A FLURRY of fixtures might have been frozen out, but the heat was turned up in the bottom reaches of the York John Smith's Sunday Morning Football League.

The leading clubs in division five all dropped points, headed by front-runners Thomas's Hotel.

They dominated the opening half hour of their game against Firkin 103, taking the lead with a delightful 20-yard lob from the prolific Stevie Scott.

But after half-time Firkin's Martin Hird took advantage of some woeful defending to stun Thomas' with a second half hat-trick and re-ignite his own side's promotion burst.

Three straight defeats for Thomas's have seen their eight-point lead whittled away to just one point.

Second-placed Raskelf Rovers also crashed 3-1 to Fulford Reserves, whose Tony Turner (2) and Jon Sargent were on target before a Chris Hughes' consolation.

Danny Harrop hit the goal that halted CPP's ascent as well as earning Selby Griffin a valuable point.

In division two, Shipton drew 3-3 with York Nomads, the only team to have taken points off the leaders.

Bradley (2) and Thompson put Nomads 3-1 up, Myers netting for Shipton, by the hour.

However, the leaders maintained their unbeaten record when Paul Noon hit an 25-yard snorter and then player/coach Geordie Chapman struck to notch a superb equaliser.

Edward VII swamped Burnholme (Earswick) 7-0 aided by a first half hat-trick from Eddie Phillips. Phillips added a fourth with Franks, O'Connell and Bellwood completing the rout.

The only division three game to beat the freeze saw Heworth win 6-1 at Real Way Station with Michael Page scoring a hat-trick. Dunnington, Sullivan and Coop also scored.

Just one Where in York Trophy third round tie survived for Bay Horse (Tadcaster) to oust Albion Vaults 4-1.

Goals from Nicholls and Bardy put them in control at half-time. Though Lee Ward replied, Nicholls and Bardy both struck again, the latter neatly taming a high ball before lashing an unstoppable shot into the net.

Updated: 11:04 Friday, January 28, 2005