SILSDEN Whitestar have strengthened their promotion case in Mastab's Craven League Division One.

Their 5-3 home victory over third-placed Gargrave has not only put them joint top with Chatburn with two games in hand but also means that their visitors cannot catch them with their game in hand.

Whitestar trailed 2-0 but the in-form Mark Bradley netted with ten minutes to half-time and James Whitehead made it 2-2 in the second half, when Whitestar had a favourable wind.

Man of the match Sam Stanfield added a third with a header, with Ben McClennon and Bradley ensuring the points before Gargrave hit a late consolation goal.

Whitestar manager Gary Lund said: “It was a great victory and a superb team effort from all 14 squad players.”

There was no fairy-tale return to league action for Cononley Sports Reserves.

Without a league match since November 15 following six postponements, the basement boys lost 3-1 at home to Pendle Renegades. Man of the match Laurence Dunne bagged Cononley’s consolation.

FC Sporting Keighley could well replace Cononley as they are joint top in Division Two. They won 5-3 at tenth-placed Skipton LMS Reserves, in-form Aaran Abbas (pictured) spearheading the win with four goals.

Junaid Taj also found the target in an entertaining match which featured excellent goals from both teams.

Abbas, who has now hit 32 goals in 13 games, was nominated as man of the match by the hosts, with Aatir Shezad getting his club’s vote.

Man of the match Barry Gummery did his best to inspire bottom-of-the-table Sutton at Settle United Reserves but the hosts won 2-0 to go seventh.

Andrew Hardeman and Chris Hogg, who took the gong, were on target for Bradley Reserves in Division Three but they went down 3-2 at third-placed Skipton Town Reserves.