Cross Hills and Skipton Bulldogs turned on a feast of attacking football in their top of the table clash.

Hills had the better start pushing Dogs back into defence and forcing corner after corner, but they could not get the vital opening goal. Bulldogs got their act together and began to take control of the game, only some excellent saves from the Hills keeper Jason Moore denied them.

Midway through the half Matthew Reeday headed home the opener for the Skipton side. They went hunting for a second but were again denied by the keeper. Cross Hills broke out of defence and looked dangerous but could not get on the score sheet before the break.

They had to re-shuffle their team after half time because of injury and went 2-0 down after McConville scored for Dogs. With a mountain to climb Hills repeatedly pushed forward and eventually the breakthrough came when Andrew Holland latched onto a loose ball to give them hope of salvaging a point. Despite heavy pressure Dogs held out for victory and set up the prospect of a thrilling return match in a couple of weeks.

Oxenhope Recreation travelled to Cononley and found flowing football was out of the question on a very bumpy pitch. They resorted to long high balls and the home side had the better of the opening chances, but could not score.

Gradually Oxenhope began to get into the game and after a period of pressure opened the scoring. Two more goals came before the interval to give Oxenhope a match-winning lead. Cononley fought their way back after the break but they could not penetrate a solid Oxenhope defence, Duncan Tetley even pulled off a fine penalty save to deny the home side. Michael Sharp, Simon Knaggs and Michael Butterfield scored for Oxenhope.

Keighley Lifts started with a strong wind at their backs against Clitheroe United and took advantage to push the visitors back into defence. Despite the pressure they could not score.

In the second half both sides created chances and the fitness of Clitheroe began to tell in the later stages. Their opener was quickly followed by two further goals. Lifts tried to pull the game out of the fire but their only reward was an own goal scored by a Clitheroe defender.

Division One leaders Bronte Wanderers dominated Gargrave with David nelson putting them ahead. Gargrave missed several good chances, including a penalty. Ben Utley scored Bronte's second goal which seemed to take the fight out of Gargrave and they were under constant pressure in the second half. Further goals came from Richard Binns and Jamie Rowell as they stretched their lead at the top to six points.

Skipton Town are Bronte's closest challengers and had to settle for a draw when they visited Cowling.

Town started well but Cowling's defence worked well and only took the lead from the penalty spot, but followed up with a second after a quick break down field. Martin Dalby headed home a perfect corner from Kelly Anderton as Cowling came out strongly in the second half. They should have drawn level but missed a penalty and it began to look as if Town would hold out for victory, but Cowling rescued a point when Kelly Anderton finished off a great move.

Division Two promotion hopefuls Lothersdale Athletic travelled to Barrowford with five players missing from their regular team and struggled in the first half. They could have been four goals down at half time but weathered the storm until the Lancashire club opened the scoring early in the second half.

Dale thought they had equalised from the kick-off by the referee disallowed what looked like a prefect goal. The decision took the wind out of Dale's sails and Barrowford took advantage to add a further three goals and wreck Dale's promotion hopes.