Only three Craven Football League matches survived the deluge on Friday and all credit must go to the home clubs for their efforts in getting pitches fit. The postponed matches will have to be fitted in at the end of the season wherever possible.

The three matches played were all of significance. Two were in Division Four where Sutton defeated Settle 4-0 thus completing their match in hand over St Pauls and they now have the same number of points and the same number of matches left at the top, St Pauls just having a slightly better goal difference.

Horton stay third after defeating Skipton Town 3-0 and they too have three matches left, their final one against Sutton being of importance to both clubs.

In the Division Three League Cup Section B Cowling and Skipton Bulldogs who were already assured of semi-final places completed their section programme when they met each other, Cowling winning 1-0.

But this was not enough to give them home advantage in the semis, Bulldogs having a far superior goal difference, and their opponents in the semis will depend on the results of matches on Saturday week.

There promises to be close finishes in the league again this season.

Skipton Bulldogs must obviously be favourites to take the Skipton Building Society Premier Division title for the fourth consecutive time.

They currently lead the table on goal difference from Oxenhope and have five matches in hand.

Possibly the fact they are in the Craven Challenge Cup Semi-Finals and the League Cup Quarter-Finals could go against them but they are used to this kind of pressure and have the stability to cope.

Embsay are third with a match in hand on Bulldogs and three points adrift, having to play the Skiptoners twice in the closing matches.

They too are in the Craven Challenge Cup Semi-Finals and the League Cup Quarter-Finals and will have a crowded closing programme.

Possibly the key to the destination of the title lies with Keighley, who vastly improved lie fourth six points behind Bulldogs with a match in hand and three behind Embsay on level matches. But Keighley have to meet Bulldogs at home and away and Embsay and Oxenhope both away and maximum points from those matches would change the whole picture.

Oxenhope with four matches left now must take maximum points from those games with two at home and two away and hope the others slip up. Haworth have nine matches left but cannot afford to drop any further points if they hope to come into the equation.

In Division One Silsden and Rimington have alternated at the top for most of the season. Rimington currently have a three-point advantage over Silsden, who are third at the moment, but have played two matches more. The teams have yet to meet each other, with weather permitting the first of their meetings scheduled for this Saturday.

Second-placed Bradley are second two points behind the leaders but have played three matches more than them and five more than Silsden and realistically their chance has gone although stranger things have happened in football. Likewise Intake who are three points behind the leaders with only four matches left can only hope for miracles.

The Division Two title looks like going to the wire as four teams are realistically involved. Haworth lead the way from West Bradford who could be considered favourites, Haworth having 22 points from 15 matches with three games left and West Bradford having 18 points with six matches left. Hellifield also have six matches left but are a point down on Haworth.

If the weather relents West Bradford entertain Hellifield this Saturday and a win is vital for both.

Barrowford, who are the remaining side in the quartet, have only two matches left and are four points behind Haworth but have yet to play Hellifield and West Bradford again.

Division Three has been resolved as Addingham with one match left to play cannot be caught now.

Who finishes second lies between Cowling and Cononley. Cowling with one match to play against Cononley can amass 19 points if they win that match, but should Cononley win they have two further chances to get 19 points with fixtures against Skipton Bulldogs and Grindleton, both away.

Bulldogs have to rely on both Cononley and Cowling dropping points while they win their remaining three matches to overtake them.

Division Four has turned into a two-horse race with St Pauls and Sutton now clear of the chasing pack.

St Pauls have a two-point advantage but Sutton have a match in hand. St Pauls have one home match left against Settle and two away ones against Settle and Bradley. Sutton face Settle at home, Bradley away and Lothersdale and Horton at home and the slight edge must be in Sutton's favour although St Pauls have a better goal difference at this stage.

Horton could sneak in should they take maximum points from their remaining four games but the clubs above them would have to lose a match or two.

However if Horton finish third in their first season it will be a credit to the team and the club and reward for all the hard work in resurrecting the club.

Divisions Two and Three have been playing their League Cups on a league basis with two sections, with in Division Two each section playing four matches, two at home and two away.

Currently in Section A Embsay and Haworth have each played two matches and won both to tie on four points and look favourites to progress to the semi-finals, although Barnoldswick United with two matches left could upset the applecart as one of their remaining matches is against Embsay and a win in this could let them through as Haworth and Embsay have yet to meet.

In Section B West Bradford have six points from three matches. Their last match is against Bronte Wanderers at home, a match Bronte cannot afford to lose as they will then have to play the other contenders Barrowford and Hellifield who must win against each other to join West Bradford in the semis.

In Division Three's Section A any two from three could progress to the semis.

Cononley lead with one match left against Grindleton away and Addingham are a point behind with three matches left, two against Skipton LMS who have the same number of points as Addingham but have played a match more.

Should Addingham win both matches then they and Cononley will qualify but both will still have to play Grindleton to decide places.

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