Former Bradford City teen earns Eccleshill United shock win

The visiting Red and Blacks were the clear favourites in this Northern Counties East League Premier Division, starting the afternoon four points clear at the summit, albeit with second-placed Emley having four games in hand.

Conversely, while all of their Bradford District rivals in the division have been challenging for promotion this season, Eccleshill have floundered, and sat just three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of kick off.

Yet the form book went out of the window, as the Eagles produced their best performance of the season on Saturday to win the derby 2-1.

Jahro Parchment is a former Campion player, but he showed his old side no mercy when putting Eccleshill in front after 53 minutes.

Midway through the second half, former Bradford City youngster Cole Roberts popped up with the home side’s second goal, leaving Campion with a mountain to climb.

The Red and Blacks did score late on through Joe Colley, but his goal proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the leaders.

Campion now only have a one-point advantage at the summit, as Emley showed why they are title favourites with an impressive 3-1 win at promotion-chasing Thackley.

In a good game with chances for both sides, Dennyboys man Kieran Suddards equalised on the hour mark to cancel out Ruben Jerome’s opener midway through the first half.

Kieran Suddards (grounded) sees his looping effort beat stranded Emley goalkeeper Declan Lambton and find the net. (Image: Martin Taylor.)

But Jerome grabbed Emley’s second goal after 65 minutes, while Charlie Barks netted late on to seal the win for the visitors.

Albion Sports were not in action, so dropped into fifth, and the final play-off spot, as Rossington Main overtook them with a 4-1 win over Penistone Church.

But at least their promotion challenge is still alive and kicking, with Silsden’s chances looking increasingly forlorn.

They are now eight points off the play-offs after a ghastly 3-0 defeat at second-bottom Goole, in a game which saw Cobbydalers defender Jacob Smith sin-binned.

Remarkably, the afternoon brought wins for all of the bottom three, in Eccleshill, Goole and Maltby Main, meaning the latter are still rock-bottom despite thumping Barton Town 3-0.

Route One Rovers leapt back into the North West Counties Football League First Division North play-offs, recovering from a poor start to blow Daisy Hill away with a 4-2 win.

The prolific Zak Khan netted twice for the hosts, with those efforts sandwiching goals from McKenzie Borek and Anees Younis.

Route One are back in league action tonight as they host their landlords Steeton, in what will be the latter’s first competitive game since December 30, following a gas supply issue which had put their Marley ground out of use for a few weeks.

In the Northern Premier League East Division, mid-table duo Liversedge and Brighouse Town both suffered 1-0 home defeats.

The former’s came against high-flying Pontefract Collieries, for whom former Sedge defender Jack Steers grabbed the winner.

Brighouse disappointingly came unstuck against struggling Ossett United, with Alex Peterson winning it for the visitors early in the second half.

Guiseley faced a battle with NPL Premier Division play-off rivals Macclesfield at Nethermoor, with the visitors claiming a 2-1 win.

Luke Mariette equalised for the Lions after 47 minutes to cancel out an early goal from Alex Curran, but Macclesfield went on to find a late winner courtesy of Kane Drummond.

Finally, mid-table National League North side Farsley Celtic did not have an easy afternoon at Chorley, but thanks to goal-line clearances from Tom Allan and Isaac Assenso, they claimed a creditable 1-1 draw.

Former Celt Carlton Ubaezuonu put the Lancastrians in front midway through the first half, only for their Yorkshire rivals to hit back quickly and equalise through Sam Leverett.