defending allowed Lee Whittington, the league’s second top scorer, to produce a strike from 18 yards into the top corner.