Yet again the weather had the last word in the Craven Football League programme with only seven matches surviving the rain, bringing the total of matches lost to the weather this season to 103.

Indeed in the 20th week of the season there have only been two Saturdays when the full programme of 25 matches has been played.

With more wet weather to come the position is becoming serious as there are still some 500 matches left to play and only 12 more Saturdays until cricket starts and 14 until the end of April.

With many clubs in each division having not yet completed half their league programme night matches are going to be at a premium with the clubs farthest behind possibly playing two or three times a week.

And before anyone says that the size of the league should be cut down this was done at the start of this season. No-one can remember a wetter autumn or winter to contend with.

Of the matches played Oxenhope moved into second place in the Skipton Building Society Premier Division after defeating Rimington 5-1 at home. They are now two points behind Embsay on the same number of matches.

Cross Hills took over third spot with a 5-0 defeat of bottom club Cowling who looked destined for Division One next season and Keighley returned to winning form with a 3-2 victory over Haworth who are also deep in relegation trouble.

There were no matches in Division One but in Division Two Barrowford closed the gap on the leaders with a 5-3 victory over Skipton Bulldogs, while Barnoldswick United shared four goals and the points with Addingham in a 2-2 result.

Skipton Town continued their climb away from the bottom with a 2-1 away victory at Colne Cricket Club, while Ilkley Juniors Youth lost at home 2-0 to Intake but earned the plaudits of the Intake team and the referee for their sporting attitude and skilful play in difficult conditions.

Premier Division

Oxenhope 5 Rimington 1

The scoresheet remained blank until almost the break. Then the home side took the lead through Patrick Higgins only for Rimington to level when Paul Marsden robbed the keeper and slotted home from a difficult angle. Oxenhope say that in the second half they played some breathtaking football and they went on to hit four more goals in a purple patch of about 20 minutes, Steven Murray getting a hat trick and Chris Ellis also netting.

Cross Hills 5 Cowling 0

Cowling comment that they started well but could not turn chances into goals. Cross Hills say they played some superb passing football and Nick Shaw scored their first with a header from a corner. Then Adam Whiteoak latched on to a Harry Peacock cross-shot to get the second. After the break Peacock netted the third from a corner, Steve Barraclough, who was in dazzling form, crossed for super sub Ian Craven to slot the fourth and Barraclough crossed for Adam Reed to finish coolly. The winners' man of the match was Damien Whiteoak.

Keighley 3 Haworth 2

This was a typical local derby with Keighley in the end just edging Haworth out. Chances were squandered at both ends before for Haworth Michael Thompson's blocked shot rebounded to Matt Gilmartin who hammered it home. Just after the break Keighley levelled when Mohamed Sulleman finished from a tight angle. Haworth then went ahead again through Gilmartin with a perfect lob only for Keighley to take victory with two goals by Joynal Ali, the first a penalty.

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