ATHLETICO'S title challenge suffered a major blow when they lost 2-1 at fourth-placed Fox & Hounds Batley in the Spen Valley League FIRST DIVISION.

Andrew Appleyard and Paul Beaumont were the Fox & Hounds scorers, Kamran Siddique getting the consolation for the Bradford visitors, who dropped a place to sixth but are still third favourites overall behind third-placed Palestino and leaders Hightown Jets due to games in hand.

The latter triumphed 9-4 at home to Howden Clough, with Lee Williams, Kyle Kershaw and Adam Smith bagging braces for the front-runners, and James Mortimer, Jordan Midwood and Ryan Foster also scoring.

Brad Mason (2), Troy Bagshaw and Lee Crossland were on target for Clough.

Mount Pleasant climbed to fifth thanks to a 3-1 victory at Norfolk, Mohammed Patel (2) and Aamir Aswat netting for the winners.

Meanwhile, Cleckheaton Sports won the basement battle 1-0 at Inter Batley, Matty Softly getting the only goal against the cellar dwellers.

In the PREMIER DIVISION, Vision were convincing 6-2 victors in the Bradford derby at Girlington, with the marksmen for the second-placed club being Liam Hartley (3), Richard Murgatroyd (2) and Chris Bower. Danyal Dar replied with a brace.

Savile Youth climbed from ninth to eighth after securing a 2-2 draw in their derby at Savile United.

Luckman Polli and Abdullash Aswat were on target for Youth, with Abdul Jabbar Ibrahim and Abu Mulla netting for United.