Leeds Combination League: White-hot Hope Inn open nine-point gap on chasers

Goals from Shaun and Stephen Mallory – the latter a prolific scorer with 18 this term – saw the leaders to their third successive win over a visiting side who, despite being cut adrift at the bottom of the table, notched through David Howarth.

Second-placed Belle Isle WMC matched this effort, also defeating Leeds City Rovers by a 2-1 scoreline at Church Lane, thanks to a brace from Ian McBurney. Mark Hill scored the only goal as Seacroft WMC built further momentum with a 1-0 defeat of Pudsey Liberal Club, while HT Sports won their game against Halton Moor with a home walkover.

Queenswood Crusaders defied their poor form in the Premier Division to convincingly beat AFC Bramley 4-1 at Butcher Hill. Queenswood, who dropped points against Bramley and Colton in their last two games, scored in the first half through Daniel Redfearn and Daniel Sandoval, before Daniel Hudson and Oliver Daley’s second-half strikes.

JB Celtic continue to cash in on their games in hand and they beat Badri 3-0, as Colton put away New Parnaby 5-0.

Swillington Welfare took hold of top spot in Division One with an entertaining 5-3 win over KKS Zubry at fortress Wakefield Road, where they have lost only once this season.

Closest challengers New Pudsey had to work slightly harder for their victory as they narrowly beat Chapel Allerton 2-1 at Potternewton Playing Fields.

Ashley Forber opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, before Mark Freeman equalised for the hosts, only to see Levi Forber snatch a much-needed three points for his side.

In the Leeds FA Sunday District Cup fourth round, Whitkirk Wanderers Sunday were pushed all the way by Division Two outfit Millshaw Park Rangers 2-1 while Jubilee Premier side South Leeds Ind. Sunday outmuscled third-tier Amaranth Sundays to win 3-1.

Kippax Band Club are undefeated on their travels in the league and they preserved this impressive record with a 2-1 win at Leodis United, who netted through Lee McKenzie. Lee Turner’s treble took him to 12 for the season and saw Garforth Sports & Social past FC Broadway, continuing their recovery from heavy recent reverses to Broadway and Oulton.

Oulton Athletic have sprung some surprises in recent weeks but there was nothing unexpected about their 5-2 win against bottom side Original Oak.

Steve Richardson got their first five minutes before the break and Liam Atkinson, Andrew Robinson and Thomas Lee added to Oulton’s tally following the interval.

Next week’s games in the Jubilee Premier see Hope Inn Whites face Seacroft WMC (Sun), while Belle Isle WMC will fancy their chances of closing the gap against basement boys Horsforth Fairweather.

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Beechwood Sundays were dealt a blow in their bid to climb the Division Two table after they were held 2-2 at FC West Leeds (Guiseley).

West Leeds earned a point at Ardley Park through goals from Chris Parkin and Scott Hallam. Barry Edwards’ brace for Beechwood came with strikes in the 10th and the 60th minute.

Marc Wilson continues to do the business for Bramley Town and he fired them to their 5-0 defeat of Waterintobeer with a treble, with further efforts from Scott Kirk and Scott Barlow.

Commercial HQ are struggling for consistency but Sunday was one to savour as they strolled past Sporting Pudsey 6-2 at Holbeck Moor.

Jonathan Harding scored their first in the second minute before Antony Coates, Chris Jones, Jonathan Weston and Mathew Simon, with two, got their names on the scoresheet.

Corpus Christi edged past AFC Travellers 1-0 with a goal from Philip Jarvis in the 75th minute, and East Leeds AFC beat Bedford Arms Wakefield by a home walkover.

Moortown Albion are left clinging to top spot in Division Three after a thrilling 4-4 draw with Northern Star, for whom Ryan Smith and Martin Evans bagged braces. Halfway defeated FC West Leeds (Guiseley) Reserves 4-0 with Peter Atkin and Scott Goodall striking either side of the hour mark.

Fifth-placed Barwick Stallions thrashed Temple 7-0 at Oakwood Lane, where Gary Crossley led the way with a hat-trick. Daniel Thorp added a further two, while Stuart Tetley, Luke Campey and Jamie Winstanley also netted.

Acorn (Bramley) defeated AFC Elford 4-1.