THE end-of-season scramble for the vital points which will determine the winners and losers in another Craven & District Football League season continues to produce its share of upsets, not least a defeat for Silentnight Premier Division leaders Skipton LMS on Monday.

Their 1-0 home reverse at the hands of Grassington was a body blow the LMS hopes of a Grand Slam of league and Cup successes, especially when their arch-rivals, defending champions Skipton Bulldogs, despatched Grindleton 6-1.

The LMS defeat was made all the more annoying after the leaders had beaten Bulldogs in their derby game the previous week and consolidated their position by beating second-placed Oxenhope Recreation 1-0 two days later.

That brace of victories took the outcome of the title race out of the hands of Bulldogs, defeated Cross Hills 2-0 on Saturday, but the Grassington upset puts the holders back in control of their own destiny. If they win their remaining games, they will retain the title, although that may not be a straightforward task by any means.

Having beaten Cross Hills at home 2-0, Bulldogs travel for the reverse fixture tomorrow and with Cross Hills buoyed by a 6-0 win over Carleton, the Skipton side cannot expect any easy pickings.

Bulldogs also have to entertain Grassington on Monday and as LMS will testify, that is another game which cannot be treated lightly.

The relegation issue sees Skipton Town firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table and their position looks almost hopeless. Cross Hills have games in hand, but defeats against Bronte Wanderers and Bulldogs last week have left them still needing points to overtake Grindleton.

Division One sees Bronte Wanderers Reserves at the top. They defeated second-placed Cononley 3-0 in mid week and third-placed Intake 2-1 on Saturday, so that four points from their last three matches will give them the title.

Cononley Sports entertain Gargrave tonight and meet Intake on Tuesday when a win would assure them of at least runners up spot. If Intake win, it will go to the final games.

At the bottom, Gargrave are relegated. They can only get 12 points if they win their two remaining matches. Embsay Reserves gave themselves hope by defeating fellow strugglers Hellifield 6-0 on Saturday.

Oxenhope Reserves completed their matches in Division Two with a 2-2 draw against second-placed Waddington, who defeated Bulldogs Reserves 6-0 in mid-week and now have four matches left. Eight points from those games will give them the title.

Five clubs face the relegation battle in this division. Bottom are Bradley Reserves, who need maximum points from their last three games to have any chance. Bulldogs Reserves have four left and they too need to take maximum points, while Ingleton, Silsden Athletic and Grindleton are the other teams in the relegation equation.

Division Three has gone to the wire and may even need a play off match. Intake Reserves have one match left and need to defeat Skipton Town Reserves by six clear goals to take the title from McBrides, who finished their programme with a 6-2 defeat at Hellifield Reserves.

They were unfortunate to lose their goalkeeper after ten minutes with two broken fingers and a broken right hand. Having no substitutes, they had to play the rest of the match with ten men and an inexperienced keeper and paid the penalty, leaving a season's hard work at risk because of injury.

Another club saw their title and promotion hopes dashed at Hellifield. Earby, so long at the head of the Division Three table, faced a Hellifield Reserves side which included six first-team players, and predictably went down 6-2 to a much stronger side than they could cope with.

The defeat cost them their chance of glory and so upset were they that they failed to score in their final match against Pendle Athletic and finished with a goal-less draw.

FOUR goals from prolific striker Dale Nicholson proved decisive in the Devonshire Carpets Division Three Cup final when Carleton Reserves beat Cowling Reserves 6-4 after a cracking final at Barnoldswick United's Victory Park ground.

This week's fixtures

Tonight

Division One: Cononley Sp v Gargrave, Embsay Res v Intake.

Tomorrow

Premier Division: Cross Hills v Skipton Bulldogs, Oxenhope Rec v Grassington Un.

Division One: Bronte W. Res v Colne Shepherds, Cowling v Lothersdale Ath.

Division Two: Ingleton v Grindleton Res, Skipton Bulldogs Res v Sutton.

Division Three: Carleton Res v Hellifield Sp Res, Skipton Town Res v Intake Res.

Monday

Premier Division: Cross Hills v Carleton, Embsay v Grindleton, Oxenhope Rec v Skipton T, Skipton Bulldogs v Grassington Un.

Devonshire Carpets Division Two Cup Cup final: Barnoldswick Un v Sutton Division Two: Waddington v Skipton LMS Res.

Wednesday

Division One: Bradley Res v Grindleton Res, Waddington v Skipton Bulldogs Res.

Division Three: Carleton Res v Skipton T Res.

Thursday

Premier Division: Embsay v Cross Hills, Oxenhope Rec v Carleton, Skipton LMS v Skipton T.