Airedale Men - Airedale scraped into Division One courtesy of results elsewhere. They could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Boston Spa on Saturday in one of their worst performances for a very long time.

Needing a win to finish second in the division Airedale faced a weakened visiting side. Nerves were stretched as Airedale made some basic errors and it was 20 minutes before Richard Stewart carved through the defence down the right wing and set up Martin Pursey for the first clear shot.

The effort was saved but the ensuing scramble saw James Ashley score his first goal for the club.

Airedale missed several more opportunities until five minutes before the break Stewart made it 2-0.

It should have been plain sailing from then on but Airedale committed suicide. Missing a number of chances to take the game clear of the visitors, including one shot hitting the post, the passing and tackling fell apart.

Boston were able to win several short corners and scored after the ball deflected into the roof of the net from the keeper's pads. The home defence then looked nervous every time Boston attacked. Airedale never looked like regaining control of the game and were unsettled. Ten minutes from time Airedale conceded a penalty stroke and lost the lead after Baird narrowly missed saving the shot.

However, with Wakefield and Ramgaria avoiding relegation from the Northern leagues three teams are now going to be promoted to Division One.

The move makes it promotion in three successive seasons for the Keighley-based side.

Next season the teams will be playing at Oakbank school and increasing their effort to develop junior players. A second mens team is being entered into Yorkshire Division 12 and more junior teams will be entered into the Yorkshire Cable Youth league.

Training is to continue at Marley on Thursday evenings until July from 7pm and all are welcome to come down and give it a go.

Yorkshire

A Yorkshire Ladies side dominated by Bradford players reached the semi-finals of the Northern Counties championship this weekend.

Team: Luceille (GK), Charlotte Fisher, Sandeep Kaur, Nicola Woodhead, Sarah Whitehouse (all Bradford), Claire Ferguson (Doncaster) Louise Raper(Bedford), Jayne Foster, Sam Jefferson (both Harrogate) Claire Knight, Mellenie Goby (both Boston Spa), Katie Green (Ben Rydding), Mellisa Bennett (Leeds University), Amanda Sowerby capt. (Huddersfield Dragons), Kelly Singleton (Chapletown). Coach: Richard Stewart (Skipton & Airedale)

The first stage of the championship is a round-robin comprising two leagues of five sides. The top two from each league play cross over semi-finals.

Both finalists will represent the north in the national finals to be held in May.

Results: Yorkshire 3, Northumberland 3 (Scorers, Charlotte Fisher, Nicola Woodhead, Claire Ferguson).

Yorkshire 2, Cheshire 1 (Scorers, Sandeep Kaur, Mellisa Bennett)

Yorkshire 3, Cumbria 0 (Scorers, Claire Ferguson 2, Amanda Sowerby)

Yorkshire 0, Lancashire 2.

Yorkshire will play Durham County on April 16 at Leeds Metropolitan University.

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