Yorkshire Amateur League: Drig's consistency nets '˜deserved' title

After Bob Greenwood’s departure as manager in the summer, Drig lost several key players and it threatened to be a tough first season in the top flight since winning promotion.

But they are deserved champions under the guidance of Steve Phillips, who has engineered relentless consistency underpinned by a 13-game winning run.

They sealed the Premier Division title with two key wins in the space of three days.

Crucial contributor Shane Sowden, neck and neck with Harvey Booth and Sam Thorpe at the top of the scoring charts, netted in their narrow win over Alwoodley on Saturday.

Then a comfortable 3-0 victory against overworked Leeds Medics sealed the deal, settled by Andy Punter, Booth and an own goal.

Steve Ledger’s side have endured a punishing week including two major finals and a top-of-the-table clash, made worthwhile by taking home the Marflitt Trophy.

The final at the weekend saw Ledger’s men push past their reserve team in a pulsating showpiece, ending 5-0 winners.

Leeds Medics Reserves, conquerors of Alwoodley in the quarters, only conceded first in the 44th minute and had two sent off in a highly-charged second half. A Kieran Wardman brace, including one penalty, allied to goals from Tom Smith, Hugh Goodfield and Sverrir Kristinsson saw them take home the trophy.

“It was an emotional final,” said Ledger, whose side won their first 14 league games but failed to sustain a title challenge.

“Both teams were hugely motivated to triumph in this family affair and our reserves didn’t deserve to be on the end of that scoreline.

“It was an extremely close contest and they were the more effective team at half-time.”

Earlier on in the successful finals day at South Leeds Stadium, Garforth Crusaders completed a league and cup double with Hancock Cup glory.

David Coates’ team – already promoted from Division Two – bested Morley Town Reserves 3-1 with goals from Steven Phillips, Jamie Taylor and Tom Helliwell. Early in the week the Hodgson Cup, open to fourth-and-fifth-tier sides, was lifted by Leeds City Old Boys III after their extra-time triumph over league colleagues Middleton Park. Meanwhile, league campaigns continue in earnest with burning issues still to be settled at both ends of most tables.

On Monday night Beeston Juniors suffered a disheartening 3-0 defeat to Grangefield Old Boys but are unlikely to be dragged into the relegation battle.

That fate falls to Morley Town and Stanningley, locked on the same number of points with their meeting next week having the look of a relegation play-off.

Horsforth St Margaret’s Sunday will be going the other way next season, clinching promotion to the top flight by beating Beeston St Anthony’s 4-2.

Just three defeats in 20 games makes them worthy winners and they will be joined by Gildersome Spurs, Aidi McCormack with a clincher against Beeston on Monday night.

Elsewhere, Shire Academics can reflect on a season of drastic improvement capped by a rousing comeback to claim a 3-3 draw against Leeds Independent.

Haunted by relegation last term, they are now comfortably moored in mid-table and their goals came from top scorer Jordan Talbot.

In Division One, Leeds City Old Boys could yet barge into the promotion spots after a pair of vital victories kept them in touch with Idle in second place on the ladder.

They beat Idle 1-0 on Monday night, Connor Jackson netting the winner that extended an outstanding 10-game winning streak.

They are four points away from their rivals with two games in hand having outclassed Dewsbury Rangers 6-0 on Saturday.

Rothwell’s 4-1 loss to Farsley Celtic Reserves ended their slim hopes of a late push, sunk by strikes from Alex Gyte, Jacob Kellet, Brad Sharrock and Danny Kemp.

At the bottom, Alwoodley Reserves failed to capitalise on a chance to inch closer to safety as they were beaten 4-2 by Sky Blue FC.

Garforth Rangers remain likely to prop up the table but second-bottom Dewsbury aren’t out of touch as they trail Leeds Medics III and Alwoodley by a solitary point.

Woodkirk Valley are two points away from joining Garforth Crusaders in the third tier, ensured by braces from Luke Henshaw and James Tessyman in a 5-2 win over Fairbank.

Huddersfield Amateur have suffered relegation from Division Two, joining Farnley Sports whose demise is complete after winning the Marflitt Trophy just a year ago.