Leeds Combination League: Seacroft are cranking up pressure on pacesetters

Hope Inn have led the league for most of the season but, having lost four of their last five games, they are just three points above Seacroft who have a game in hand. A brace from Ryan Robinson and Liam Robinson’s strike saw Seacroft to their seventh successive win, while James Thorpe replied for the hosts whose stay in the top flight looks like coming to an abrupt end.

HT Sports have faded away from the title race but they saw Leeds City Rovers off 4-1 at Lawns Lane.

The hosts scored through John Mallinson, Sam Ackroyd, Barry Frankland and outgoing player manager Lee Connor, while Nick Clarke had a consolation for second bottom Rovers.

Rovers face Seacroft in the final of the Leeds & District FA Sunday Senior Challenge Cup at Elland Road a week today.

Away from the top flight, Main Line Social’s bid for top spot in the Premier Division stuttered in the shape of a 2-2 draw against Badri.

Brad Sharrock and Carl Feehan’s goals weren’t enough for three points at Sharp Lane.

JB Celtic strengthened their hold on a place in the top two, squeaking past Colton thanks to Joe Campbell’s winner.

It wasn’t what they wanted but a point for second-bottom South Leeds Independents from a 2-2 draw with AFC Bramley was a step in the right direction.

They have two games in hand and a two-point gap to bridge to reach safety.

Joe Childerson and Rhys Evans’ efforts were cancelled out by a brace from Bramley’s hotshot Dave Thornton, who now has 23 goals this season.

Division One leaders Kippax Band Club haven’t lost this calendar year and were emphatic once again in beating Oulton Athletic 7-1. Nicky Mooring and Josh Morley both netted for the champions elect, who also had Richard Jackson, Aaron Gray and Peter Gibbons on the scoresheet. Tom Lee scored for Oulton.

Swillington Welfare are favourites to go up with them.

And they squeezed past Leodis United 1-0 at Wakefield Road, as Dylan Mattison’s goal settled matters.

Chapel Allerton drew 3-3 with Garforth Sports & Social, with Jason Watt notching twice and Mark Freeman scoring. In the division’s other fixture, Amaranth Sundays beat FC Broadway 4-1 thanks to goals from Ryan Henry, Dave Turner, Kallum Long and Eddie McNamara. Jack Downes had the only goal for Broadway.

THREE into two doesn’t go and that’s the dilemma facing Beechwood Sundays, Millshaw Park Rangers and Bramley Town at the top of the Combination League’s Division Two.

It’s still all to play for in the race for promotion although current leaders Beechwood, two points clear at the summit, remain in the driving seat after a 7-2 defeat of Sporting Pudsey.

Rangers made it three in a row with an equally convincing 7-1 victory against whipping boys FC West Leeds (Guiseley). Goal machine Scott Carter took his tally to 38 with a treble and further goals came in the form of braces from Isaac Denny and Scott Phillip.

Bramley requested a free date at the weekend but are in action tomorrow night against Beechwood in a key top of the table clash.

Royal Park Leeds beat Corpus Christi 8-6; Brendan Mullen hit four for the home side and Phil Jarvis’ treble came in a losing cause.

East Leeds AFC defeated Commercial HQ with strikes from Scott Domanchie, Tom Dent and Simon Doughty.

Halfway’s bid for the second promotion spot out of Division Three was derailed by fellow contenders Acorn (Bramley), who beat them 2-1 with goals from Peter Gitting and Matthew Lofthouse. FC Horsforth Saints beat Temple 5-0 and kept in contention with doubles from Pennington, Donkin and a goal from Smith.

Yorkshire Black Rose defeated FC West Leeds (Guiseley) Reserves 6-1 thanks to a fine individual display from Bradley Johnson who scored five goals. Tim Wambunya had Black Rose’s other goal and Matty Wear the consolation.

The spoils were shared between Republica Internationale and AFC Elford in a 2-2 draw. Seamus Lundy and Emad Dosky scored for the hosts while Khiser Sharif and Hassan Pervais replied for the visitors.