Huddersfield District League will be honouring the referee Colin Heeley, who died while officiating at one of the League fixtures last week, at their matches today.

There will be a one minute silence at all League matches and the League would like to send their condolences to his wife Pauline, the rest of his family and all his friends.

There was the outstanding quarter-final of the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup and not for the first time the season, a second division club overcame a first division rival as Kirkheaton Rovers notched a 4-1 win over Newsome.

In an even first half, Morgan Little gave Kirkheaton the lead when he lobbed the Newsome keeper from 40 yards, but before the break Newsome had fought back to turn around at 1-1.

In the second half Little almost scored his second but before the ball crossed the line Ritchie Heins tapped the ball home to make sure.

Then Heins netted his second when he was set up by Ben Sykes and the final goal came from a counter-attack which ended with Sykes securing victory and a semi-final against Golcar United.

In League action it is getting to the business end of the season and there is no time to catch up if a club slips up at this stage.

In Division I, Berry Brow’s game at Uppermill was postponed, so Holmbridge played their game in hand and beat Britannia Sports 4-0.

This gives Holmbridge a three-point lead at the top over the Brow with both having five games to play. The only other side involved are Newsome who are 11 points behind the leaders from three fewer games.

Newsome seem to have it all to do, but it is in their own hands because they have to play both the other contenders at their at home ground.

In Division II, Shelley didn’t have a game but the 3-0 win by Holmfirth Town against Skelmanthorpe was both good news and bad news for the Shelley club.

The win for Holmfirth was the bad news as the three points put Holmfirth a point clear at the top with a game in hand and they must now be strong favourites for the divisional title.

The good news for Shelley was that the result ended Skelmanthorpe’s late run for promotion and Heyside now become the biggest threat to Shelley’s hopes for Division I football next season.

In Division III, leaders KKS Spartans are going through a stuttering stage.

Last week they drew 1-1 with Scissett and this marked their third successive draw. This has handed the initiative to Aimbry, 5-1 winners at Flockton.

Aimbry are four points adrift with two games in hand and therefore must be slight favourites.

But there are two teams lurking in mid-table who might throw a spanner in the works, as AFC Lindley and Upperthong have so many games in hand that it is not mathematically impossible for them to gain promotion or even the title.

Upperthong, due to postponements and a good runs in the cup competitions, have only completed 11 of their League fixtures. That is exactly one half of the season gone and another half to play.

Division IV is a three way struggle. The outsiders of the three must be 3D Dynamos but their last two fixtures are at home to both of the other two contenders, Colne Valley and Royal Oak. Nothing but two wins will be good enough for 3D who face Colne Valley today.

However, the sides in third position may well be promoted. The rules allow two up and two down which results in four divisions of 12, but already six new clubs have shown interest in joining the League next season. To accept them into the League would result in extra teams being promoted.

Its close at the top of Reserve Division I. The current leaders are Honley Reserves despite the fact that they have lost their last two games. Luck has also been against them. The two sides they have played in the last two weeks were fortunate in that their first teams had no fixture.

The rules allow the clubs in this situation to recruit from above if needed rather than from below.

Last week Honley Reserves faced their closest rivals in Berry Brow Reserves and it proved to be a typical hard fought top of the table clash.

Brow Reserves took the lead after 10 minutes when Jack Williams scored.

Honley were pushing for an equaliser which came from an own goal. A long throw-in was headed into his own net by Richard Hanvey, but by the break Brow were back in front when Matt Oakes fired into the top corner.

Honley came back strongly in the second half. They had one penalty appeal turned down but with twenty minutes to play, another appeal was granted when Hanvey committed a foul in the box.

Despite Hanvey playing a hand in both Honley’s goals, he was still Brow’s man of the match. Howe scored to level the game at 2-2. The winner came from a long free kick deep in the Brow half. With most players standing still, Oakes ran on to score Brow’s winner.

Honl;ey are still five points clear but Brow have three games in hand but it’s not a two horse race. Third placed Netherton are just two points further behind.

In Reserve Division III, two sides are going at it hammer and tongs. Last week, Skelmanthorpe Reserves played their game they had in hand over Holmbridge Reserves. They beat Hade Edge Reserves 5-0 and now the top two are on level points from equal games.

They are due to meet each other at Holmbridge on 12th April and the winner of that game will be favourites.

A draw would suit Skelmanthorpe more than Holmbridge as this season is the first one when goal difference will decide final positions – this has been imposed on the League by the FA.

The first set of semi-finals take place this coming week. On Tuesday evening, kick off 5.30pm, the Gee Cup match Scissett Reserves versus Cumberworth A will take place at Shelley’s ground at Storthes Hall. On the same night, the Richardson Cup semi-final between Meltham Ath A and Berry Brow Res will be played at Warrenside, Bradley.

Thursday sees two more. The Groom Cup semi-final Brook Motors versus Aimbry will also be staged at Warrenside while the other Gee semi between Berry Brow A and Skelmanthorpe Reserves will be held at Grange Moor.

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