THE close contest between the top five in Division Two has increased to the top six.

But the side to join them, Heyside, will have to hope the other five drop points for them to have any hopes of promotion.

The other five had mixed fortunes last week as those involved in League matches dropped points while the other two had Cup successes. Š

Leaders Royal Dolphins travelled to Westend and very early in the game they were 2-0 down. Frank Odion scored from close range and then Gary Meade scored with a shot that hit the underside of the bar.

With the elements in their favour in the second period, the Dolphins drew level with goals from John McAlliskey and Wayne Shooter.

The others in League action both lost. Fourth-placed Cumberworth went down 3-2 at Skelmanthorpe while fifth-placed Meltham lost 2-1 at Scissett.

These resultsŠ were good news for both Scholes and Kirkheaton, especially as their own performances were worthy of note.

Scholes faced Diggle in the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup and won 4-3. As in all other games, the wind played a vital part and as it blew down the slope at Scholes, playing up the slope was a mammoth task.

Scholes won the toss and opted to play up the slope first. Good football was at a premium and chances were few and far between, but Scholes man of the match Josh Brook gave Scholes the lead from close range.

Diggle pressed forward and scored twice to give them a 2-1 half-time lead. Early in the second half, it was Diggle’s turn to score playing up the hill to extend their lead to 3-1.

Within 10 minutes it was 3-3. Youngster Lewis Sykes scored the first and stalwart Stuart Waterhouse the equaliser. Scholes then squandered several chances to win the tie but the misses didn’t prove costly as Richard Wheeler kept calm to chip the ball over the Diggle keeper for a 4-3 win over their First Division rivals.

Two Works League clubs, Coach & Horses and Aimbry, now stand between Scholes and the semi-finals.

The other Second Division side to taste cup success were Kirkheaton Rovers, who beat County Am opposition in the form of YMCA.

In another game spoiled by the conditions, Kirkheaton took the lead in the first half with a goal into the top corner from Seb O’Connor.

Despite most of the possession in the first period Kirkheaton couldn’t add to that goal but, in the second half, YMCA were unable to take advantage of the elements and rarely threatened the Kirkheaton goal.

This win puts the Rovers into the last eight of the West Riding Trophy and they have been drawn away to Thornes of Wakefield.

Another District League team to beat County Am opponents were Shepley, who beat Kirkburton in the Sheffield Challenge Cup.

It’s not surprising to have expected this to be a competitive local derby and so it proved. Shepley took the lead after just five minutes when good work in midfield between Lyam Gill and Danny Ingram led to a through ball for Sam Haigh, who turned his marker and fired past the Burton keeper.

Kirkburton almost levelled when Brendan Aspinall hit a fantastic drive from distance, but Shepley keeper Tom Pinder managed to get his fingertips to the ball to stop a certain goal.

The bulk of the game was played in midfield with very few chances at either end until the 88th minute, when a Josh Williams’s cross-cum-shot found its way into the back of the Shepley net.

Extra time now looked certain for the 100-plus crowd but some neat interplay between Matt Thorp and Haigh led to Ingram supplying the cross for Gary Bradley to slot home. This win has earned Shepley a place in the semi-finals.

Holme Valley Academicals have not had many successes in recent seasons but last week, their Reserves brought some cheer to the club.

They met KKS Sun Inn Reserves in the Gee Cup. Their opponents were not only the Cup holders but beat the Accies 7-1 in the first match of the season.

They are third bottom of the Reserve Division Three with just wins, so confidence cannot have been very high going into the game.

The Accies were without normal midfielder Neil Haigh and he was replaced by Phil Lewis who partnered Chris Gilleard – this change meant the age of the midfield duo was reduced from 98 to 89.

The Accies almost took the lead after 15 minutes when Dave Smith beat the offside trap, but his shot hit the crossbar.

The lead came when Gilleard fed Johnny Lendon who scored from a narrow angle. Two quick goals midway into the second half gave KKS a 2-1 lead but it was soon 2-2 with a goal from Gary Flynn.

The wind then helped the Accies to a 3-2 lead when a corner from Smith went directly into the net. A better goal following a flowing move clinched the tie when Richard Hirst slid the ball home.