IT WAS a good weekend for Sutton and was almost a great one.

Their reserve team notched a second consecutive victory in Division Three of the Craven League as they make a late charge to avoid the wooden spoon.

They beat visitors Bradley Reserves thanks to a first-half strike from Nick Trowers but had goalkeeper John Naylor to thank for hanging on to the points with a man-of-the-match display.

Sutton remain 14th and bottom but are only a point behind Barlick Wanderers with five games in hand. Bradley are ten points further ahead in 12th, but also from five games more.

Meanwhile, two goals from Jamie Wilson were not enough for Sutton’s first team to secure a second victory of the season in Division Two as they lost 3-2 at Salts, Phil Edwards taking the man of the match honours for the visitors.

In Division Three, Ingrow & Worth Valley Reserves scored three times at home but conceded twice as many to Barnoldswick Barons.

Cowling Reserves had a fine 3-2 win at Addingham in a Division Three Cup quarter-final.

However, the Jack Forbes-Sedgwick inspired visitors now face the ultimate test – leaders Carleton away in a semi-final.

With Will Storrie putting in a good shift, Cross Hills won 3-1 at Earby Town to remain leaders of the Premier Division but Bradley are further in the mire in the Division One relegation zone after losing 3-1 at home to fellow strugglers Bingley Town.

Substitute Joshua Clarkson scored Bradley’s goal and the second-from-bottom club are now having to rely on their games in hand to climb out of trouble.

Liam Bellamy was man of the match twice over for Ingrow & Worth Valley in their 4-2 defeat at Pendle Renegades, while Craig Ebbrell was on target for cellar dwellers Cononley Sports Reserves in their 3-1 setback at AFC Colne, Colin Throupe picking up the gong for the losers.

However, an excellent all-round performance by Sporting Keighley in their 3-1 home win over Grindleton Reserves means that they stayed four points clear.

Man of the match Shazaib Hussain scored twice and Aaran Abbas once as Sporting moved closer to fielding a full-strength team, with only two regulars missing.

Sporting shaded an even first half but Grindleton took the lead through Aamir Zulfi from the penalty spot.

The Keighley club hit back through Abbas just before half-time and the second half was all Sporting, with Hussain hitting a quickfire double, including a lovely curler from just outside the area.

Oxenhope Rec’s push for promotion hit the buffers when they were beaten 4-1 at home by Grassington United Reserves, who climbed from second to third.

The visitors took an early lead but Oxenhope’s third team hit back with a quick reply as Ellis Atha played the ball into Tony Cooper, who unselfishly squared for Chris Galdes to finish.

Grassington hit back with another couple of strikes before the break and sealed the points with a fourth.