REPORT BY: EMMA KENNEDY

CRAVEN League football resumed this weekend, with AFC Crossleys continuing their fantastic start to the Premier Division season with an 8-2 thrashing of hosts Skipton Town.

The Halifax outfit scored four times in each half, with goals from Josh Newton and Chris Johnson either side of half-time proving to be just a consolation for the hosts.

Trawden Celtic Juniors Reserves and Cononley also won on the road, scoring three apiece against Ingleton and Baildon Trinity.

Two goals in two minutes from Andrew Husband and Harrison Little laid the foundations for Trawden’s 3-1 win, with Matt Pates rounding off the scoring on the final whistle to inflict a first defeat of the season on their opponents.

Eddie Gill was the man of the match in Cononley’s five-goal thriller, scoring twice before the interval, alongside James Nelson, as they did just enough to come away with the points.

Second-placed Barnoldswick Barons were the big scorers in Division One as they put hosts Grindleton to the sword.

Elliot Mashiter’s 65th-minute red card left the hosts fighting an uphill battle, with Tom Garner scoring four, and Matt Blackwell and substitute Dan Hughes netting two apiece, as Barlick ran out 8-2 winners.

Gargrave were similarly prolific in front of goal on their way to a 7-2 victory at iPlay, with Josh Page (x2), Will Beckwith, Matt Simpson, Joe Stapler, and substitute Matt Nutter on the scoresheet.

The only other match in the division saw Matt Bailey, Richard Magson and Wayne Walsh help Salts 3rds to a 3-2 win at Bingley Town.

Chatburn were also in action in this season’s Lancashire FA County Cup, but Sam Richardson’s strike was not enough to stop them from falling to a 2-1 defeat at last season’s Premier Division champions Trawden Celtic Juniors.

Hellifield continue to set the pace in Division Two, with Callum Walton and Jacob Wroe helping them maintain their 100% start with a 3-0 win at AFC Crossleys Reserves.

However, Marley was the place to be on Saturday as FC Keighley United put a staggering 11 unanswered goals past Skipton Town Reserves.

Tyler Green scored five of those to take his tally to seven for the season, with Tyler Brigg and Sam Murphy also netting braces on a fantastic afternoon for the newly-formed side.

Elsewhere, five goals brought five different scorers for Rolls Reserves as they built on a 2-1 half-time lead to beat Sutton 5-1, while Ian Horrocks’ double saw Addingham to a 4-2 win at Barlick Wanderers.

Things remain close at the Division Three summit, with Cowling Reserves topping the table by two points after recording a fourth straight win at newcomers Barrowford United.

Lewis Spencer’s brace, alongside goals from George Sellars and Jack Diamond, helped them to run out comfortable 4-1 winners.

Colne United remain hot on their heels in second, Ashley Southworth scoring half of their tally as they saw off third-placed Cononley 2nds 4-0 at Edge End.

Henry Brewis and James Gully were also on target for Weston Lane as they completed a second-half comeback to beat basement club Otley Town 4ths 2-1, while mid-table Addingham Reserves and Sutton Reserves played out a rare goalless draw.