A SLIGHT improvement in the weather meant only six matches were called off last weekend -- but once again the prospects for Saturday look bleak.

Cross Hills, leaders of the Silentnight Premier Division visited Skipton LMS and found the pitch only just playable but both sides contrived to turn in an entertaining match. Hills were hit by injuries and calls to first team duty and were stretched to the limit for players, but James McCormack opened the scoring with an unstoppable shot for 30 yards.

LMS quickly equalised from a set piece and took the lead following a corner. Hills hit back strongly and a superb effort by Harry Peacock brought them back to level terms.

The South Craven side were firmly in command and a shot from Peacock crashed off the crossbar allowing Gavin Baluk to slot home the rebound and secure a 3-2 interval lead. The pitch got heavier after the break and both teams toiled through the mud. Hills always looked fitter and coped with the conditions far better, with McCormack rounding off the scoring with his second goal from an acute angle.

Hills remain top and have only four matches left while their challengers will have to play night after night to clear the backlog of games.

Keighley moved into second place with a very workmanlike victory over Gargrave who could only raise 10 men. Keighley made the extra man count and by half time they were 2-0 up with goals from Joynal Ali and Steven Cooke, but many more chances went begging.

The second half was also one-way traffic with goals coming at regular intervals. David McManus made it three, Joynal Ali scored his second and McManus made it 5-0. Gargrave kept battling and were rewarded with a late consolation goal.

Oxenhope Recreation are still in the title hunt after collecting maximum points in a 5-0 home victory over Colne Cricket Club. Both sides struggled to come to terms with the conditions, but Oxenhope gradually got on top with Darren Whittaker opening their account. The goal spurred the home side on and Paul Sewell added a second before half time.

The cricketers started the second period well well but Oxenhope's defence was up to the task and Michael Butterfield made it 3-0. Paul Sewell completed his hat-trick with two well taken goals to round off a more than satisfactory afternoon.

In Division One Cowling visited Hellifield Sports and made a bright start but missed a couple of early chances which would have made a big difference. Hellifield took the lead against the run of play, but Cowling recovered to equalise within minutes when Robert Walker rose to meet an inch-perfect cross from Steven Spellman.

The second half started with Hellifield on fire, but Cowling withstood the onslaught and created chances from breaks but with time running out a long throw caught the South Craven side napping at the back and Hellifield took the lead. To add insult to injury a soft goal put the home side 3-1 up and Cowling's chances of a point were gone.

Sutton visited Intake and with both teams struggling this season a defensive match was in prospect and there was no score in the first half. Intake went into the lead midway through the second half and began to look as though they would take the points. Sutton battled hard and were finally rewarded when Paul Hitch headed home a long throw from Mick Matthews, and in the dying moments Dale Eastbury had a powerful header saved by the home keeper.

Bronte Wanderers maintained their lead at the head of Division Two with a comfortable 7-0 victory over Gargrave Reserves. The Worth Valley side were on top from the start but could not score and it was Gargrave who came closest with a shot that shaved the post. Bronte finally broke the deadlock through Niall Walls to take a slender 1-0 lead into the break. Goals came thick and fast in the second half with Simon Waddington scoring a hat-trick, Thompson scoring two more and Edward Waterhouse rounded things off with the seventh.

Keighley Reserves outclassed Skipton LMS Reserves with Antony Cooper running the show. His twisting and turning left LMS chasing shadows as he slotted three excellent goals. Lee Isherwood had earlier opened the scoring and Christopher Morris made his contribution from the penalty spot and Darren Harwood made a typical dazzling run from defence to complete the 6-0 scoreline.

Cowling Reserves and Lothersdale Athletic cancelled each other out in the first half of their match thanks some superb saves from Mark Place in the Cowling goal. The second half was only minutes old when Phillip Richardson broke through to put Dale ahead and Thomas Richardson added a second. Cowling kept pushing forward but could not find the final touch while Dale added two more through Mark Westfall, one from the penalty spot.

Silsden Athletic had a makeshift side out against Embsay Reserves and it showed when they went down 9-1. There was little to say about the game which Embsay totally dominated, Silsden tried hard but did not help their cause by conceding two own goals and a penalty. Russell Brooke scored Silsden's consolation effort.

Silsden FC lost a little ground in their promotion bid when they went down 4-1 at home to Skipton Bulldogs Reserves. Dogs went two up before John Hindle replied for Silsden, but after a Cobbydale player was sent off Bulldogs added a further two goals to run out convincing winners.

Bronte Wanderers Reserves saw their promotion push stumble with a lethargic performance against Addingham who played with a determined attitude while Bronte were slack in defence and paid the penalty. Addingham took and early lead although Bronte missed chances to equalise before the break. Addingham swept into a 3-0 lead and Bronte could only manage a consolation goal from Neil Rollins.

Fortunately Ilkley Juniors also lost, leaving the title race wide open.

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