The Northern Plant Hire Trophy quarter-final matches took place last Saturday and Cononley Sports for the second successive week inflicted defeat on Bradley by 4-1.

League leaders Oxenhope won at Hellifield by 7-3 while Grassington United's fate was decided by penalties in their tie with Clitheroe Lions of the First Division after extra time when the teams were locked at 3-3. Clitheroe secured their semi-final place 5-4 on penalties, joining them in the semi-final are Keighley FC also of the first division.

On the league front, wins for Gargrave and Embsay have given them breathing space at the bottom of the Premier Division while second place Waddington's 4-2 victory drops Carleton to next to bottom position.

In Division One Skipton Town followed up last week's win at Oxenhope Res with another away win at Intake by 5-3, Jimmy McConville following up last week's brace with a hat trick which puts Town in top position, albeit on goal difference from Clitheroe Lions with Oxenhope Reserves two points adrift with three games in hand, having won 2-0 at Cowling.

A 2-2 draw at second place Oakworth for Gargrave Reserves meant that, unless they have a dramatic loss of form, the Division Two title is almost within their grasp with a lead of nine points.

Rolls Royce Reserves recorded only the second win of the season and did it style with a resounding 8-0 victory against Skipton LMS Reserves. Grassington United Reserves also were back to winning ways scoring five times against Waddington Reserves who managed a single goal.

In Division Three Earby Town kept in the hunt for promotion with a narrow 3-2 win over Silsden Whitestar. Lower down the division there were goals aplenty at Bradley when the home side won by the odd goal in 11 and a further nine goals came at Skipton Town Reserves, who scored two in a poor display while the visitors Cowling reserves hit seven to record the first win of the season.

Northern Plant Hire Trophy Grassington United 3 Clitheroe Lions 3 (aet Lions won 5-4 on penalties) A frustrating day for the home side who, no matter how hard they tried, found it was not going to be their day.

They scored three excellent goals, Paul Wright with two from free kicks and Adam Steventon, gave the home side hope, but with a player taken to hospital and four cautions, lady luck deserted them going out of the competition 5-4 on penalties.

Hellifield Sports 3 Oxenhope Recreation 7 Hellifield were up against a strong visiting side and with regular players missing and goal keeper Steven Dugdale having to play outfield, they knew it would be hard going.

However the home side started well and scored the opening goal when a Carl Stanford long throw was helped into the net by the goal keeper.

Hellifield suffered two injuries and Oxenhope took advantage to level the scores and, after having a penalty appeal turned down, Hellifield went behind to a penalty and a further goal gave the visitors a 3-1 interval lead.

Early pressure in the new half saw the visitors take a commanding lead with three further goals but Hellifield kept plugging away and were rewarded when Stanford scored two quick goals, the same player also hit the bar and had a penalty saved before Oxenhope broke to score the seventh which was hard on Hellifield for whom Matthew Sharpe was outstanding.

Cononley 4 Bradley 1 Cononley got the perfect start with a goal after three minutes but play was even in the first half with chances falling to both sides before Ben Dewhirst equalised for Bradley.

The home side had a player dismissed early in the second half but this inspired them to raising their game with Stephen Gott chipping the goalkeeper from the half way line and further goals from Adam Smith and Wayne Fisher secured their progress into the semi-finals.

Premier Division Embsay 1 Skipton LMS 0 Embsay created the better chance playing down the slope and after Will Freakes had made a brilliant save from Chris Capstick, he could not prevent the same player from scoring the only goal of the match.

LMS put the Embsay defence under pressure in the new half but they held firm and could have increased the lead on the occasions that they broke from defence.

Warm praise from the LMS club for stand-in referee Scott Robinson.

Gargrave 3 Bronte Wanderers 0 A stiff downfield breeze and a difficult playing surface meant that both sides struggled to gain any momentum.

Brian Blackwell gave a solid performance for the home side and it was his good work that resulted in Paul Wilkin giving his team a slender 1-0 half time lead.

Jonathan Chapman increased the lead from close range and sub Andrew Foulds was on hand to score when a Liam Jameson header had been partially saved.

Division One Intake 3 Skipton Town 5 Four goals in the opening five minutes of this match led to a bizarre start, with both teams scoring twice.

Town went behind on 25 minutes but two goals before half time by Jimmy McConville gave his side the lead and he went on to complete his hat trick in the second half when Town were on top but squandered chances to have won by a larger margin.

Division Two Rolls Royce Reserves 8 Skipton LMS Reserves 0 Rolls have had a poor season and with the influx of some first team players registered a much needed win.

Tariq Zia scored from the penalty spot and Craig Walton showed his ability by scoring two goals either side of half time to give his side a commanding lead. With better finishing the score could have been more emphatic, however Tariq completed his hat trick and David Tullett rounded off the scoring with the best goal of the game.

Oakworth 2 Gargrave Reserves 2 This was a close encounter between two teams at the head of the division and only a Ben Brown penalty separated the teams at half time.

Oakworth levelled in the new half, which made for a tense finale as Brown scored his second with ten minutes left.

Oakworth piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a equaliser in the dying seconds of the match Richard Orme had a outstanding game for Gargrave.

Division Three Earby Town 3 Silsden Whitestar 2 Town had a fight on their hands throughout as Silsden started with the strong wind at their backs and took the lead with a header.

Town came more into the game and levelled the scores when Wayne Hooper drilled home a shot. Once again Silsden took the game to Earby but they were rocked when following good work from Richard Craddock he laid on the pass for Shane Bailey to score.

The visitors were always in with a chance and scored their second goal with another header. The introduction of Earby's subs paid dividends when Jonathan Farrell set up what was the winning goal for Shane Bailey but with still 25 minutes to play Town still had plenty of work to secure the three points.

Skipton Town Reserves 2 Cowling Reserves 7 The home team were given a football lesson from a much-improved Cowling side which recorded its first win of the season. Andrew Waite scored both Town goals as a result of good flowing moves in a very poor overall performance.

Bradley Reserves 6 Oakworth Reserves 5 As the score line suggests, not a day for defenders with Bradley 5-1 up at half time.

Daniel Horne gave them the lead only for the visitors to level before Robinson put his team back in front and further goals from Paul Hunt and Horne completing his hat-trick.

Oakworth came out more determined in the second half and reduced the lead before Phil McGowan scored Bradley's sixth and although Oakworth score more goals they could not force the equaliser.