Luke Howsen hit a hat-trick as Skipton LMS went four points clear in the Mastab's Craven League Premier Division after an 8-3 win over Cross Hills.

The goals took Howsen’s tally for the season to 12 and put him second behind team-mate Ian Craven in the league’s leading scorers’ list.

Craven netted twice and there were further goals from Chris Galdes, John Allan and Mark Fleming as LMS bounced back from their shock Northern Plant Hire Trophy defeat by Silsden Whitestar.

The loss was Cross Hills’ heaviest of the season. Their goals came from Ben Dew- hirst, Andy North and Steve Brown.

Third-placed Cononley added to the woes of Division One strugglers Settle United as they romped to a 7-1 win.

A lot of hard work by club officials enabled the game to go ahead and both sides took their time finding their feet.

Chris Lumsden opened the scoring for Cononley and also missed a penalty before Settle were reduced to ten men with the sending off of David Worthington.

Miroslav Allen, Shaun Greene, Jamie Page, Stephen Pearson and Craig Donegan were also on target for Cononley with Liam Swan- son getting Settle’s consolation.

New signing John Butcher had a debut to remember as he helped second-placed Oakworth to a 5-1 win over Chatburn which keeps them five points ahead of Cononley who have a game in hand.

Butcher, who previously played with Bronte Wand- erers, wasted no time making his presence felt as he slotted home the first two goals before setting up the third for Simon Harris.

The new boy rounded off his hat-trick before Ben Fairburn made it five. Chatburn kept plugging away and were rewarded with a late goal by Zak Ashworth.

Two goals from Fred Bidgley enabled Embsay Reserves to beat Earby Reserves 3-2 and leap-frog them into second place in Division Two.

Ayrton Aldridge was also on target for Embsay while the Earby scorers were Adam Smith and Jake Palmer.

Ingrow & Worth Valley are hovering just two points above the relegation places after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Skipton Town in the only game to be played at Marley.

Goals in either half from Will Knight and a third from substitute Liam Coates sealed Skipton’s win.

All matches in Division Three were abandoned while just one went ahead in Division Four.

The game to survive saw Bradley Reserves sneak a 1-0 win at Pendle Renegades.

Bradley had to soak up pressure both before and after the game’s only goal from Ross Clegg.