While Birstall edged closer to Premier Division safety, their six-wicket win at Altofts giving them a nine-point advantage over the second-bottom club Batley, Ossett and Liversedge remain in the last three places in what could turn into a relegation dogfight.
Batley remain in third bottom spot but they are now just two points clear of Ossett after Charles Orme took 8-71 to bowl out Batley for 133 chasing Ossett's 214.
Liversedge are now propping up the table despite four points from their game against well-placed Northowram Fields.
Liversedge batted first in their game at Roberttown Lane and struggled to 172-7, and that thanks largely to Johnny Trevitt's unbeaten 55.
But, while Northowram looked favourites to win it Liversedge skipper Simon Purdy secured a tense seven-run win for his side with a 4-36 return in 15 overs.
Birstall will be hoping to carry on where they left off at Altofts when they visit Northowram tomorrow (Sat) but it is looking like a tough day for Ossett, facing a trip to second-placed Methley, and for Liversedge at Townville.
Batley do have a chance of taking something from their game at home to Wakefield St Michaels but there could be a few nerves during the last third of the season.
The nerves were already showing at Division One promotion hopefuls Mirfield Parish Cavaliers as Buttershaw St Pauls kept alive their faint hopes of promotion when they secured a surprise four-wicket win at Wellhouse Lane.
Buttershaw still have 11 points to make up on Parish but this was still an outstanding performance by the Bradford side against a side notoriously difficult to beat on their own ground.
Paul Carroll’s bowling was again a key factor in Buttershaw's success, taking 4-34 to bowl the opposition out for 149, while Naveed Bhatti hit a match best 38 not out that included a six to win the game.
Parish should return to winning ways at Caribbean tomorrow and maintain the pressure on Hunslet Nelson, who remain out in front in Division One, while Wrenthorpe are 14 points clear at the top of the Premier after former Windhill and Pudsey Congs all rounder David Paynter helped steer them to victory over Townville with 38 and 3-42.