THE first two Craven Football League cup finals were sorted out on Saturday when finalists in the Premier Cup and Division Two cups were resolved.

In the premier Skipton Bulldogs narrowly defeated Embsay 2-1. They will meet Oxenhope Recreation in the final after the latter's 2-0 win over Cross Hills.

In the Division Two League Cup final Bronte Wanderers will meet Skipton LMS Res. The Wanderers defeated Barrowford United 4-2 on Saturday, whilst Skipton LMS Res saw off Horton by 3-1.

This Saturday will hopefully see the other two finals sorted out. In the Division One cup Clitheroe United entertain Skipton Town and Addingham will be at home to Hellifield, whilst in Division Three Bradley Res will meet Intake Res and Waddington will entertain Settle United.

Midweek matches last week saw significant results in Divisions Two and Three.

In Division Two Barnoldswick United kept in title contention with a 3-1 victory at Barrowford United. Lothersdale Athletic and Barrowford United cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw.

At the other end of the table, relegation threatened Horton and Skipton LMS Res both had victories to celebrate, Horton defeating Gargrave 3-2, whilst LMS completed the double over Skipton Bulldogs Res 2-1.

Cowling Res lost at Silsden 2-1 to drop nearer bottom spot.

In Division Three, leaders Ilkley Juniors Youth defeated Skipton Town Res 3-0 and appear to have taken a stranglehold on the table as second placed Bronte Wanderers Res lost at Cononley Res 2-1. Earby had a 4-3 home victory over Waddington, Grassington United Res defeated Bradley Res 3-2 and Addingham Res lost ground losing at Carleton 1-0.

On Saturday only three matches were played in the Silentnight Premier Division and all three struggling clubs lost.

Bottom of the table Gargrave lost at Rimington 6-2, next to bottom Cononley Sports lost at home to Skipton LMS 5-1 and third from bottom Grassington United went down at home to Colne Cricket Club 4-2.

The pace hots up in Division One. Favourites for the title, Clitheroe United returned to winning form with a 2-1 away victory at St Paul's and, in midweek, a 2-0 win over Grindleton. They have a match in hand on leaders, Addingham, and are only a point behind so a tight finish lies ahead.

Addingham had a 7-0 victory over Sutton and followed up with a 6-0 win over Bradley.

Grindleton shot themselves in the foot when they lost at home to Carleton 2-1.

Hellifield Sports eased themselves a little clearer of relegation by defeating Cowling 4-0, the bottom two clubs Oxenhope and Intake did not play and Skipton Town defeated Bradley 6-0. Town could have a say in the destination of the title, having the leading three to play - but all away from home though.

Bronte Wanderers remain 10 points clear in Division Two.

Second placed Barnoldswick United drew at Lothersdale 2-2, Keighley Res moved into third place with a 6-0 defeat of Grindleton Res, whilst Cowling Res had a good victory over Skipton Bulldogs Res 3-2.

In Division Three, Ilkley Juniors Youth had a 2-0 home victory over Waddington to remain top by six points, virtually ending Waddington's interest in the title. Bronte Wanderers Res returned to winning form defeating Grassington Res 3-2, Addingham Res moved into fourth place with a 4-2 home victory over Hellifield Res and Intake Res and Bradley Res drew their cup semi-final rehearsal 1-1 to remain in mid table.

Hopefully there will be a full programme of midweek fixtures, which should make positions even clearer by Saturday night.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.