Leeds Combination League: Title hopes buoyed as Whites see off leaders

HT Sports' Byron Spink congratulates Steve Palfrey after his goal straight from the kick off against Hope Inn Whites. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Steve Palfrey scored a brace, and Baz Frankland also found the net for HT Sports, but it was not enough to prevent Hope Inn taking the points.

In the Jubilee play-offs, four goals from Nick Clarke, and a Rob Holliday strike, helped Leeds City Rovers gain a 5-2 victory at JB Celtic.

It was all square in the 2-2 draw between Horsforth Fairweather – for whom Stephern Skillern and Robert Wilson found the net – and Chapeltown Fforde Grene, who replied through Chris Bussue and Dan Sheriffe.

Hope Inn's Daniel Maw makes it 3-3 despite pressure from HT Sports' Sean Stevenson. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Seacroft WMC edged a 3-2 victory away at Main Line Social. Tony Garth and Adam Fowler struck for Main Line but they were undone by replies from Ryan Robinson, Stephen Cooper and Jaime Hainsworth for Seacroft.

In the Premier, a Daniel Coates hat-trick helped third-place East Leeds Celtic ease to a 5-0 triumph at home to Harehills WMC. Luke Rudd and James Banner also struck for the home side.

Elsewhere, league leaders Kippax Sundays gained a comprehensive 7-0 triumph at home to eighth-place FC Broadway. Victory was secured thanks to strikes from Tom Micklethwaite-Charles (2), Paul Wilson, Robbie Clayton, Tom Davis, Nicky Mooring and an own goal.

In Division One, James Allen bagged five for league leaders New Pudsey as they obliged 7-3 away at sixth-place Commercial HQ . Dave Thornton also scored a brace for New Pudsey, who took the points despite replies from Michael Hartley, Chris Jones and Kyle Jeffery for the home side.

Hope Inn's Stewart Berry gets to grips with Steve Palfrey, of HT Sports. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Elsewhere, fifth-place Bramley Town edged a tight contest 1-0 at home to third-place Pendas Arms. A 3-0 win for Halton at home to Millshaw Park Rangers ensured their sixth league win of the season, and a Liam Atkinson strike was the difference for Oulton Athletic as they obliged 1-0 at home to bottom club Moortown Albion.

In Division Two, strikes from Chris Blackwell, Chris Wilson, Danny Azzaro and Matt Whiteley ensured a 4-1 victory for third-place FC Horsforth Saints away at sixth-place Corpus Christi.

A Conor Pickard strike was not enough to prevent FC West Leeds succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at home to South Seacroft.

And goals from Graham Major and Mickie Fletcher for Acorn were also in vain as they were defeated 3-2 away at Sporting Pudsey. Elsewhere in Division Two, second-place West Leeds Armley obliged 7-2 at home to West Yorkshire Falcons.

Jordan Tate hit a hat-trick, with Shane Collins, Daniel Heyhirst, Ryan McQuade and Mark Ferguson also getting on the scoresheet.

Ninth-place Pudsey Athletic gained an astonishing 15-1 victory at home to AFC Elford. Adam Cole hit six for the home side, along with hat-tricks for Ryan Murray and Andy Matthews, a Luke Clifford brace and Nick Dent completing the rout.

In Division 3A, Nathanial Welsh scored a brace as East End Park WMC triumphed 4-1 at home to Wortley Knights.

AFC Travellers obliged 2-0 away at rock-bottom Original Oak, and a Hanson brace helped Amaranth Athletic take the points after a 4-2 win away at West Leeds Farnley.

In Division 3B, Bramley Town Reserves thrashed FC Armley 9-2 at home. FC Retailers obliged 5-2 at home to Millshaw Park Rangers Reserves.

Hosts Northern Star edged a 4-3 victory against Bramley Villagers, and league leaders Woodcock triumphed 5-2 in their home encounter with West Leeds Bramley.