ON the final Saturday before Christmas, the weather relented to allow the fullest football programme for many weeks with only a small number of games postponed.

There were two cup matches as well as Grassington made it into the semi-finals of the Slater Marchant Craven Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win over Kelbrook.

Another exciting game took place at Waddington in the Skipton Building Society Morrison Cup when the home side were beaten 3-2 by Barnoldswick United.

With the tight Christmas deadlines details are sparse but Cross Hills remain at the top of the Premier Division, with Clitheroe in second place, both having played their fixture due at the weekend earlier in the season.

Colne Cricket Club missed the chance to close the gap when they were beaten 7-3 at Embsay while Skipton Bulldogs, playing their first league match since September, sent Cononley Sports to the bottom of the division with a 5-1 win.

Division One leaders Bronte Wanderers maintained their two point lead with a 5-3 win at Hellifield Sports.

Skipton Town came from behind to beat Intake 3-1 and stay in second spot while Embsay Reserves move into third place with a 7-2 win over bottom club Sutton.

Ilkley Youth are the new leaders in Division Two following their 8-1 victory at Silsden Athletic. Highest scorers of the day were Lothersdale Athletic, who put 11 past Barrowford United while conceding three. Earby have opened up a four point lead in Division Four after a 2-2 draw with third placed Addingham Reserves.

Results

Premier Division: Cononley 1 Skipton Bulldogs 5; Embsay 7 Colne CC 3; Keighley Lifts 2 Addingham 5; Skipton LMS 1 Grindleton 2.

Division One: Barnoldswick United 1 Keighley Lifts 1; Carleton 4 Bradley 2; Cowling 2 Gargrave 4; Hellifield 3 Bronte Wanderers 5; Skipton Town 3 Intake 1; Sutton 2 Embsay Res 7.

Division Two: Bradley Res 4 Oxenhope Res 4; Grindleton Res 1 Skipton LMS Res 3; Lothersdale 11 Barrowford Utd 3; Silsden Athletic 1 Ilkley Youth 8.

Division Three: Addingham Res 2 Earby 2; Colne CC Res 1 McBrides 8; Grassington Utd 2 Carleton 3; Ingleton 3 Hellifield Sports 2;