West Yorkshire League: Saints boss Halmshaw confident ahead of run-in

St Anthony’s have led the way for most of the campaign and believe, while there are many obstacles still to overcome, they can get the job done.

Manager Mark Halmshaw said: “We have the confidence that we can win everything we enter.

“There is no pressure on us, that’s what the lads have been told. If it’s not to be then it certainly won’t be down to a lack of effort.

“Winning the title will be tough, we know that, three top sides are all gunning for the same prize and it could go any way.

“We all still have to play each other, but there are some tough fixtures outside of that for us.

“For example, we play Hartshead on Saturday who are undefeated at home this season, so we need to be at our best to get three points there”.

Halmshaw claims that the league winner will not be the side who has the strongest starting 11, but, instead, the team with the most depth.

“I truly believe the best squad will win this league, not the best 11.” he said.

“There are a lot of games to be played in a short space of time.”

Beeston remain confident despite crashing out of the West Yorkshire League Cup, losing to Carlton Athletic 3-2 on penalties, after neither side could be separated at the final whistle with the score at 3-3.

They would, however, return to league action at the weekend with a vengeance, dismantling Field 6-2 at Field Sports and Social Club.

Stephen Crawford and Joe Wood both netted twice for St Anthony’s, with Matty Waller and Sam Morrell completing the scoring.

Leeds also continued their push for the title, recording a comfortable 3-0 midweek win over Knaresborough Town, through Mark Ferguson, Sean Fitzpatrick and Charles Lumley goals. Their plans would take an unfortunate hit at the weekend, with their trip to Hartshead postponed.

Things didn’t improve for Knaresborough at the weekend either, after they were thrashed 5-1 at home by Huddersfield Amateur. Carlton were able to take to the pitch on Saturday and made no mistakes, defeating Headingley 2-0, with Tom Griffiths and Liam Moore both on target.

Headingley would have been disappointed in taking nothing from this game, after picking up a solid 3-1 win over Sherburn White Rose earlier in the week.

Ilkley Town are still without a win in April, after their goalless draw with Hunslet.

Nobody in attendance could believe this game finished 0-0, with both sides missing a host of chances to snatch all three points. Hunslet were perhaps lacking confidence coming into this game, after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Robin Hood Athletic just three days prior.

Horbury Town remain tucked in just behind Ilkley, having been unable to hand Hartshead their first home defeat of the season, managing only a 3-3 draw.

Horbury would, however, gain ground on Ilkley at the weekend, defeating bottom-of-the-table Pool 3-0.

Hall Green United’s scheduled home game with Sherburn White Rose was postponed, as the Premier Division action drew to a close.

RAWDON Old Boys made a rare slip-up in Division One as the leaders suffered a 2-1 loss to Wyke Wanderers with Matt Conway and Karl Fawcett sealing the upset win for Wyke, writes JAMIE WOODHOUSE.

The mistake was punished heavily by Whitkirk Wanderers, who triumphed 3-1 over Kippax in midweek, before running out 4-1 winners over title rivals Featherstone Colliery at the weekend. Those wins mean Whitkirk are only one point behind Rawdon, equal on games played. Featherstone had hoped their 3-0 win over Altofts days before would have set them up for their clash with Whitkirk.

Kippax have very little left to play for this season stuck in mid-table, and their 2-0 loss to Oxenhope Rec, handing them their second defeat in a week. East End Park kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Boroughbridge, who had suffered a 3-1 defeat earlier in the week to Aberford Albion.

Wetherby Athletic have left it too late to mount a promotion challenge, but showed their quality with a 4-1 midweek win over Leeds Modernians. Their weekend encounter with Howden Clough was postponed, along with Modernians versus Aberford and Rothwell versus Altofts.

In Division Two, Kirk Dreighton Rangers headed in to their weekend off with a 3-1 midweek win over Knaresborough Celtic in the bag. That result meant whatever happened, they would retain their status as league leaders.

Otley Town remain hot on their heels and demonstrated that they are more than capable of snatching the title. First, they disposed of Baildon Trinity Athletic, recording a 6-1 victory, before putting seven past Hampsthwaite United at the weekend, in a 7-2 victory. Newsome displayed their title credentials in similar fashion, after romping to a 9-1 victory over Kellingley.

They were unable to build on this at the weekend, as their clash with Swillington Saints was postponed. Things didn’t get easier for either of the title chasers’ victims come Saturday. Baildon fell to a 3-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Old Centralians, while Kellingley fell to a 3-0 defeat at Huddersfield YM.

Both Centralians and Huddersfield were in desperate need of those wins, after their scheduled midweek meeting was postponed.