Lowly Pond make Waiters work hard

Waiters made it four wins from six this season but were made to work hard for a 2-1 win over bottom side Old Pond at Trinity Academy.

Waiters controlled possession for much of the match but looked destined not to break down a determined Pond rear-guard.

The nearest they got in a goal-less first period was a shot clawed off the line by the outstanding Dan Barnes in the Pond net amidst protestations that the ball had crossed the line.

With Pond down to the bare bones squad-wise, it was Waiters’ strength from the bench that ultimately ground down a tiring Pond defence.

Dave Lawrence and Richard Dawson at centre half were strong throughout alongside Andy Dawson and James Symonds but the breakthrough came with 15 minutes remaining.

A ball delivered from the right flank following a quickly taken corner was deftly nudged past Barnes at the near post by substitute Lee Wood.

When substitute David Chappell broke clear and netted a second it looked done and dusted but Pond fired back.

A fine ball from Sean Suttle was expertly taken down in the air by James Broadbent, who matched his touch with a neat volleyed finish.

Lee Mount and their visitors Ryburn United had registered only one league win each prior to Sunday.

It was Mount who douibled their tally with an emphatic 8-2 success which lifted them to fourth-from-bottom.

The eagerly-anticipated cup game between FC Bowling Green and Carrington at Beechwood Park was one of Sunday’s postponed games.

Feathers FC, look well set for an immediate return to the Premier Division after relegation last season.

They went seven points clear at the top of Division One when they beat North Bridge 3-1 away and second-placed Barge’s form slump continued with defeat by the same score at Ryburn Valley.

It also finished 3-1 in the game between Triangle and Queens Head. The visitors took the spoils to shoot up to third place.

Bottom side Bradshaw picked up only their fourth point of the season in a 2-2 draw away to Oddfellows.

Halifax Amateurs returned from a three week break to inflict a first Division Two defeat of the season on Halifax Rangers, winning 3-1 away.

Already without three key players, their prospects didn’t look too bright when Rangers started strongly and went a goal up after 19 minutes.

‘Keeper Damo Parry’s clearance was flicked on by Mike Kellett for Sean Byrne to shrug off his marker and slip the ball past the advancing keeper.

Rangers, who lost influential midfielder Howard Metcalfe and forward Kellett through injury during the game, were pegged back when Stefan Drakes hammered home an equaliser.

Both sides had chances in the second half, but the visitors got the lift they needed on the hour mark when Drakes fired home from all of 35 yards.

At the other end David Oakes’ speculative effort with the keeper out of his goal hit the foot of a post.

Amateurs sealed the game 15 minutes from time on the break when Rais Malik had time to pick his spot and fired low into the left hand corner.

Rangers’ misery was complete when Andy Bowe was sent off 10 minutes from time.

Crown FC made it four wins on the bounce in Division Two, but only after being given a tough match by St Columbas at Rastrick High School.

Michael Drennan was Crown’s man of the match and also struck the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.

Dave Phelan had already seen a spot kick saved by the Saints ’keeper, but he and central defensive partner Craig Gabbitas were star performers as quick and younger opponents were kept out.

Crown ‘keeper Clayton Smith made a stunning save from the visitors’ best opportunity, somehow tipping the ball onto the crossbar from a shot that looked destined to earn Columbas a point.

King Cross Park won the battle of the top two and made it six wins out of six with a 4-1 success away to Halifax Hammers Reserves.

The highest-scoring game of the day was the Savile Park contest between Ovenden Phoenix and Weavers. Phoenix got off the mark for the season at the eighth attempt with a 6-5 win.