WHILE the Craven soccer focus last weekend was on the Slater Marchant Challenge Cup, arguably the most crucial Devonshire Carpets Premier Division result of the season to date was unfolding at Grindleton.

They were entertaining league leaders Oxenhope in a battle of two unbeaten sides, the Worth Valley team surrendering an unbeaten record this season and suffering only their second defeat since the start of last season.

Considering that Grindleton opened last season with a run of four successive defeats, they have sharpened up their act dramatically, an opening day draw with Skipton LMS being their only flaw to date.

A goal by Steven Pinder in the first couple of minutes gave Grindleton the opening they needed and while Oxenhope started to play some good football, with youngsters Nivard Trowers and Joel Gallagher to the fore, the home side were still 1-0 ahead at the interval.

Scott Fielding has been in fine form for Grindleton since moving to the front of the operation and he produced another piece of quality finishing to extend the home side's lead with his 13th goal in five outings, although a Steve Potts goal for Oxenhope soon afterwards restored the fine balance of the contest.

Martin Cowey settled the game for Grindleton with their third, the afternoon turning sour for the defending champions when they finished with nine men after having two sent off.

Better news for the Worth Valley men came from the performance of their second team, who ended Skipton Town's unbeaten run in emphatic style, winning 5-2 in their Division One encounter.

The home side took full advantage of the slope in the first-half to build a 4-0 lead with goals from Duncan Tetley, Sebastian Nevison (2) and Michael Clarkson in a continuous onslaught.

The visitors pulled a goal back in the first minute of the second-half through Carl Richardson to lift their hopes and they improved as the game unfolded, but Oxenhope continued to hold the whip hand and added a fifth from Christopher Cookson before Ben Clough claimed a late consolation score for the visitors.

The only goal of the game settled a scrappy affair when Skipton Bulldogs entertained Carleton.

With former Bulldogs striking partners Jimmy McConville and Ian Bernard in opposing camps, it was Carleton's Bernard who claimed the honours in a 1-0 win, although 'Sam' Norcliffe in goal for the Dogs and newcomer James Preston between the sticks for the winners also attracted generous praise.

Unbeaten Division Two sides Cross Hills Reserves and Hellifield Sports both maintained that status, although the latter leaked a point for the first time with a 3-3 home draw against Keighley Lifts Reserves.

Last-minute changes and playing into a stiff wind obviously took a toll of the home side, who slipped into a 3-0 interval deficit as Tony Cooper and James Robinson (2) found the target.

The second-half, however, brought a major shift in the balance of power as Hellifield went onto the attack and eventually squared the game with goals from Steven Proctor, Kris Attewell and Chris Lord.

But for the outstanding work of Rifaqat Kapadi in the Lifts goal, Hellifield would certainly have rescued a full three points.

Cross Hills Reserves, in contrast., were marching on to their sixth successive win when they beat visiting McBrides 4-3. McBrides opened the scoring against the run of play through Scott Wheldon, but the home side hit back to lead 2-1 at half-time through Ian Jolly and Ben Dewhirst.

McBrides levelled again through Joseph Birney after a goalmouth scramble and replied again through Damian Haslam after Kevin Nicholls had nudged Hills ahead again.

The crucial goal came with the last kick of the match when Martin Coleman spotted McBrides goalkeeper Thomas Fallows off his line and produced a perfectly judge lob from 30 yards to claim the winner.

In Division Three, Rolls-Royce were likened to the Italian national side as they beat Cowling Reserves 7-0 - rock solid at the back and real flair in the attacking third. No mention of spitting and shirt pulling obviously!

Sean Smith claimed a hat trick, while Chris Buchanan, a wizard on the wing, Carl Ashton, Scott Walling and James Duxbury were also on the scoresheet.

Oakworth are another unbeaten side and they lost their 100 per cent record when they were held to a 2-2 draw by visitors Skipton Bulldogs.

In what appears to be an era of enlightenment so far as the referees are concerned, Bulldogs report that the delayed referee was definitely worth waiting for.

The Dogs held a 2-0 lead at one stage thanks to goals from George Baylis and Andrew Stead, but Oakworth rescued a point and their record with goals from Ross Wiseman and Thomas Woodward.

Intake claimed a 3-1 win at Ingleton.