ON A weekend when a lot of the lower division matches were called off due to unfit pitches, West Bowling suffered their first defeat of the season in the GOALS Soccer Bradford Sunday Alliance League.

The Premier Division leaders lost 3-2 to second-placed Oakenshaw, who deserved their victory at Emsley's Recreation Ground.

In terrible conditions, with heavy rain and a gale-force wind blowing from goal to goal, Oakenshaw won the toss and played with the wind in the first half.

The visitors soon got into their stride and took the lead after 11 minutes, Josh Ludford's shot from outside the box going just inside a post.

Bowling's keeper Ashley Onitiri made some excellent saves to keep the leaders in the match but Oakenshaw struck again after 26 minutes, with Josh Hans taking advantage of some hesitancy in the home defence.

Bowling made some inroads into the away defence but the visitors struck again on the stroke of half-time, a poor back pass being intercepted by Hans, who slotted the ball home.

In the second half, with the wind in their favour, Bowling started to lay siege to the away goal, but it took them until the 67th minute before they opened their scoring, with Glyn Hirst rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home.

Bowling could not convert another chance until the 84th minute when, after good work from Andrew Kenyon and Hirst, they created an opening for Chris Wood to score.

Although Bowling pressurised in the latter stages, they were not able to break down the away defence again.

The return fixture is at Harold Park next month, and if both teams continue to win their matches, the championship could be decided on that date because Oakenshaw and Bowling will be only three points apart.

Allerton were soon in front against Sandy Lane through a Lincoln Donaldson goal in another match that was played in terrible conditions.

That was the only score of the fierst half but Allerton continued to dominate in the second half, adding goals via Jamie Bairstow and Brendan Maltby.

Visitors Sandy Lane put the home defence under pressure in the second half but the seasoned pairing of Paddy Dunne and Jodi Crompton kept them from scoring.

In Division One, Lyceum remain in pole position after an 8-0 victory over bottom club Aire Athletic, with Arron Heywood hitting four and Karl Trennery three.

Second-placed Olympic beat fourth-placed Prospect 6-2 but third-placed Swaine Green could only draw 4-4 at Bolton Woods Socials.

Grass Greener United, who are fifth, had a 6-1 victory over Beldon Oddies, with substitute Zac Cronshaw coming on after 15 minutes to replace Craig Wiseman, who had opened the scoring in the fifth minute, and getting a 35-minute hat-trick with goals in the 50th, 70th and 85th minutes.

Thornton United Reserves continued their recent good form when they beat George Hotel 5-3, with a brace from Gavin Meakin and one each from Liam Charles, Luke Hepton and Eli Petschak.

In Division 2A, the clash between Eccleshill Punjab, who last week reached their first cup final, and cup semi-finalists Turf was a thriller.

Punjab went 2-0 in front but a minute later a cross-cum-shot from Chris Godfrey on the right wing hit the far post and finished in the net, and Godfrey was involved with the equaliser when his last-gasp corner kick was headed into the net by Cory Whelan.

In the Bradford & District FA Sunday Cup, Station Athletic booked their semi-final place with a 6-2 victory over Scholemoor Athletic, with Sam Morton and Chris Bentley both bagging braces to add to goals from Mark Wilcock and a first for skipper Ryan Basi.