Leeds Combination League: Independents lift Cup but hope is fading for Whites

But it’s been a case of more cup misery for Combination leaders Hope Inn Whites who exited the County Sunday Cup semi-finals on penalties, two days before Sunday’s Sanford Cup semi-final loss to Leeds City Rovers – who themselves are on course for a cup double.

Danny Harrison’s hat-trick proved decisive for South Leeds in Wednesday’s District Cup final with the club now looking to guarantee their status in the Combination Premier.

But a Hope Inn side that had been on course for an amazing four-timer fell to two semi-final defeats in three days.

A hat-trick from Nick Clarke proved the difference for victorious Leeds City Rovers in Sunday’s Sanford semi which finished 3-1 at Adel. Rovers sit second-bottom in the Combination Jubilee Premier but could now land a cup double with the club facing Seacroft WMC in the finals of both the Sanford Cup and Leeds & District FA Sunday Senior Challenge Cup.

Hope Inn earlier suffered more latter-stages cup heartache at Woodlesford on Friday evening against Thornton United. The game ended 1-1 after full-time but Thornton won 6-5 on penalties to book a final against either Ferrybridge Progressive or West Bowling, who meet this Friday evening.

Hope Inn remain nine points clear at the top of the Combination but HT Sports moved second – and with a game in hand – through Sunday’s 6-2 triumph at Belle Isle WMC.

Steve Palfrey and Baz Frankland both bagged doubles for HT who also netted through Joe Dixon and Jay Davis. Tom Irvine and Ian McBurney notched for Belle Isle who have dropped to third.

In the Premier, JB Celtic moved second with Sunday’s 11-3 romp at New Parnaby. Joe Campbell bagged a hat-trick and Daniel King a brace with the away side’s Matty Dalton, Chris Hyde, Jimmy Child, Jack McMurrough and Daniel King all netting in addition to a Parnaby own goal. JB also gifted the hosts two own goals to support a home Adam Eastwood strike.

Whitkirk followed up their Sunday District Cup final with a 5-1 loss at home to mid-table AFC Bramley that left the hosts third.

Dave Thornton hit a treble for Bramley, supported by a goal each from, Danny Robinson and Jake Dally.

South Leeds, meanwhile, were felled 4-1 by fifth-placed visitors Badri as a Richard Crawshaw strike failed to save the hosts.

Kippax Band Club moved four points clear at the top of Division One after a 3-2 win against New Pudsey, writes Alastair Ross.

Goals from Richard Jackson, Josh Morley and Pete Gibbons edged out Pudsey, who remain third despite strikes from Ben Coulson and Shaun Carpenter.

Second-placed Swillington Welfare’s clash at Chapel Allerton was abandoned due to an injury. Amaranth built on Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Chapel Allerton with a 10-2 rout of basement visitors Original Oak. Kallum Long, Ryan Mottley-Henry and Dave Turner all hit hat-tricks with Jordan Riley also netting. Chris McNerlin hit a brace for Oak.

Oulton Athletic closed the gap on opponents Broadway with a 3-0 win as Liam Atkinson, Thomas Lee and Daniel Rose all netted. Leodis United leapfrogged Garforth into fourth with a 3-1 win over KKS Zubry as Ricardo Brown, Paul Hewson and Jordan Mudd scored.

In Division Three, third-placed FC Horsforth Saints inflicted a 3-1 defeat on previously unbeaten leaders Moortown Albion. A Jack Pennington brace and James Allen strike ensured victory. Second-placed Halfway kept their title aspirations alive with a 4-1 victory over Temple. Goals from Dale Hague, Jerry Novotny and a brace from Elliot Heeds saw off the visitors, despite Jack Conway replying.

Millshaw Park Rangers Reserves overcame Northern Star in a dramatic 4-3 win with Jordan Cliffe and Dave Thorpe complementing a Wes Williams brace. Star had two penalties converted by Josh Charlesworth; Martin Evans also found the net.

A hat-trick apiece for Diego Cervantes, Charlie Mills and Bradley Johnson secured a 9-1 win for Yorkshire Black Rose over Elford while West Leeds ground out a 1-0 win against Wortley Knights through Rick Woolin’s winner.

Beechwood Sundays overcame sides from East Leeds and West Leeds in four days to remain unbeaten at the top of Division Two.

Glenroy Hilton and Craig McDonagh hit braces in Thursday’s 7-4 defeat of visiting FC West Leeds Guiseley who also conceded to Anthony Toulson and Stephen Cooper whilst also shipping in an own goal. West Leeds got four of their own through Scott Hallam and a Chris Parkin hat-trick.

For Beechwood, Cooper and McDonagh scored again alongside Tommy Hind in Sunday’s 3-2 win at home to fourth-placed East Leeds AFC who replied through Paul Cuthbertson and Simon Doughty.

Bramley Town won twice in a week to remain in touch in third. First Scott Barlow, Marc Wilson and Kris Robson goals edged out Bedford Arms 3-2 as Luke Denby responded with a brace. Wilson then bagged a hat-trick as Town saw off visiting AFC Travellers 7-2. Bramley’s Karras Spaven, Scott Barlow, Tim Marsh and Brian Edwards also netted while Dave Lowther and Daniel Flesher consoled the visitors.

Second-placed Millshaw Park Rangers had an away walkover against Bedford Arms Wakefield.

Elsewhere, Corpus Christi overran West Leeds 8-0 as hat-tricks from Liam Attwood and Karl Dixon were supported by strikes from Liam Jordan and Phil Jarvis. Brendan Mullen hit all four goals as Royal Park Leeds defeated Sporting Pudsey 4-1 while Commercial HQ closed the gap on Waterintobeer with a 2-1 victory. Nick Sutcliffe and Chris Jones scored for Commercial.