Yorkshire Amateur League: Rhodes drives Drig' to tenth win on spin

Last season’s Championship winners continue to impress at the top table, winning eight of their nine league games after a summer shake-up that saw Steve Phillips take the helm.

Bearing the hallmark of a title contender, they rode out Farsley pressure in the first half to take the lead through one of Harvey Booth’s special long-rangers in the 20th minute.

The visitors popped up with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, Danny Lyons stabbing home a Louis Surtees cross.

Drig’s winner arrived on 63 minutes, Rhodes latching on to Shane Sowden’s superb through-ball and finishing a well-worked move.

Barry Thirsk’s side struggled after going 2-1 down, their woodwork struck on three occasions in one move, but Sam Thorpe had a fine chance to nick a point when one-on-one.

In another top-of-the-table clash, Leeds Medics claimed an 11th straight triumph with a 1-0 win over Ealandians in a competitive game at Weetwood.

The two sides went toe to toe early on as Jon Makela’s header deflected onto the bar and Ealandians star man Colin Schofield was twice foiled after stealing in.

Saves from Tim Griffiths ensured parity, before Dave Ashmore stooped to head home Hugh Goodchild’s cross with five minutes to play.

There was no disgrace in the visitors’ defeat and despite losing each of their last three games, have come up against top sides in Medics, Stanley and Farsley.

Second-bottom Stanningley Old Boys upset the odds with a 3-1 win over top-flight entertainers Athletico in another thriller at Bradford University Sports Park.

Stanningley soared into an early, two-goal lead through John Darke’s headed effort and a Tom Stewart strike.

Athletico continued to press but the visitors’ specialist keeper, Jamie Bull, helped ward off attacks, ever-reliable penalty taker Jimmy Halliday producing to extend the lead.

Top scorer Mohammed Qasim got one back but the Bradford side have now lost their last three games.

Elsewhere, Tom Micklethwaite-Charles’ treble handed Grangefield a memorable start at their temporary home in Bramley Park in the shape of a 5-1 win over Morley Town.

Ryan Hartley put Town in front but it was one-way traffic from there, the striker notching once before the interval and twice after alongside goals from Shane Gaunt and Dean Bell.

With 16-year-old winger Chris Barr also shining, a second successive win saw Grangefield climb above their opponents into eighth. The Premier Division’s other game saw a relegation scrap produce a classic, Beeston Juniors bettering bottom side St Nicholas 4-3 on the Middleton 3G.

Beeston striker Andy Staten had an eventful outing, bagging a brace before being red-carded, with Ryan Dawson and Carlton Binks also on the scoresheet.

Nick’s have two points from 12 outings and need a miracle to survive, despite taking the lead through Karl Jeffrey who would score as part of a second-half double salvo giving them hope. Likewise, there was entertainment value in the Championship headlined by table-toppers Gildersome Spurs coming back from four down to draw 4-4 with Shire Academics.

A brace from Mark Freeman and strikes from John Gaskin and Jordan Talbot put Shire 4-0 up at the break, only for Conor Firth to hit two and create two in the second half to force the draw.

Doubles from James Wootton and Joe Cook powered Thornesians to a 6-5 defeat of Collingham Juniors.

Cameron Vine and Andy Waterson got their other goals, with Richard Metcalfe twice on target for Collingham in a losing cause alongside Mark Pieri, Jordan Riley and Steve Trueman.

Meanwhile, Mount St Mary’s warded off a late surge to beat Leeds Medics Reserves 3-2.

Two from Pat Gibbons and a Tom Hammill goal handed St Mary’s a commanding lead that was dramatically shaved late on by Jason Nealy and Jack Helliwell but they held on.

James Gilmartin and Gary Sutherland handed a weakened St Bede’s victory over Leeds Independent on a heavy pitch.

Division One leaders Rothwell maintained their seven-point lead at the top over 6-1-winner Ealandians with a 5-1 win at mid-table Dewsbury Rangers.