Albion Sports were looking to go back above neighbours Brighouse Town and into fourth place in the Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division last night but slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Athersley Recreation – who were promoted alongside them last term.

Albion boss Kulwinder Sandhu said: “The first half was close but the second was 80-20 possession in our favour. It was a game we should have won but we got hit by a sucker punch when they scored in the 89th minute.”

In contrast Liversedge were humbled 8-2 at Staveley MW.

The home side took an early lead through Michael Trench but Sedge’s Matty Thompson levelled a minute later.

Staveley’s Reece Littlejohn added a double before the break and Ryan Damms made it 4-1 just five minutes into the second half. Sam Talbot pegged one back for the visitors but Staveley hit four in the last half-hour.

Damms claimed his second before substitute John Vernon added another. Littlejohn completed his hat-trick and Vernon wrapped up the scoring.

Sedge spokesman John Hewitt said: “Poor defending gifted them four or five of the goals. It was a very bad performance on a very cold night.”