The weather played a first major role in the fixtures this season as rain caused the postponement of 15 league games as well as eight West Riding Cup ties.
Of the games that went ahead, two clubs at the top of their respective divisions, took the opportunity to open up a gap.
In Division One, leaders Shelley completed a special eight days for them.
Having beaten Hepworth the week before, a 5-2 win over Heyside means they have beaten the teams in second and third and now lead by eight points – although those behind do have games in hand.
Shelley started the brighter but didn’t take the lead until the 20th minute. A Gino Dignan corner was headed goal bound by Reece Kendall and Alan Greenwood flicked the ball home from close range.
Five minutes later it was 2-0. James Bootland made ground down the right and crossed for Ashley Vickers to score.
The third was similar to the first – a Dignan corner was met by Kendall’s head but this time he found the net rather than setting up some other player.
Straight from the re-start, Heyside pulled one back with a goal from Mark Hopwood, but their chances of a fightback was soon stopped in its tracks when midfielder Adrian Smith won the ball and fed Dignan, who added another assist to his collection. He fed Greenwood who chipped the keeper from an acute angle.
In the early part of the second half, Heyside had their best spell. A spectacular free-kick from Daniel Dunn narrowed the gap to two but despite have the bulk of possession at this stage, they rarely threatened the Shelley goal.
Shelley had two further goals. In the 70th minute, another Dignan assist was volleyed home by Mikey Pearson and, five minutes later, Bootland was brought down in the box and Vickers converted.
The other side to open up a decent advantage were Division Four Almondbury Woolpack.
The previous week they went three points clear at the top but, while others were involved in Cup fixtures last week, their League match went ahead and a 8-2 win at Thornhill United sees them extend the lead to six points.
They were five up at the break but Thornhill stuck in and only lost the second period by 3-2. Chris Senior scored half of the Woolpack goals with Tony Wales weighing in with a hat trick and Ryan Kennedy scoring the other.
In Division Two, AFC Lindley are gradually overcoming a disastrous start to the season.
They won one and lost six of their first seven fixtures but since October 10, their record in the League is won one, drawn two and lost one.
The computerised fixtures meant they played only two different teams in those four games but as they played third and fifth, the improvement in form is there for everyone to see.
They have had two 1-1 draws with Kirkheaton Rovers, and they lost 3-2 recently to HV Academicals but, last week, they gained their revenge with a 2-1 win.
Morris was on target for the Accies while Lindley’s goals came from Richard Evans and Aaron Vanleeuveen, with all the goals coming in the first half. These three points don’t take Lindley out of the relegation places but further continuance of this form probably will.
Some clubs were involved in County Cup action.
In the Challenge Cup, the ties involving Britannia and Berry Brow fell to the weather but one side played and are now through to Round Three.
Nathan Eastwood might not have been the difference between Heywood Irish and their opponents Whitkirk Wanderers but his goals certainly were.
The final result was 7-2 and Eastwood was responsible for five of them, with the other two coming from Jordan Elvidge and Michael Brook. Heywood Irish will now travel to either Field or Skipton LMS in the third round.
The District League were not as successful in the Challenge Trophy.
Five matches were postponed and five teams lost. There were three winners, and two of them beat District League opposition, and in the other, Kirkheaton beat Brighouse Sports 3-0.
The two ties that were all-District League affairs both involved Aimbry.
Their Division Two team were at home to Black Horse from Division Four. The game ended in a 4-2 win for Aimbry but Black Horse’s loss may have an effect on their promotion chances.
There were a total of four red cards and three were to the Black Horse team. The suspensions following these cards could be costly.
Aimbry’s Reserve team travelled the short distance from Bradley Mills to Leeds Road Playing Fields (hardly the sort of trip normally involved in the County Trophy).
They went there to face KKS Spartans Reserves who are the bottom of Reserve Division Two. Aimbry may be a division below them but technically only three places behind them, being third in Reserve Division Three.
KKS had won only two games previously while Aimbry Reserves had only lost two, so a 2-1 win for KKS with goals from Dale Joy and Adam price can be considered a minor surprise.
