Aire Athletic cash in as sole survivor of icy fixture list (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Aire Athletic cash in as sole survivor of icy fixture list

5:00pm Monday 19th December 2011 in Sun Alliance By Trevor Adams

All but one match was wiped out as heavy overnight frost and ice decimated the Bradford Sunday Alliance League and Bradford & District Cup weekend programme.

Only the Division 3B game between Aire Athletic and Oddfellows Idle survived as referee Alan Green declared the Manor Park pitch in Cottingley safe for play to go ahead.

This decision certainly benefited the hosts as a 5-2 victory enabled Aire to put a six-point cushion between themselves and their second-bottom opponents.

Oddfellows actually took a two-goal lead, despite starting with only ten men, as Athletic missed plenty of chances.

Tom Haynes pulled one back by rounding the goalkeeper to score, after being released by Mark Palfreeman, but Oddfellows were still in front at the interval.

The equaliser came shortly after half-time as Tom Thickett scored with a 20-yard volley after more good work by Palfreeman down the right and from that point on Aire took control.

Haynes added his second goal with a superb 40-yard strike from a difficult angle and Matthew Pedder quickly made it 4-2 from the edge of the box.

Oddfellows were reduced to nine men for the last 15 minutes following an injury and Michael Thickett wrapped up the Aire scoring with a penalty from the last kick of the game.

The whole scheduled programme of Bradford & District Cup ties will now be played, weather permitting, on the third Sunday in January.

Two Division One teams remain in the competition, with second-placed Oakenshaw having the unenviable task of facing reigning league champions West Bowling in a delayed second-round clash.

Oakenshaw have home advantage and so do George Hotel, the other surviving Division One team, but they must face undefeated Premier leaders Buttershaw White Star in a tough quarter-final.

It is worth recapping the state of play in the league as clubs enter the two-week festive break.

Division One leaders Thornton United have a five-point advantage over closest rivals Oakenshaw, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season.

If the first half of the season is any guide, then it will be a four-horse race for the title with Sandy Lane and Peel Park in close pursuit of the current front-runners.

The relegation dog fight is between three teams, with Ventus United and Allerton both on seven points and Manningham at the bottom on six.

Unbeaten Buttershaw Celtic are the runaway Division 1A pacesetters and boast a 15-point lead over a trio of Rangers sharing second place.

Victoria, Wyke and Stocks Lane are the chasing pack, with Bolton Woods Socials also waiting to take advantage of any slips.

Undercliffe are off the pace at the moment but have shown signs of recovery in recent weeks and could still mount a charge in the second half of the season.

Wyke Rangers are the only team from this division left in the Bradford & District Cup but they have to visit renowned cup fighters Bolton Woods of the Premier Division in the new year.

Four clubs are fighting to avoid relegation, with Thornbury Celtic a point adrift of Dog & Gun at the bottom and neither Hockney Unity All Stars nor Woodman Wibsey clear of danger.

There are only two teams currently in contention for the Division 1B title, with Wrose Bull three points ahead of unbeaten Stanningley Albion but having played a game more.

Saltaire Rangers and Ravenscliffe are the two strugglers at the other end of the table.