Leeds Combination League: Boss Walsh calls a halt on the successful Moor team

HALTON MOOR FC have folded after amassing 29 trophies in 16 years with boss Danny Walsh telling his men: 'take a bow.'
Leeds Combination League Division Two action from Millshaw Park Rangers v Bramley Town. PIC: Steve RidingLeeds Combination League Division Two action from Millshaw Park Rangers v Bramley Town. PIC: Steve Riding
Leeds Combination League Division Two action from Millshaw Park Rangers v Bramley Town. PIC: Steve Riding

The former multiple Leeds Sunday League champions have been struggling to field a full side this term and Walsh announced his intention to fold the team at the end of the season earlier on this year.

But Sunday’s 4-3 loss at Seacroft WMC in the Sanford Cup semi-final has proved the final straw for a team who were in the unusual position of third bottom in the Jubilee Premier.

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Walsh’s men left the Leeds Sunday League in pursuit of a new challenge in the Combination but Moor’s manager has no regrets over pulling the plug after nearly two decades of trophies galore.

“We have had some great times but I think it’s just our time to bow out,” said Walsh. “After 16 seasons and 29 trophies Halton Moor can take a bow.”

Moor have followed reigning champions Chapeltown Fforde Grene in becoming a huge name to resign from the Combination which looks at the mercy of newly-formed Hope Inn Whites this year.

Plenty of new teams are joining next season - including the possibility of a new Chapeltown side - but league secretary Mick Druce admitted: “It was a sad day when I heard from Halton Moor manager Danny Moor that he had resigned from the Leeds Combination League just months after the loss of Fforde Grene, two of the most successful clubs in West Yorkshire Sunday football history.

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“Halton Moor have won just about everything that they can at our level and since joining us three seasons ago they have proved to a great addition to the league adding further quality. In all truth, I only wish that they had joined us years ago.

“Danny has worked hard to keep them going this season but it gets to the stage when it’s just not worth the effort to keep going. I would love to get a call from Danny in the summer to say that he is starting up again as there will always be a place for Halton Moor. Danny is a dedicated football man and he has been great to work with.”

Danny Leafe, David Stead and Roy Stamer all netted for Moor on Sunday but a goal each from Liam Robinson, Scott Jones, Ryan Robinson and Ollie Maude sealed Seacroft’s place in the final, against either Hope Inn Whites or Leeds City Rovers.

Whites won 2-1 at Rovers in Sunday’s Jubilee Premier fixture with goals from Danny Maw and Shaun Mallory. HT Sports moved a clear second with a 3-0 win at home to bottom club Horsforth Fairweather. Wayne Hudson, Sam Ackroyd and player-manager Lee Connor all bagged a goal each.

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WHITKIRK Wanderers kept their Premier Division title hopes alive with a 7-2 romp over struggling visitors New Parnaby, writes Alastair Ross.

Kingsley Wetherald’s hat-trick was backed up by goals from Jordan Walker, Reece Kay, Ashley Hoddell and Oliver Mertagh. Robin Williams scored a brace for the struggling visitors but the win leaves Whitkirk 11 points behind leaders Main Line Social with three games in hand. Fourth-placed JB Celtic were given a home walkover against basement-club Hare & Hounds while Badri moved fifth by obliging 3-1 at third-placed Queenswood Crusaders. Josh Moon, Jorden Jeffrey and Ryan Mills netted for Badri with James Burgess replying.

Kippax Band Club went top of Division One with a 6-2 win at fourth-placed Garforth Sports & Social. Richard Jackson’s treble was supported by a goal each from Paul Wilson, Tom Davis and Calum McDonald. New Pudsey dropped to third after a 4-3 loss at home to mid-table Amaranth whose Aiden Yaffe, David Turner, Joshua Milsted and Ryan Mottley-Henry all struck to eclipse home efforts from Brohdi Wilkinson, Mathew Dorn and Chris McCarthy.

Third-bottom Chapel Allerton distanced themselves from second-bottom KKS Zubry with a 3-1 win. A goal from David Martin and two from Mark Freeman was enough to secure the points. FC Broadway also cruised to a 9-0 win at basement boys Original Oak. Mark Adams, Luke Boyes, and Arron Myers all scored twice, with goals from Killian Mabey and substitute Steve Kelling completing the rout.

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Beechwood Sundays sent out an emphatic title warning to their rivals this weekend with a merciless 12-1 victory over Royal Park Leeds.

Barry Edwards, Liam Gales and Craig McDonagh bagged braces, with Stephen Cooper, Adam McGowan, Dean Otley, Martin Shaw, Thomas Hind and Lucas Marks all chipping in. Matthew Lambert netted for the home side. The win leaves Beechwood one point off the summit with three games in hand on their nearest rivals.

Table-toppers Millshaw Park Rangers were upset 6-2 by promotion-pushing Bramley Town. Scott Barlow and Shane Hanson bagged two each, with Brian Edwards and Matthew Johnson also scoring. Tom Snowdon and Scott Carter were on target for Rangers.

Sporting Pudsey leapfrogged Bedford Arms Wakefield with an impressive 4-1 win. Jamie McGougan was hat-trick hero and super-sub, adding to Daniel Cook’s earlier effort. Matt Jones consolidated for the hosts. Corpus Christi overcame Commercial HQ 4-0 thanks to goals from Phil Jarvis, Connor Reid, Jack Whitehead and James Leehman. Waterintobeer squeezed past winless West Leeds 3-2, goals coming from James Jones, Steve Kaye, Raiheim Spencer, also Chris Parkin and Chris Sharkey.

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In Division Three, it was the clash of the top two as Moortown Albion overcame Halfway 2-1, the goals coming from Craig Fish, Liam Fentemen and Dale Hague.

Horsforth Saints defeated Elford 9-3, Chris Wilson and Rob McFarlane with braces, with Ross Neilson and James Allen completing the scoring.

Barba Rohman, Niall Wood and Khizer Sharif scored in vain for the hosts. Goals from Oliver Lines, Colm Fitzpatrick and two from Luis De La Higuera saw Republica Internationale overcome Yorkshire Black Rose 4-1.