HORSFORTH under-12 Stallions have found it heavy going since making the leap from Division D – where they were unbeaten champions – to Division B of the CRAVEN, AIRE & WHARFE LEAGUE.

Just two wins from 12 games saw them languishing second from bottom in the table.

However, the Stallions have hit a purple patch which could now net them a mid-table finish.

A 5-1 win over bottom of the table Nab Wood was followed by a gutsy 1-0 defeat at unbeaten title challengers Bradford United Raptors. The transformation was evident again at fourth-placed Farsley Celtic Colts this weekend.

Farsley had walloped eight past them earlier in the season but the Stallions edged a tight game 1-0 to climb within three points of sixth-placed Salts Tigers, albeit having played more games.

Match-winner for the Stallions was Ben Baker, who stabbed home Tom Howard's well-struck corner at the near post.

But the real secret to the Stallions' upturn in fortunes has been the miserly form of their defensive trio, who have been breached just twice in the last three games. Take a bow Ruairi Daly, Jason Richardson and Ross Jacques.

In Under-12 Division D, Sutton Rascals extended their perfect record to 14 wins with a 12-0 thumping of second-bottom Wilsden B.

Joe Lee and Tom Staley hit hat-tricks for Sutton, with Connor Pennington 2, Jack Burras and Gabriel Eagland also on target.

Embsay are flying at the top of Division C and they extended their lead over Otley Town to nine points with a 5-1 win over Calverley in the division's only game of the weekend.

There were no games played in Division A, where some teams are lagging way behind in matches played, making the destination of the title difficult to predict.

Bingley Juniors and Keighley Shamrocks will all fancy their chances of knocking Baildon off their perch after playing their games in hand.

The only game played in the Under-13 B division saw mid-table rivals Bradford Horton Sports and Skipton Town share the spoils in a 1-1 draw, while Skipton LMS were 3-1 winners at home to Silsden in Division A.

A double-header between Bingley Juniors A and Skipton Town was edged by Skipton, who won 3-0 in one match, with bottom-of-the-table Bingley earning a point from a 2-2 draw in the other.

Division 15 A league leaders Sutton Juniors were 5-2 winners at Calverley , two goals from Ben Clarkson and further strikes from Michael Bailey, Toby Jeffery and Luke Mackleston maintaining their one-point advantage over Keighley Shamrocks Crusaders at the top, who were 5-0 winners over Silsden A.

Other winners in the under-15 age group were Sutton Juniors B, 1-0 winners over Eccleshill United in Division B, while Cononley Juniors beat Salts Pumas 3-2 in the only Under-11 C fixture to be played.

A disappointing performance saw Bradford Warriors under-nines slip to a heavy 9-1 defeat in the HUDDERSFIELD LEAGUE Cup.

Bingley dominated the game and, although Warriors scored a consolation through Donrique Davis, the game was already lost.

Bradford Warriors under-sevens played their first game in eight weeks and they did not disappoint on their return. Their fluid passing and movement led to a hatful of chances against Norristhorpe.

Man of the match Alfie Gibson scored a hat-trick in a 10-2 win and there were further goals from Cale Gomersall 2, Declan Puddicombe 2, Jason Duffy, Harry Coup and Luke Bateman.

Warriors under-12s made light work of third-placed Hepworth United B. They dominated the game from start to finish, with man of the match Roberto McFarlane scoring a hat-trick, Alex Taylor-McKeown grabbing two and Brandon McDonagh and Jordan Styslo also on target in a fantastic team performance that puts them one step closer to winning the league title.