West Yorkshire League - Ilkley edge Horbury to stay top of the tree at Christmas

Ten-man Town put up a robust riposte to the high fliers and were rewarded with a couple of goals, scored by Robert Evans, but it wasn’t quite enough. Richard Bull and Tom Smith (2) scored for the hosts.

Mike Hill scored the decisive goal to separate fourth-placed hosts Carlton Athletic and Beeston St Anthony. The visitors are third in the festive table.

Super sub’ Eoin Schofield came off the bench to score what proved to be second-placed Field’s winner at mid-table Robin Hood Athletic.

Lee Bennett was on target for Robin Hood while Michael O’Brien opened Field’s account.

Resurgent Huddersfield Amateur continued their climb up the league ladder with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over third-bottom visitors Whitkirk Wanderers.

Jordan Byrnes and Sam Halstead each bagged a brace of goals for the hosts with second-half substitute Shau Malloy netting for Whitkirk.

The Premier division is scheduled to resume on January 2 with Carlton Athletic entertaining Headingley AFC and Horbury Town with another stern test at home to title-chasing Field. Hall Green United return to the fray with a trip to Ilkley Town, Robin Hood Athletic entertain Huddersfield Amateur and Whitkirk Wanderers at home to Beeston St Anthony.

It’s still a case of as you were in Division 1 with the top two - separated by a point - each notching 1-0 victories last weekend.

Leaders Rawdon Old Boys conjured their three league points at Otley Town after being reduced to 10 men following a red card to sub’ Thomas Boldy. Harry Cullingford’s second-half strike settled the matter after a goalless first half.

Lower down the ladder, Featherstone Colliery hit visiting Glasshoughton Rock for six after Reece Sheldon saw red for the visitors on the back of two yellow-card offences.

Jordan Finch and Leon Leake hit hat-tricks for Colliery with Jack Nodder and Josh Prudhoe on target for Rock.

Top-three-chasing G&C Hartshead closed in on third-placed visitors Aberford Albion with Saturday’s 4-1 home win.

Joel Farrar struck twice for Hartshead with Jack Rogerson and Benjamin Smith also netting while Craig Heard put away Albion’s consolation goal.

Ten-man Pool gave second-placed Salts a good run for their money before being edged out 1-0 by the home side thanks to a Harry Warren strike.

On the scheduled return on Sunday week the festive spice will still be very much in evidence when G&C Hartshead entertain Salts, who have an 11-point lead on their soon-to-be hosts. That said, G&C have three games in hand so the ball is very much in their court.

Elsewhere, Featherstone Colliery entertain Wyke Wanderers, Glasshoughton Rock are at home to Kirk Deighton Rangers, East End Park travel to Pool, Shelley tackle Oxenhope Rec, and Rawdon host Aberford.

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