Stuart Parkin was the hero for Cross Hills as they triumphed 2-1 in their Mastab’s Craven League Premier Division derby.

He netted the 83rd-minute winner via a powerful header at Cowling.

Andrew North got their other goal on the hour with a stooping header as the victors climbed to seventh following a goalless first half.

However, that wouldn’t have been the case were it not for three top-drawer saves in the first 15 minutes by Cross Hills keeper Sam Smith. Lee Complin was Cowling’s man of the match.

Trawden Celtic are the new leaders after a 4-2 defeat of fifth-placed visitors Rolls.

Thomas Swindells (2), Ben Gorman and substitute Jake Waring were Celtic’s marksmen.

Grindleton made it a miserable start to the new year for basement club Carleton, who were beaten 9-0 and have now conceded 70 goals in just nine matches.

Cross Hills’ reserve team came perilously close to picking up their first point of the season in Division Two.
They lost 2-1 at home to Skipton LMS Reserves but Jim Anson missed a penalty for the losers having put them ahead with a free-kick.

A win would have put them level with LMS at the foot of the table. Joe Parker netted both for LMS, with Harry Tosney being Cross Hills’ man of the match, although 16-year-old Zak Shaw also impressed.

The meeting of leaders Grassington United and third-placed Salts was predictably close in Division Three, with the front-running hosts triumphing 2-1.

Meanwhile, Ilkley leap-frogged Sutton into eighth place by beating them 2-1 away.

Cellar dwellers Sutton Reserves’ goals-against column has topped the half-century after a 5-2 defeat at Skipton Town Reserves, who have climbed to third in Division Four.

Two other clubs are unbeaten in the league – Skipton Town in Division Two and Manningham All Stars in Division Four are the others – but Settle United remain the only side with a 100 per cent record.

They kept the pressure on Division One leaders Earby Town with a 5-0 victory at fifth-placed Chatburn.

However, Earby Town, who are seven points ahead of second-placed Settle having played four more games, did their bit with a 6-1 win at Gargrave.

Only 11 matches in the Craven League were played in all on a wet Saturday.