A CRAVEN and District Football League programme already depleted by District Cup matches was further hit by the frost last weekend, with only three games surviving the chill, and officials will be keeping their fingers crossed that tomorrow's scheduled league programme can go ahead without interruption.

Two of the Premier Division front-runners are in action, with leaders Oxenhope fancying their chances of building the scoring statistics when they entertain struggling Carleton and Skipton LMS doubtless expecting a more serious challenge when they visit Grassington United.

Embsay travel to Grindleton United, while Skipton Bulldogs entertain Bronte Wanderers.

In Division One, Bradley will be hoping to strengthen their chances of a promotion place by picking up the points from the visit of lowly Cowling, while Horton travel to Waddington.

Division Two front-runners Barrowford and Chatburn both have home games - against Bulldogs Reserves and Ingleton respectively - while their nearest challengers Gargrave and Skipton LMS Reserves also have ground advantage when they take on Grindleton Reserves and Silsden Athletic.

Elsewhere in the division, Cross Hills Reserves entertain Intake Reserves and Keighley Lifts Reserves visit McBrides.

In Division Three, Cononley Sports Reserves will be aiming to consolidate their place at the top of the table when they entertain Waddington Reserves, while the rest of the programme sees Cowling at home to Bradley Reserves, Pendle Athletic entertaining Earby and Earby Town visiting Skipton Town Reserves.

In last weekend's curtailed programme, a Division Three Devonshire Carpets Cup tie saw Bradley Reserves claiming a hard fought 4-2 victory over Skipton Town Reserves in a game where both sides earned credit for mastering the tricky conditions. Bradley now have a home tie against Grassington United Reserves in the quarter-finals.

In the Premier Division, a prolonged injury delay resulted in the game between Bronte Wanderers and Cononley Sports being curtailed to 30 minutes each way. Bronte finished 1-0 winners thanks to David Nelson goal and thankfully the injury was not as serious as first thought.

Skipton LMS closed the gap on leaders Oxenhope Recreation by taking maximum points from Intake in the shape of a 3-0 victory and in Division Three, Hellifield Reserves found Waddington Reserves far too strong, going down 7-1.

Despite the postponements, fixtures this season are well on course and while the worst of the weather has probably still to come, severe disruptions are unlikely.

Going into Christmas, Oxenhope Recreation lead the Premier Division, 11 points ahead of Keighley Lifts, but Lifts have three matches in hand. Skipton LMS have five matches in hand and are also 11 points behind, so there is plenty of football to be played before this season's champions are decided.

At the half-way stage, Carleton are propping up the table without a point.

In Division One, Lothersdale Athletic have dropped just one point in their ten matches and have a two- point lead and four matches in hand on second placed Embsay Reserves, so they look a good bet for promotion barring any serious loss of form.

Colne Shepherds are nine points adrift of the Dale, having also played ten matches, but Bradley could be dark horses, ten points behind but with a game in hand and still with Lothersdale to face. Cowling and Skipton Town prop up the table on four points from nine matches.

It's neck and neck in Division Two, with Chatburn and Barrowford United setting the standard. They are both on 30 points, both have played 12 matches and both won 10 and have played each other twice.

Barrowford could have stolen a march had Silsden Athletic turned up to fulfil their fixture on Saturday, but they failed to show and now face disciplinary action from the League Committee.

Gargrave and LMS Reserves are the likeliest contenders to the leaders, with both of them on 25 points having played 12 and lost three. The New Year could hold some exciting times in that division.

Ingleton prop up this table with six points, two points adrift but with matches in hand.

Division Three is also nip and tuck. Bradley Reserves are current leaders with 24 points from 11 games, Grassington United Reserves have 23 from 13, while Cononley Sports Reserves are three points behind the leaders with two matches in hand on Bradley and four on Grassington. Earby Town prop up the table but have matches in hand.

Results from last weekend's Craven & District FA Cup ties were:

Skipton Building Society Morrison Cup, Preliminary Round - Earby Town 1 Hellifield Sports 1,Grindleton 6 Skipton Town 0.

Skipton Building Society Norman Pratt Trophy Quarter Final - Skipton LMS Res. 3 Gargrave Res. 1.