Despite the rain some matches in the League managed to go ahead, although conditions in many places were fairly rough, but the games got played and that is a bonus in this traumatic winter.

In the Silentnight Premier Division, Oxenhope were looking to close the gap on leaders Skipton LMS who were involved in a cup match, when they visited bottom of the table Cross Hills.

Bad conditions underfoot did not stop this match turning out to be a cracker, both teams playing excellent football. Cross Hills had the edge in the opening stages but Oxenhope weathered the storm with some good defensive work and began to take the match to Crosshills and it was no surprise when Simon Knaggs scored the opener for Oxenhope.

Hills quickly hit back through a good move which saw Adam Whiteoak finishing off well, to leave it 1-1 at the break.

Cross Hills started the second half like the first with an attacking spell which brought them a second goal, scored through Robert Wilkinson, but a further goal was not coming and again Oxenhope got back into the match and Shaun Bonner was on the spot to equalise.

Both sides were looking for maximum points and chances were created at both ends before a good substitution saw the Oxenhope sub with fresh legs, Mark Carr, score what proved to be the winner, keeping Oxenhope well in the title race and Cross Hills near the bottom. John Harrison was outstanding in defence for Cross Hills.

Keighley Lifts were looking to maintain their climb up the table when they visited Carleton and duly did that with a well worked 2-1 victory.

Carleton were in command in the opening stages, their physical approach knocking the Lifts passing game out of its stride. As the pitch got heavier Lifts superior fitness began to tell and they create many chances.

Early in the second half they were awarded a penalty and Steven Duffy made no mistake from the spot. This spurred Carleton on and only the brilliance of Jason Moore in the Lift's goal denied them a score.

However the equaliser finally came when a quick free kick caught the Lifts defence asleep and the scores were tied. An inspired substitution late in the match saw Gerry Griffin spark a revival and Lifts got back on top and with his usual calmness Steven Cook got his obligatory goal to win the match.

Bronte Wanderers were looking for three points when they entertained Grindleton. The first 20 minutes were uneventful, neither side looking dangerous and it began to look as though defences would win the day until a spectacular shot from outside the penalty area from Nigel Smith opened the scoring in Bronte's favour.

They held onto this lead until into the second half when Grindleton equalised and then upset the applecart by taking the lead. Bronte had to step up a gear but some desperate defending denied them an equaliser until Stuart Nicholson was on hand to slip the ball home to make it 2-2.

The points looked destined to be shared until a brilliant piece of individual skill saw Rye Bailey take the ball from the halfway line, run the Grindleton defence ragged and finished with a great goal for three very welcome points.

Division Two leaders Oxenhope Recreation Reserve had Sutton as visitors and knew they would have to be on top form to take anything from the match. The pitch did not help but both sides tried hard to master the conditions, chances were few with defences being well on top.

Oxenhope began to get a grip on the game and after a spell of enterprising football scored the opener through Lee Rhodes. They took this lead into the half time break. Sutton laid siege to the home goal after the interval and Oxenhope's defence had to work overtime to keep them out but this they did, restricting Sutton to long range shots and despite some near misses Oxenhope held on to all three points and possibly a step nearer the title.

Silsden Athletic were at home against Skipton LMS Res who proved the fitter and faster side. LMS mastered the muddy conditions much better and by half-time were 3-0 up. Silsden rallied a little in the second half but failed to make anything out of the chances created and the points were determined when LMS scored a fourth goal.

Cowling visited high flying Skipton LMS in the quarter final of The Northern Plant Hire Challenge Trophy and though the final score was 8-0 against Cowling the game was much closer than that.

The only difference being that every chance LMS created they put away with clinical finishing. Cowling created plenty and at times matched LMS for quality football but just could not finish despite having an equal share of the play.