West Yorkshire League: Six-up Athletic setting early-season title pace

Neither side were in action on Saturday but reigning champions Beeston and last season’s runner-up Carlton both approached last Wednesday’s midweek fixtures following a perfect five wins out of five.

But goals from Ashley Austin, Nick Gledhill and Lewis Keating gave Headingley their third win of the season, which was then followed by a 4-1 loss at previously bottom of the table Hunslet Club.

Efforts from James Allan and Sean Jeavons were in vain for the Saints at Headingley.

Carlton saw off visiting Shelley 6-3 the same night as Reece Fennell’s treble was supported by a goal each from Scott Burns, Joseph O’Neill and Andrew Payne.

Shelley recovered from the loss to enjoy a 3-2 triumph at home to Pool on Saturday, despite Pool netting through Matthew Bilney and Thomas Fleming.

Sherburn White Rose are level on points with Beeston in third, albeit having played one game more, after Saturday’s 1-0 triumph at Ilkley Town.

Lee Jones hit the winning goal, three days after the mid-week 3-0 defeat of visiting Oxenhope Recreation who are second-bottom.

A James Earley brace and James Bird strike sealed the points on Wednesday evening.

Horbury Town are two points further back in fourth following Saturday’s 5-1 blitz of visiting Wetherby Athletic who are now bottom.

Horbury were 4-2 winners at home to third-bottom Robin Hood Athletic last Wednesday evening as a Luke Playford double was backed up by goals from Lamin Bojang and Kieran Corley.

Efforts from James Finlayson and Scott Murgatroyd were not enough for Robin Hood.

Former champions Field are another point back in fifth and with a game in hand on the two sides above them.

The Bradford side were last in action on Wednesday when recording a 1-0 success at Ilkley Town in which Andrew Benjamin hit the winning goal.

Leeds City are a further point behind in sixth and with an additional game in hand.

City beat visiting Wetherby 2-1 last Wednesday thanks to goals from Andrew Crossland and Sean Fitzpatrick in the face of an away strike from Joe Dorkings. Knaresborough Town are seventh and behind City on goal difference but having played two games more.

Town obliged 4-1 at fourth-bottom Brighouse Old Boys on Saturday, with a Jake Broadbent strike in vain for the hosts. Knaresborough also beat visiting Pool 1-0 last Wednesday evening.

In other action last Wednesday, Hunslet Club shared a 2-2 draw with visiting Brighouse Old Boys. Christopher Thornton and Rhys Walker netted for Hunslet with Peter Kuleczko and Connor Stoner on target for Brighouse.

Two games take place in the Premier tomorrow evening, with Field welcoming Brighouse Old Boys and Headingley visiting Sherburn White Rose. Fifth plays fourth in one of the games of the weekend this weekend when Horbury Town host Field.

Hall Green United lead the way in Division One after Saturday’s 4-0 success at Howden Clough. Hall Green jumped one point and one place above East End Park who were held to a goalless draw by third-placed visitors Boroughbridge.

Ossett Albion lead Division Two after walloping visiting Great Preston 6-1 to make it five wins and one draw from six games.

But both second-placed Rawdon Old Boys and third-placed AFC Horsforth have won five games out of five.

Rawdon stormed to an 8-1 success at Garforth Rangers on Saturday, while Horsforth scraped a 4-3 verdict at home to Kellingley Welfare.

LEEDS COMBINATION LEAGUE

CHAPELTOWN Fforde Grene are back on top of the Leeds Combination League after the first game played following an opening day 2-1 win at home to Main Line Social.

Multiple former champions Fforde resigned from the league last year but the folding of the Leeds Sunday League has led to a new presence in the Combination with Fforde immediately top of the league.

Likely title rivals Hope Inn Whites and visiting HT Sports had to settle for a 2-2 draw, while hosts JB Celtic and Seacroft WMC also shared a four-goal draw.

Macca McBurney and Ryan Robinson were both on target for Seacroft.

East Leeds Celtic are the early leaders of the Premier Division after a 5-2 triumph at Hunslet Parnaby.

A Kyle Swithenbank double was in vain for the hosts.

Garforth Sports & Social sit second after being visiting Harehills WMC 4-2.

Strikes from Andrias Kerys and Kristian Jel led the Harehills fight.

Kirkstall Crusaders are third after enjoying an opening day 3-1 triumph at home to Chapeltown Fforde Grene Reserves while Colton are fourth after defeating visiting West Leeds Wortley 3-2.

Joshua Summers and Mark Ferguson were on target for the away team.

Kippax Sundays begin their season this weekend at Harehills.

Millshaw Park Rangers are out in front in Division One after blitzing visiting Hare & Hounds 8-3.

Scott Carter bagged a treble and Thomas Snowden added a brace with Martyn Howe, Adam Jarrett and Sam Strangeway all adding a goal each.

Daniel Walker and Phillip Negelein struck for the visitors.

Moortown Albion also began with a bang as visiting Halton were smashed 6-1.

Pendas Arms obliged 4-1 at East Leeds for whom a Carl Hardgrave strike was in vain, while hosts Bramley Town and Chapel Allerton shared a 2-2 draw. Jason Watt and Gabriel Bankole were the Allerton goal-getters.

Commercial HQ also drew 1-1 with visiting Beechwood Sundays.

New Pudsey and Oulton Athletic both begin their campaigns this coming weekend.

South Seacroft are the early leaders of Division Two after winning 7-0 at Pudsey Athletic.

LEAGUE ROUND-UPS

EALANDIANS are the early leaders of the new Yorkshire Amateur League season after an opening day 6-1 romp at Beeston Juniors.

Wayne Crossley and Danny Davidson both bagged doubles for last year’s runners-up for whom Martin Coldwell and Christopher Parker netted a goal each. George Lazaro was the solitary Beeston scorer.

Defending champions Farsley Celtic Juniors began with a 5-2 triumph at Wigton Moor.

A Danny Lyons double was added to by efforts from Craig Farrand, Said Osman and Louis Surtees. Stanley United are second after obliging 6-2 at Grangefield Old Boys.

A double from Joseph Childs was supported by efforts from Jack Griffiths, Benjamin Huntington, Kieran Wright and Russell England, against goals from Grant Jackson and Andrew Kenyon for the hosts.

Leeds Medics & Dentists beat visiting Stanningley Old Boys 4-0 thanks to a John Forrest treble and Bradley Chambers strike.

Alwoodley were also victorious as visiting Trinity & All Saints were seen off 4-1.

Elsewhere, Huddersfield YMCA lead Littletown by a point after seven games in the West Riding County Amateur League. Palestino are the early front-runners in the Spen Valley League after an opening day 5-0 success at Girlington, achieved through a Theo Bujra brace and Zain Mushtaq treble.

St John Fisher Old Boys lead the Heavy Woollen League after easing to a 5-0 win at Navigaton.