BAY ATHLETIC boosted their hopes of winning a third successive West Riding County Amateur League title with a 2-0 home win over Brighouse Town.

And in a double tonic for the Huddersfield club, the reserves won 4-1 at Campion to go three points clear at the top of Division II with a game in hand.

That was thanks to Golcar United’s second string, who held second-placed Westbrook YMCA 2-2 with a double by Darren Blower.

Courtney Allette grabbed a hat trick for Bay, with Daniel Facey their other scorer, but they will be wary of AFC Emley’s threat to their chances of retaining the Division II crown.

The Welfare Ground reserve side are five points behind after a 5-2 home win over Morley Town sealed by Rob Day’s four-goal haul. Gareth Garside got the other.

Back in the top flight, Bay’s first team are in fourth, trailing leaders Wibsey by three points, but have two games in hand.

While Lincoln Adams and Brighton Mugadza were bagging the goals to see off Brighouse, second-placed Albion Sports were beating Golcar United 5-1.

Marsden are third, two points above Bay but having played three more, after a 3-3 stalemate at Tyersal.

John Conheeney, Andrew Allison and Mathew Butters netted for the Colne Valley side, whose reserves were 5-1 winners over Wakefield City in Division III.

At the other end of the top flight, Storthes Hall picked up another point in their bid for survival from a goalless draw with Ovenden WR at Woodfield Park.

The Hall, who have never been relegated, extended their unbeaten league run to four games with this hard-earned point.

Ovenden dominated the opening stages, although Steve Senior’s seventh-minute shot clipped the outside of a post.

The home side suffered a double blow after 20 minutes, losing both Michael Tunnacliffe and Richard Lally to knee injuries.

But they came close to a breakthrough after 26 minutes, when Ovenden keeper Chris Moroney did well to tip over Luke Webb’s acrobaticoverhead kick.

Rob Morris was outstanding at the back for Storthes Hall, who could have clinched it through Dion Smith, only for Moroney to block in a one-on-one.

At the other end, Hall keeper John Sykes made a fine save to block Senior’s angled shot in the 70th minute.

Nine minutes later, he got down low to hold a drive by substitute Rob Gerrard which looked destined for the bottom corner.

While Storthes Hall try to climb away from the danger zone, Kirkburton are getting sucked into it.

Goals by Jordan Tindle and Robert Barnes couldn’t stave off a 4-2 home defeat by Lower Hopton which leaves them third-bottom, just a point above Storthes Hall having played two more.