Copley stay up in style with win over Stump
Copley United clinched Premier Division safety and dealt Stump Cross’s Haslem-Sheppard Halifax AFL title hopes another body-blow on Saturday.
Copley beat the faltering long-time championship favourites 3-2 at Shroggs Park.
Almost inevitably it was their 27-goal leading scorer Gary Ash who did the damage with a hat-trick, Damian Watkins getting both goals for the home side.
News of Stump’s third successive defeat must have been music to the ears of Ryburn United’s players after they were held 1-1 at home by Midgley United in the battle of the top two.
Midgley were boosted by an early goal in front of a decent crowd at Ripponden Wood, George Bamford scoring from close range following Jason Cartlidge’s good pass.
Ryburn then had the upper hand and although James Brook made some good saves the hosts drew level after half an hour through Christian Silkstone’s good finish.
Midgley stepped up their game after the break. Bamford went close, Callum Rodgers hit a post and home playerboss Craig Walker made some good saves.
Ryburn might have snatched it with an effort against the bar from close range late on but a draw was probably a fair result.
Sowerby United and Elland United are the two teams going down. Their fates were sealed on Saturday when Copley won and Sowerby lost 5-0 away to Shelf United.
Mark Hindle struck four times in the second half for Shelf but the pick of the home goals was a stunning 35-yard strike from full back Jamie Moorhouse.
Sowerby had the better of the first half but Hindle’s first goal on 48 minutes landed them in trouble. The ex-Greetland player stole the show from then on, teenager Tom Fryer shining for Sowerby.
Greetland got back to winning ways with a 5-3 home success over Northowram.
They took advantage of abject defending to surge 4-1 up in 30 minutes through Ellis Dixon at the far post, Johnny Crowther’s glancing header and a Carl Ainley double. Karl Amos replied with an emphatic finish for the Rams at 2-0.
Alex O’Keefe made it 4-2 early in the second half and Chris Conroy’s shot, which was going wide, was deflected into his own net by Dave Walker after 55 minutes. However, after scares at both ends, Walker’s header clinched it for Greetland on 88 minutes.
Calder ‘76 maintained their good form with a 2-0 win over Warley. They took the lead when Steve Jones shot under the ‘keeper and a stunning long-range strike from teenage fullback Ben Fairburn gave them a lead they never looked likely to relinquish.