DANNY Thorpe has had a fine season in the Silsden Whitestar goal, but his red card in the 1-1 draw at home to Trawden Celtic has thrown the Skipton Body Repair Centre Craven & District Premier Division title race wide open.

Whitestar had won the Premier Division Cup against the same opponents three days earlier, and looked on course for another victory when Josh Mcnulty put them 1-0 in front at the break.

However, Thorpe's dismissal changed the whole complexion of the game and Trawden found a second half equaliser to leave the home side three points off top spot.

Whitestar do have two games in hand on league leaders Settle United, and the pair clash in a vital match on Saturday, with the winners likely to finish the season as champions.

In an extraordinary Division Three encounter, underdogs Sutton secured a 6-5 win over Salts Reserves. Benjamin Wilson and Aiden Robertson were the stars, as they netted two apiece for the victors.

On the same evening, Cowling Reserves lost 2-1 at home to Burnley Belvedere in a crucial title clash. Substitute Elliot Hollings scored but it was not enough as the away side claimed the three points.

That defeat meant that Cowling were relying on Cross Hills Reserves on Saturday to keep the title race going until the final day. However, Belvedere wrapped up the title there with a comprehensive 6-1 victory.