LEADERS Thorpe United Under- 15s earned a 1-1 draw with Garforth Junior Football League division one title rivals Farsley Celtic.

The share-all keeps Thorpe nine points ahead of their third-placed opponents, who have three games in hand.

Having exited the Challenge Cup at the hands of Celtic recently, Thorpe started well and had the better of the first half.

Thorpe got the breakthrough they deserved just before half-time when David Melling’s through ball was flicked on by substitute Reese Franks to Corey Littlefield, who slotted home.

After the break, Ben Clowes hit a post with a header from Richard Buckthorpe’s corner.

Substitute Shaun Heselwood played in man of the match Buckthorpe, who drove the ball across the face of goal, but a sliding Jamie Hardaker was unable to get a decisive touch.

Farsley forced a corner and a deflected shot wrong-footed Alex Ward and the sides were level.

Thorpe went within a whisker of getting a winner on the stroke of full-time. Jamie Pickles and James Arnold linked up to create a chance for Littlefield, but the striker put his effort inches wide.