Yorkshire Amateur: High-flying Stanley survive scare by struggling Stanningley
Stanningley, third from bottom in the top flight, suffered from several no-shows on the day but managed to frustrate second-placed Stanley for long spells.
Their keeper, Jamie Bull was in top form and made a number of sublime saves, but Josh Whiteley finally broke through with a second-half clincher.
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Hide Ad“We started the game with nine and another player arrived late to make it ten,” said Stanningley’s Dan Holmes. “We were let down on the day by a couple of lads.
“All the players put in 100 per cent effort and commitment and we couldn’t have asked any more. We defended well, kept our shape and created a couple of great chances.”
The win was Stanley’s fourth on the trot, leaving them three points off league leaders Leeds Medics with a game in hand.
“We found it really hard to break them down,” said Stanley’s Daz Riding. “We were clueless in the first half as they defended with a team that felt like 12.”
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Hide AdMedics have stuttered of late, struggling with availability over the Easter break, managing to claim one win and a defeat from their double header with Grangefield Old Boys.
Steve Ledger’s side were out-battled by Grangefield on Saturday in a 2-0 loss, with goals from Rhys O’Hare and Tom Micklethwaite taking them up to eighth.
But with the muddy kit barely dry, the table-toppers had the chance to exact revenge on Monday night and they duly did, sealing a 2-1 triumph.
Drighlington are the other side with plenty to offer at the top of the table, a 4-3 win over Athletico underlining their status as potential champions. Harvey Booth and Shane Sowden struck to earn Steve Phillips’ men a 2-1 half-time advantage, soon eliminated by the prolific Mohammed Qasim and Saad Abbas.
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Hide AdFurther strikes from Sowden and Booth in the 70th and 80th minutes put Drig back in front, continuing an excellent run of just one defeat in 12 league outings.
A title challenge may be well out of reach for Farsley Celtic Juniors but the holders have hit a purple patch and dismantled Beeston Juniors 7-2 at the weekend.
Ben Wilson helped himself to four goals, with a brace from regular marksman Louis Surtees combined with a further Joe Firth effort.
Beeston battled back after the interval and proved their worth on Monday evening, claiming a 2-2 draw from their rearranged fixture with Alwoodley.
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Hide AdMorley Town have slipped down the standings in recent weeks and were beaten soundly by Alwoodley in their weekend fixture, a 7-2 reverse at Batley Sports Centre.
Spare a thought, though, for St Nicholas who haven’t earned a point in the league since December and were unlucky to be beaten 3-2 by Ealandians on a sodden surface. The lead changed hands at the top of the Championship, Gildersome Spurs taking advantage of a slip-up to climb to the second tier’s summit.
A Ben Keedy hat-trick, added to Johnny Hunt’s double, helped them pull of a convincing 7-2 victory over Thornesians.
This success was enough for them to go top on goal difference after Calverley United were beaten narrowly, 1-0, by Horsforth St Margaret’s.
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Hide AdGreg Rowell’s free-kick decided the outcome for Horsforth St Margaret’s.
At the bottom, Wortley are staging a remarkable escape act, three successive victories taking them to within two points of safety the latest a 3-1 win over Leeds Medics Reserves.
Jordan Hey, Ashley Williams and Joe Hudson got on the scoresheet for the bottom side.
Elsewhere, St Bede’s beat Collingham Juniors 4-3 late on despite an Ian Horrocks brace, Nathan Hurtault’s late strike sealing them the spoils.