Rolls reversed at top of table (From Craven Herald)

Rolls reversed at top of table as Powell's double helps floor champs Skipton LMS

9:56am Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport

Fran Powell scored twice as Rolls beat Skipton LMS 3-1 to take over at the top of the Mastab's Craven League Premier Division.

James Cumpstey was also on target as Rolls went two points ahead of the champions who crucially have two games in hand. The league’s top scorer Luke Howsen was the LMS marksmen.

The ten men of Cross Hills came back from 4-1 down to defeat relegation strugglers Embsay 5-4.

Cross Hills looked in deep trouble when Stu Parkin was sent off, but his team-mates refused to give in and took the points with a stunning recovery.

Ben Dewhirst was the hero for Cross Hills with a hat-trick – his first coming from the penalty spot – while Steve Brown and Andy North were also on target.

Embsay, who are in desperate need of points, had established their lead with goals from David Greenwood (pen), Nathan Robin- son (2) and Fred Midgley.

Little went right for bottom team Grassington United at third-placed Grindleton. They lost 5-2 with their goals coming from Nicky and Paul Wright.

Two goals from Steve Dickinson and one from Ben Gorman enabled Trawden Celtic to defeat Carleton 3-0 and retain their grip on fourth place.

Cowling maintained their climb up the table with a 2-0 win at Pendle Athletic which has taken them into sixth place.

Wilsden continued their march towards promotion from Division One with a 2-0 win over Chatburn but second-placed Cononley were held to a 2-2 draw by fifth-placed Gargrave.

Mark Bradley and Shaun Greene netted for Cononley against a Gargrave side who are five points adrift of them with three games in hand.

At the other end of the table Silsden White Star improved their chances of beating the drop with a 3-1 victory over Settle. Goals from Liam Swain, Stevie Gray and Danny Cox netted for White Star while Elliott Firth scored for Settle.

There was no joy for bottom team Rolls Reserves. They lost 4-3 at home to Hellifield who claimed the points with strikes from Ben Dakin, Steven Procter, Carl Stanford and Matt Dakin. Matthew Harrison, Nasir Zia and Matthew Coates were the Rolls scorers.

Oakworth had a comfortable 3-0 triumph at Earby thanks to goals from John Butcher, Kristian Hogg and Simon Harris.

There was a surprise defeat for Division Two leaders Embsay as they went down 3-1 to Bingley Town. Alex Conroy netted the consolation goal for Embsay.

There was no joy for the two Skipton sides. LMS Reserves lost 4-3 to Barnoldswick Barons while Skipton Town lost 5-1 at Colne.

Oliver Scott hit a hat-trick for the Barons while there was a treble for Daniel Conway in Colne’s triumph.

Relegation-threatened Sutton stunned Division Three leaders Cononley Reserves as they recorded a 3-1 win. Jack Fletcher scored twice for Sutton, and after Cononley had hit back through Colin Throupe, Lee Rooke calmly slotted home a penalty.

Bradley kept in contention for promotion as they defeated second-placed Cross Hills Reserves 3-2 after being 2-0 down. Michael Jarvis sparked the revival before an own goal levelled the scores.

David Hunt touched in the winner late in the game. Cowling and Oxenhope shared a 1-1 draw.

Ross Greenwood scored four times as Bradley crushed Carleton Reserves 7-0 in Division Four.

There were further goals for James Fryers, Paul Hunt and Robbie Smith.

Third-placed Manningham All Stars ran out 3-1 winners against Sutton Reserves with Leon Ahmed scoring twice, while second-placed Padiham saw off Addingham 3-1.