Yorkshire Amateur League: Leaders Medics are in seventh heaven

Steve Ledger’s side are yet to taste defeat in the league this season ahead of their visit to Bradford Academy, while Farsley went out of the West Riding Cup at the weekend.

“It’s a really important game for us,” Ledger said.

“The next couple of weeks are going to be difficult for us with students going away – we’ve got to put four teams out in the next two weeks and that’s going to really stretch us.

“I know Farsley and their management team well and have a lot of respect for them; it’s going to be a proper game of football.”

Beeston have garnered a reputation for being a well-drilled team with plenty of pluck but they were blown away in an exceptional first-half display that saw them 5-1 down.

Despite a revival after half-time that saw Beeston maintain and even increase their workrate, the fact that their goalkeeper Brendan Woods was named their man of the match showed the sort of pressure the Medics players were able to exert.

Niall Robinson hit a hat-trick, Alex Monk scored twice alongside goals from Francisco Matos and John Forrest.

Grangefield broke their duck with a first win of the season, beating a demoralised Trinity 5-1 at Weetwood.

With strides already taken in the Marflitt Trophy and Old Boys Shield, braces from Grant Jackson and Kristian Dacre, alongside a Tom Needham strike, gave Grangefield their first three points. Trinity, whose only goal came through Steven Travers, must be wondering where their next win is coming from after five defeats in succession.

Stanley United continue to be an influential member of the title-chasing pack and they beat Stanningley 2-1 at Hough Top.

Kieran Wright gave them a lead by nodding in Josh Whitley’s cross before Adam Pulford levelled for the hosts with a sublime strike.

With a double substitution introducing some fresh, young legs into the game Stanley begun to stretch their opponents and got the winner from Kane Withington, latching on to a reverse pass from Matty Williamson.

Collingham Juniors were knocked off the summit of the Championship after once again dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Calverley United at Harewood Road.

Calverley led 2-0 at the break thanks to Joel Binns and Neil Cooper, only for goals from Mark Pieri and Steve Rake to force a draw.

Morley Town, meanwhile, haven’t dropped a point all season and made it six from six with a 5-2 defeat of Shire Academics on Glen Road.

Despite the best efforts of Alex Cookson who doubled up for Shire, Ryan Hartley’s brace and goals from Aidan Phillip, Marc Haley and Matthew Agar proved too much for the visitors.

With several members of the club’s cricket team the first ever Yorkshire Premier League champions after winning a final in Abu Dhabi back in the fold, Thornesians beat Alwoodley Reserves 3-1 in Saturday’s encounter.

Adam Naylor, with two, and man of the match Joe Cook helped Thornes knock it out of the park.

Elsewhere on the pitches at Weetwood, Leeds Medics Reserves outplayed Beeston St Anthony’s to beat them 7-2.

Jonny Cattrall swooped for four goals, Fraser Ritchie nabbed two and Sverrir Kristinsson also got on the scoresheet, with Ben McGuigan and Luke Boyes on target in the losing cause.

It was a formative weekend at the bottom of Division One as the loser of this weekend’s game between Grangefield Reserves and Rothwell could be condemned to relegation as early as Christmas.

Third from bottom Garforth Rangers opened up a six-point gap to the bottom two with a 2-1 win against Leeds Medics III at Great North Road, thanks to goals from Phillip Clark and Kean Varley.

The bottom pair both fell to defeat, as Grangefield faded badly in the second half to lose 7-3 to St Bede’s at Canal Road.

It was 2-2 at half-time with Richard Harris getting both for Bede’s before they cut loose in the second half, Nick Scullion with a treble and Brad Holland also netting two.

Grangefield’s goals were from Andy Rothery and Keenan Milner.

Rothwell have conceded 44 goals so far this season, eight of which came in the weekend’s defeat from in-form visitors Leeds Independent.

Gavin Hercules showed his strength with three goals as did Dale Howland, while Jayden Harding and Karl Waring also on target.

The league’s other game saw Horsforth St Margaret bag two early goals and shut up shop to beat Dewsbury Rangers 2-0.

SATURDAY CUPS

WEST YORKSHIRE League leaders Carlton Athletic stormed into the last 16 of the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup with Saturday’s 4-1 success at AFC Illingworth St Mary’s in the third round, writes ELLIOT HORN.

James Kirson bagged a double for Carlton who also saw Lee Brook and Ethan Burke add a goal apiece to book a fourth-round tie at home to Campion on Saturday, January 7.

Campion felled County Amateur League rivals Huddersfield YMCA 5-3. Joshua Ludford, Jordan Missin, Liam Charles, Chris Helliwell and Jordan Hagyard all bagged a goal each for the hosts with strikes from Brighton Mugadza, Luke Peacock and Connor Tuff not enough for YMCA.

Hunslet Club powered through with a 5-0 felling of visiting Field. Hunslet will now visit Boroughbridge who enjoyed a 2-0 success at home to Wyke Wanderers.

Sherburn White Rose also stormed to a 4-0 success at Salem.

County Amateur League side Lower Hopton will await in the next round after they sealed their place in the next round with a 1-0 triumph at home to Yorkshire Amateur League side St Nicholas. Mat Mulvhill bagged the game’s only goal in the first half.

Leeds City Rovers moved through with a 2-1 win a at home to Springhead. A home clash with Ryburn United awaits in the last 16.

Robin Hood Athletic are also through after obliging 3-0 at Shelf United. Athletic will face a home clash with Alwoodley who are the sole Yorkshire Amateur League team remaining after a 4-1 triumph at Howden Clough.

West Yorkshire League side Horbury Town also obliged 5-2 at Hampsthwaite United. Horbury will visit Salts who are one of several County Amateur League sides through.

Headingley, though, bravely exited the competition after a 3-2 loss at home to County Amateur League side Steeton. An Andrew Briggs double and Lee Reilly strike sealed Steeton a last 16 clash at Littletown who edged out visiting Drighlington Juniors 3-2.

A George Porter brace and Kieron Senior strike edged Littletown through against strikes from Shane Sowden and Brett Thompson for the visitors.

Salts went through after a 3-2 verdict at home to Farsley Celtic Juniors. A David Boote double and Tom Hickey strike booked a home clash with Horbury Town in the next round.

Highlights in the County Challenge Trophy included a 6-1 win for Carlton Athletic Reserves to cap a fine weekend for the club at home to Wyke Wanderers Reserves.

Carlton’s Simba Chirowodza and Kabine Dumbuya bagged braces, with Prince Attakorah and Christopher Thornton adding a goal each.

From the Wakefield League, Real Moor enjoyed a 6-1 triumph at Yorkshire Amateur League hosts Garforth Crusaders while Halton Moor obliged 3-2 at Manningham Allstars.

AFC Junction (Normanton) recorded a 3-0 success at Altofts AFC Reserves while FC Prince overcame visiting Silsden Whitestar 3-0.

But Pontefract Sports & Social were ousted 5-3 at Ryburn United Reserves.

From the Harrogate League, Pannal Sports savoured a 6-3 success at Yorkshire Amateur League hosts Farnley Sports Reseves.

Representing the Yorkshire Amateur League in the last 16 include Mount St Mary’s Firsts, who recorded a 2-1 win at home to Palestino First.

Ilkley Town Reserves managed to progress after beating Drighlington Reserves 2-1, despite a thunderous free kick from Danny Lakin.

Wortley are also in the next round after seeing off Horbury Town Reserves 2-1 at home.

Horsforth St Margaret’s Saturday crashed out of the competition, suffering a 4-0 defeat away at Old Centralians Reserves.

Leeds City Old Boys, from their league’s fifth tier, also put up as strong show before losing 2-0 to Baildon Trinity from Division Two of the West Yorkshire League.

Luke Bennett hit the bar for City whose Reuben Young was also denied by a smart save.