The first matches in 1999 were played on very heavy pitches but in fine sunny weather with an almost complete programme -- one club failing to raise a team -- although many others struggled to get full teams after the Christmas festivities.

In a second round Northern Plant Hire Challenge Trophy match Haworth visited Carleton and in a high scoring match finished 5-4 losers.

The home team started brightly having more of the play but Haworth settled and opened the scoring through Craig Labbett, however, the lead was short-lived as Carleton were awarded a rather dubious penalty. The spot kick was converted and scores leveled.

Haworth soon got back on top and Stewart Jones regained the lead with a close range effort and right on half time Mark Labbett made it 3-1 to put Haworth in the driving seat. On the re-start Haworth missed a glorious chance to make it four.

The let-off spurred on Carleton and within minutes they were back on level terms. Then fate took a hand. A disastrous own goal put Carleton in front, Mark Labbett made it all square but another stunning header flashed past the Haworth keeper, again from a player of his own side, to give Carleton the match.

In the Skipton Building Society Premier Division, Cross Hills moved up into second place behind Embsay, after completing the double over Keighley F.C. In a good game played on a heavy pitch, both teams produced some excellent footbal. The only goal of the first half came after Adam Reed headed home an Andy Little corner to give Hills an interval lead.

The second half saw Cross Hills, the fitter side, begin to get on top and they opened up the Keighley defence, Damien Whiteoak making it 2-0 followed by a Robert Kaminski goal, again from an Andy Little corner. Keighley did not give up and went near a couple of times before Stephen Barraclough made it four.

The last quarter saw Keighley on attack. Steven Cooke scored a good goal, a penalty was missed which would have made things interesting and time ran out for Keighley.

Cowling, bottom of the table, entertained high flying Oxenhope Recreation and in an evenly contested first half they held their own against an understregth Oxenhope side which had been hit by the flu bug. However, just on half time Cowling conceded a soft goal scored by Paul Sewell to go in one down.

The second half saw Oxenhope click. They played some excellent football and Cowling's defence could not cope. Steven Murray added a second, then Paul Sewell grabbing a brilliant hat trick to bring his match tally to four and Oxenhope up into third place.

In Division One Oxenhope Reserves entertained Grindelton, both sides were under strength with players ill, but the makeshift teams provided a good game. A blustery wind spoilt the little football that was played and in the first half defences had the better of things. The second half was much the same and a goalless draw looked the outcome until Gary Fawcett scored for Oxenhope only to see Grindelton equalise and honours, on reflection, were deservedly shared.

Division Two leaders Bronte Wanderers visited Barnoldswick United and knew they would have to pull out all the stops for a result. Again key players were missing through illness but the fixture was completed. The opening stages saw few chances created for either side but Bronte did look the more dangerous and midway through the half scored through Rye Bailey who headed home a James Ley cross.

The lead was kept intact until well into the second half, Bronte having to absorb a lot of pressure hanging on to their lead until just before the end of a goalmouth scramble saw Nial Walls force home a second goal which proved too much for Barnoldswick and Bronte maintained their one point lead at the top of Div Two.

Second placed Sutton entertained Keighley F.C. Reserves and after a closely contested match took both points in a 2-0 victory. Keighley conceded an early goal when Ian Guest scored after beating the offside trap after only two minutes but Keighley then played some excellent football without looking like scoring. Sutton created a change or two but they too could not find the net and with Keighley having a strong wind at their backs in the second half Sutton had to defend well, which they did, occasionally breaking out of defence. On one such break produced the vital second goal when sub Phil Gallagher rounded the Keighley keeper to fire home and give Sutton two more vital points. Silsden Res traveled to Skipton L.M.S. Reserves and eventually came back with the points after a rather scrappy match.

Neither side could master the sticky conditions and swirling wind. The only thing of note was the goal which won the match scored by Lee Fish and the excellent debut of Chris Brooks.

Cowling Res travelled to Barrowford United and were under pressure in the opening stages but weathered the storm well to sweep into a three nil lead midway through the first half, goals coming from Martin Rishton 2 and Andrew Hudson. Barrowford still looked the stronger side and gradually wore down the Cowling defence to pull the deficit back to one goal before H.T. An early equaliser in the second half took the steam out of Barrowford and they lost their shape allowing Cowling to dominate and add a further three goals to run out comfortable winners.

In Division Three the Lothersdale Athletic goal machine finally got their act together overwhelming Settle United by twelve goals to two, a result like this has been coming for weeks and it finally clicked. Little to say about the match, Dale dominated from the start scoring at regular intervals, Settle to their credit never gave up and managed two in reply. Scorers were Thomas Richardson 4 , Phillip Richardson 3, John Baker 2 and Mark Watson 2, Craig Walsh chipping in with one.

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