SILSDEN Whitestar picked up maximum points in their final two games of the season, but it was not quite enough as they missed out on the Skipton Body Repair Centre Craven & District Premier Division title by the finest of margins.

They had to beat Grassington United and Rolls to go level on points with leaders Settle United, but they also needed to overturn a seven goal deficit in the process.

They beat Grassington 4-2 on Monday in the first of those two games, with Sam Stanfield scoring a fine hat-trick.

The game was locked at 1-1 at the break but Stanfield’s deadly finishing proved to be the difference in the second half. Joshua Metcalfe netted their other goal.

That meant Whitestar had to defeat Rolls by five clear goals last night to clinch the title and despite their best efforts, a 4-1 victory was not quite enough.

That near miss means Settle’s recent dominance of the top division continues. They completed their league fixtures at the weekend by beating their title rivals 3-1 in a crunch clash, and have now won the top flight in four of the last five seasons.

Whitestar still completed a fine domestic double though, having won the Premier Division Cup and Northern Plant Hire Trophy this season.

In Division One, Broomhill pulled off a shock victory at previously unbeaten leaders Carleton. Their opponents had only dropped two points all season but they came unstuck here.

Goals from Josh Nelson, Andy Tanner and Michael Turner proved to be enough for Broomhill as they claimed a magnificent 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, Whitestar’s reserves were guaranteed to finish second in Division Two, but they were left disappointed after their final clash, as they were crushed 4-1 at home by Trawden Celtic Reserves. Tom Lohan struck their only goal.