It was District Association Cup weekend with no major surprises in either the Smart & Cook inc. Slater Marchant Craven Challenge Cup or the Skipton Building Society Norman Pratt Trophy.

Craven Cup holders Barnoldswick Town needed extra-time to see off visitors Cononley 3-1, a side whose discipline deserted them late in the game when they had a player sent off.

Last year's beaten finalists Ingleton recorded another six goal haul at home to Pendle Athletic with Chris Bibby and Curtis Wood notching hat-tricks.

Rimington's experience told at Rolls Royce where they won 4-0 with Daniel Paton hitting a hat-trick while the most northerly tie saw Bentham earn a 4-2 win at Sedbergh.

There was a highly-entertaining game at Grindle-ton with good goals scored from each side before Hellifield settled the tie with a late strike to win 4-2 against their First Division opponents.

In the Norman Pratt Trophy the tie of the day was called off when Barnoldswick Town were ravaged by sickness, injuries and unavailability of players.

Embsay Reserves saw off their visitors from Westmoreland, Sedbergh Wanderers, 3-0. The visitors managed to scrape a team together thanks to several veterans turning out.

Cononley Reserves also struggled for a team and relied on their experience to see off a youthful Earby Town Reserves who gave their best performance of the season.

Bentham Reserves poured more misery on Rolls Royce's season inflicting a 3-0 defeat with Tatham hitting a hat-trick. LMS Reserves edged a 3-2 win in the Skipton derby with Town Reserves.

Cup holders Barnoldswick Town took the game to Cononley and should have had some goals on the scoresheet but the visitors weathered the storm and the impressive Shaun Green chipped the Town keeper to open the scoring.

Town soon equalised and both sides were cancelling each other out with their different styles of play.

In extra-time Cononley's discipline deserted them and they conceeded goals in each half as well as having their goal scorer sent off along.

To add to their woes they had three players cautioned for dissent. Barnoldswick, who also had two men cautioned, now face their West Craven neighbours Kelbrook in the quarter-finals.

Grindleton knew they had a hard task against their Premier Division visitors Hellifield but surprised them by taking the lead with a goal from Martin Cowey. They missed several chances before Hellifield got their game together and equalised after Paul Mounsey hit the bar, Carl Stanford hitting home the rebound.

Stanford was involved in Hellifield taking the lead when his excellent cross was headed home by the in-form Ryan Preston.

Credit to Grindleton who levelled with an equally good goal when Darren Barrow finished off a length of the field move. Barrow then turned villain when he presented Stanford with a chance to put Hellifield back in front before half-time.

The second-half settled down with neither side dominating although Grindleton could have levelled the scores but the visitors' match winner was David Shepherd who scored late on to seal the tie and clinch a visit to Dent in the quarter-finals.

Ingleton scored three goals in each half to see off a plucky Pendle Athletic who are having a good season in Craven's First Division and still involved in the County Trophy.

However, after they failed to capitalise on early possession Ingleton took control and with youngster Curtis Wood and long-serving player Chris Bibby both hitting hat-tricks they set up an intriguing quarter-final home tie with Skipton LMS.

Despite the strong wind both sides endeavoured to play a passing game in the Rolls Royce-Rimington tie which saw Daniel Paton hit a hat-trick for the East Lancs outfit in their 4-0 win.

Rimington scored after ten minutes but Rolls were equal in a very even first-half and the game continued in a similar pattern for the early part of the second-half until Paton scored his second. Tom O'Neill scored direct from a corner and Paton completed his hat-trick to defeat a gallant Rolls side who saw Craig Walton go close to scoring when he hit the bar. Rimington now travel to Bentham for their quarter-final tie.

The Norman Pratt Trophy ties saw several teams with patched up teams and Rolls Reserves were no exception as they lost again at Bentham Reserves 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick by Toni Tatham.

Bentham took an early lead only for Rolls to miss a chance to level and the home side extended the lead before half-time. Rolls also had chances to score.

The visitors did better in the second-half but Bentham's defence held firm and Tatham completed his hat-trick to seal the game.

Sedbergh travelled to Embsay with several stalwarts with many a years' playing experience called upon in order that this game could be completed and full marks to those players for turning out along with the youngsters in the side.

A good, clean, sporting game ensued and although Embsay looked in control they did make errors which better sides may have taken advantage of. Tom Pinder scored the first goal and Toby Capstick fired home from a corner for a two goal lead at the break.

Sub Dave Wellock hit a post and Tom Pinder scored from the rebound to end the scoring to set up a visit to LMS in the quarter-finals.

Another side that could only just scrape a team was Cononley Reserves. They had veteran Bob Akrigg playing and he scored the opening goal against a plucky young Earby Town Reserves who gave an excellent performance in the 2-1 defeat.

Shane Bailey levelled the scores and for all their possession they could not score until Cononley got the winner through Robert Slater to set up an away tie at neighbours Bradley.

Skipton LMS Reserves had an excellent start in the derby match with Town Reserves when Andy Stead scored after ten minutes and when the Town defence failed to clear he scored the second goal.

However Town reduced the arrears when Chris Roy netted from an acute angle. Both sides were cancelling each other out at this stage but when a chance fell to LMS, Paul O'Rourke was on hand to stretch the lead.

Town took the game to LMS and were rewarded when Ian Piper grabbed a second to bring a frantic last ten minutes in which Town hit the woodwork and young LMS keeper Mark Bradley pulled off two match winning saves to deny Town.

There were a limited number of league games with LMS defeating Embsay 3-0 and going top of the Premier Division while Grassington United and Skipton Town both lost while Bradley won for the first time this season at WFC Clitheroe by 2-1.

In Division Two Horton lost at Chatburn 4-2 while Earby Town keep a hold on top spot thanks to a 3-1 win over Grassington United Reserves.

It was the visitors who took the lead only for James Oldroyd see his shot deflected to equalise but Earby could not make their possession count due to good goalkeeping from Grassington and resolute defending until with 15 minutes left substitute Paul Hooper broke the deadlock and Wayne Hooper's header sealed victory.

In Division Three Settle United put pressure on the top two winning 4-2 against Waddington Reserves while another contender for top spot Barnoldswick Barons lost at Skipton Town Youth by 4-2.

Barons held a two-goal interval lead. In the second-half Town bossed the game and their star was William Knight who scored all four goals but special mention to the team who fought hard to bring this victory against the league leaders.