CAMPION took full advantage of being the only Bradford side to play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division over the weekend.

Their game at Bottesford Town survived the weather, and they were the only two NCEL Premier Division sides to play in league or cup on Saturday.

Campion have just seen top scorer Marcus Day leave the club to join Shirebrook Town, but they coped well with his absence at the weekend, beating Bottesford 3-0.

The victory takes them four points clear of Emley at the summit, though the Huddersfield side do have four games in hand on their table-topping Bradford rivals.

Bottesford are struggling this season, and currently sit fourth-bottom, but they started the better of the two sides, creating several half-chances up to the midway point of the first half.

But Campion grew into the game well, coming close to taking the lead on multiple occasions heading towards the break.

The visitors finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, courtesy of the prolific Paddy Sykes.

A resilient Bottesford side stayed right in the game in the second half, with Campion’s attacking threat largely stifled.

But the Red and Blacks finally scored their second goal of the afternoon on 84 minutes, Sykes again the scorer.

Aidan Day netted a few moments later to put the icing on the cake for Campion.

Emley seem to be Campion’s biggest threat to the title, with Thackley’s own challenge now hanging by a thread after a 2-1 defeat last Tuesday to their Huddersfield-based promotion rivals.

Bradford outfit Albion Sports look like the only other side who can realistically claim top spot, other than Campion and Emley.

But they have had a wobble, with a 2-1 league defeat at home to Silsden on November 25 backed up last Wednesday by a 4-2 loss at Horsfall in the NCEL League Cup second round against Knaresborough Town.

They were unable to bounce back on Saturday, with they and Thackley having their league games called off.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Robbie Fox has scored in Albion's last two games, but both ended in defeat for his side.Robbie Fox has scored in Albion's last two games, but both ended in defeat for his side. (Image: Alex Daniel)

Eccleshill United were not in action either, while Silsden’s FA Vase third round tie at Newcastle University was postponed and will now be played this coming Saturday instead.

Steeton and Route One Rovers saw their North West Counties Football League First Division North games fall foul of the weather too.

No Northern Premier League East Division games survived the snow either, which meant neither Brighouse Town nor Liversedge were in action.

Guiseley’s play-off charge in the NPL Premier Division was halted on Saturday, with their home game against leaders Radcliffe called off due to a frozen pitch.

Finally, Farsley Celtic’s game at fellow National league North strugglers Peterborough Sports was also postponed due to bad weather.

But Clayton Donaldson’s Celts are unbeaten in their last five league games, and despite three games going ahead in that division on Saturday, they still sit four points above the drop zone.