IN WHAT was a return to league football for the majority of clubs after district cup action, Station Hotel are in a familiar position in the Bradford Sunday Alliance League – leading the table.

However, the newly-promoted team are only at the top of the Premier Division because of beating West Bowling in a five-goal thriller at Emsley’s Recreation Ground.

Paul Harrison grabbed a brace for the leaders and Carl Trennery was also on the scoresheet for the winners.

Crossflatts Village, another promoted club, also beat a long-standing top-flight club, former league champions Thornton United, who were hit for six without reply.

Sam Waterhouse hit a hat-trick, while Ollie Metcalf bagged a brace and Ben Marczynski a single for Village.

Meanwhile, defending champions Olympic hit four without reply against Wyke Rangers, while Oakenshaw won by the odd goal in nine against Bolton Woods.

Christopher Cookson, Andrew McHugh, Scott Mortimore and substitute Liam Walton had given Woods a 4-1 half-time lead but Oakey hit back with four second-half goals.

Only four points separate the top five, with Station leading the way on 13 points, Crossflatts and Olympic in second on 10, and Westwood Park and Oakenshaw on nine.

Keighley Town top the Championship Division, although they did not play at the weekend.

Tyersal, who are up to fourth, are the only other unbeaten team in the division, putting nine past hosts Bradford Celtic, with Krishan Patel and Jeremiah Witter both bagging hat- tricks.

Daniel O’Donnell hit a brace for Northern as they beat Heaton Athletic 5-0 after a goalless first half, while Wrose Bull put 10 past AFC Titans, with Declan Dunne hitting four and Andy Howland three.

Darren Fothergill and Aaron Williams gave Peacock Bar a two-goal interval lead against Dog & Gun and the same two players completed braces in the second half for the Division One leaders.

Park Pub are second after beating Beldon Oddies 8-0, with Joseph Allan and super sub George Leith bagging doubles for the Arkwright Street club.

Mill Lane top Division Two after a 7-0 victory at Low Moor, with Mark Consterdine hitting four.

Prince of Orange went behind to Malt Kiln inside five minutes but won 8-1, courtesy of Daniel Pattison (3), Damien Doyle (2), Adam Ferry, Jordan Mortimer and a thunderbolt of a 25-yard volley by Steve Stansfield.

In Division Three, Black Swan gained their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Royal Clayton.

Kyle Smith scored for Swan, whose keeper Nathan Smith saved a spot-kick after 28 minutes. Joseph Wilson equalised for Clayton in the 75th minute.