HUDDERSFIELD Dragons Men’s Thirds faced a tough start to the new year against top of the table Airedale, but produced a fine display to take the honours 5-3.

Airedale had beaten the Dragons earlier in the season and prior to this game had only conceded eight goals in 12 games, but Huddersfield put pressure on from the start and opened up a healthy lead with goals from Beaumont, Kullar and Walker.

Airedale responded with two goals from penalty corners leaving the game well-balanced at half-time.

In the second half Balby restored a two-goal lead for Dragons when he tucked the ball under the keeper after a goalline scramble, and with five minutes remaining Beaumont converted a penalty flick to seal the win.

Airedale scored a late consolation but it didn’t detract from one of Huddersfield’s best performances of the season, with McCallum outstanding in goal.

Dragons Men IV 4 Airedale II 1

THE Fourths maintained their unbeaten run with a fantastic performance against Airedale’s second string.

Dragons played the ball around well in the first half with some great movement and link-up play to lead 2-1 at the break.

They created a host of chances throughout and after a 10-minute lull in the second period Huddersfield notched another two goals to complete an excellent win.

Dragons Men V 2 Halifax IV 1

DRAGONS’ fifth string played bottom of the table Halifax and Conrad Dales put his side ahead when he exploited a gap left by the Fax keeper and pushed the ball home from the edge of the D.

And 1-0 soon became two as Martin Laithwaite coolly dispatched a shot into the net with a quick, clean strike to give his side a two-goal lead at the break.

In the second half Dragons pressed for a third goal to wrap up the game, but it eluded them, and as the half wore on they seemed to lose their way a little.

Sensing a chance to get back into the match Halifax pressed ahead and despite a good save by Ian Gilbert, the rebound was fired home.

Former Dragons player Mike Brennan tried to spur Fax on, but Dragons held on for the victory.

Dragons Men IV 2 Harrogate V 2

THE second game of the weekend pitched top of the league Dragons against a well-organised Harrogate side.

Huddersfield carried on from where they left off and took an early lead, but despite create several chances failed to add to it, and suddenly found themselves behind when Gate notched two goals from short corners.

Dragons levelled it before half time and then spent nearly all the second half camped in Harrogate’s half without being able to find a winner. But they still came out of the game unbeaten and still on top of the table.

Dragons Men V 0 Bingley Bees 3

HUDDERSFIELD clearly felt the previous day’s exertions, and quickly tired against an excellent Bingley side who took the lead with a freak lob over the keeper’s head.

Bingley made it two with a fantastic strike from the top of the D and followed up with a third before half-time.

There was a risk that Bingley could run riot in the second half, but to their credit Dragons dug in and gave as good as they got with several chances created by Max Bowden, Ian Clancy, Jerry Turner and Olly Moorhouse.

The Dragons men’s first team recorded their first league win of the season in Northern League Division II East beating Leeds II 2-1 away.