It was two second half goals from Jake Millstead that confirmed the strong position for the northern club, after Joel Redden had given the second-placed club the go-ahead just minutes before the half-time whistle.

Although the Redbacks’ performance at Lyall Peacock Field on Saturday afternoon was dubbed “uneventful” by Thornton’s coach Gary Wand, the club helmsman said after the match he was “happy to get the points in tough conditions”.

“It was a pretty even first half,” Wand said in the post-match interview. “Toronto proved to be a much stronger opposition than they must have shown midweek.”

Thornton now sit five points clear of third-placed South Cardiff, although the Gunners still have a game to play in their pockets.

The Gunners also kept themselves in the race for a finals position with a close one goal to nil victory over West Wallsend, with a defence-breaking run – and subsequent goal – from Daniel Wells the difference in the match at Ulinga Oval.

Earlier in the weekend, Cooks Hill all but locked up the premiership for 2018 as they trashed New Lambton 5-1 at Alder Park.

Ash Balcombe opened the scoring for the league leaders, chipping New Lambton’s ‘keeper Josh Cox to put the Cookers in control. Jarryd Johnson added another minutes later after a goal-mouth scramble.

The Eagles looked to move back into the contest off Tom Davies, who slotted home a shot that had deflected off Cooks Hills’ goal post, but Nick Russell claimed a brace with a goal either side of the half-time break.

A fifth goal for the defending champions, scored by Brodie Richardson, secured the away side’s victory, and moved them 11 points clear above the Redbacks in second.

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Wallsend also scored an away victory over the weekend, downing Singleton 1-nil at Howe Park to climb into seventh place. Tom Adams was the lone scorer in the Sunday contest.

Finally, Belmont Swansea moved to just a single point outside the top four with a 3-nil win over Kahibah away from home. Cameron Lodge, Josh Sutton and Clayton Poole all netted for the Belswans.

Cessnock City were on the bye round.

TABLE: Cooks Hill (37), Thornton (26), South Cardiff, Singleton (21), Belmont Swansea (20), West Wallsend (19), Wallsend (18), Cessnock (16), Kahibah, New Lambton (12), Toronto Awaba (8)