PHILIP RHODES reviews the West Riding County Amateur League season

After over 800 matches in all competitions, the 2010-11 West Riding County Amateur League campaign concluded with the same result as last season – Albion Sports being denied the top honour by Bay Athletic.

Huddersfield-based Bay secured the PREMIER DIVISION title for a record-breaking fourth consecutive season, and the fifth time in six years, after losing just once – 3-0 to Campion in early September.

They broke through the 100-goals barrier in the process with 109 in their 30 league games, while Albion also achieved three figures with 101.

Sports, who are hoping their application to join the Northern Counties East League next season will be approved, finished nine points behind the champions but 15 clear of fellow Bradford side Campion in third.

Campion’s final position was also a repeat of last season as they finished strongly with a run of nine victories in a ten-match unbeaten surge.

Steeton, after being promoted from Division One, won 11 of their first 15 games and appeared to be serious contenders for honours before slipping back to finish seventh.

Hunsworth came up alongside Steeton and while an early-season 3-0 win at Wibsey boosted confidence, they faded to end up second bottom as the top-flight proved too much for them.

Tyersal finished as they did last season in mid-table, although they did collect some silverware as Andrew Bailey’s extra-time goal against Ovenden West Riding enabled them to lift the Premier Division Cup for the first time.

Wibsey spent most of the season among the clubs at the lower end of the table and finished just eight points above the bottom two, which saw Tingley Athletic relegated alongside Hunsworth.

At the start of the midweek fixtures in early April, Salts headed DIVISION ONE and looked almost assured of a return to the Premier for the first time since losing their top-flight status in 1997.

But they picked up only six points from their last five games to slip back to fifth, while also being denied a place in the Division One Cup final for twice fielding a player who should have been suspended.

Salts’ misfortune was seized upon by both Littletown, who finished in top spot, and Bay Athletic Reserves, who took the runners-up position and also lifted the divisional cup thanks to a 5-0 success against Overthorpe.

And while Bay Reserves are unable to move up into the Premier Division due to their senior side being there already, Emley can do so after finishing third.

Ventus/Yeadon Celtic finished fourth, the same as last season, while Tyersal Reserves and Eastmoor ended up in the two relegation places.

Lepton Highlanders and Keighley-based Long Lee both did well in their first season in the league, with the Huddersfield side clinching the DIVISION TWO title.

A hectic end-of-season programme saw Lepton play 15 games over a six-week period but they dug deep to finish four points clear of runners-up Storthes Hall Reserves, while Long Lee were seventh after a hesitant start.

Campion Reserves finished third thanks in part to a run of eight successive games during March and April when they prevented the opposition from scoring.

West Horton, who were fourth, were only beaten four times and could easily have finished higher if they had not drawn ten of their 26 games.

Crag Road United had a disappointing season to finish second bottom, just above Tingley Athletic Reserves.

Albion Sports Reserves ran away with DIVISION THREE, winning 14 of their 18 games, and completed the double with a 4-1 win over Lower Hopton in the divisional cup final.

County Amateur League sides were also successful in external cup competitions.

Bay Athletic lifted both the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup, with a 2-1 win over Otley Town, and the Huddersfield FA Cup, when they beat Britannia Sports 3-1. Ovenden West Riding’s 3-2 victory against Reborn United earned them the Halifax FA Cup, while Steeton’s 5-0 win over Cowling sealed the Keighley FA Cup and Hall Green United beat Eastmoor 5-2 after extra-time to lift the Wakefield FA Cup.

A representative side also progressed in the FA Inter-League Cup with a 2-0 preliminary-round win over the Birmingham & District League.