KARTIERS moved to within one point of Dringhouses at the top of Reserve 'A' of the Leeper Hare York and District Football League with a 2-1 win over Bishopthorpe.

Goals from Wayne Coulthard and Glen Littlewood were enough to take the points before Bishopthorpe, whose defeat confirmed their relegation, netted a late consolation.

Dringhouses trailed to a Tommy Oxtoby goal at Malton Bacon Factory before Nick Brown equalised late on.

Old Malton and South Bank are staging a recovery which could see Osbaldwick dragged into the mire.

South Bank won 6-3 at St John's College with goals from Simon Kehoe, John Alcock, Dave Kettlewell and Darren Smith (3). Matthew White, Robin Bedford and Matt Moore replied for the students.

Old Malton beat Pocklington 2-0 on the sloping Gannock pitch with Paul Boyes giving them the lead after 15 minutes with a two-yard tap-in after a cross hit an upright.

Any hope that Pocklington had of a point ended when Malton's Paul Walker shot looked to be going narrowly wide until it hit the diving goalkeeper on the arm and deflected into the net.

Wins for New Earswick and Copmanthorpe in mid-week moved both sides into promotion contention in Reserve 'B' and pushed Wigginton Black Horse down the table.

Black Horse's slide was accelerated by a 4-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge where two goals each for Chris Plowman and Chris Allen did the damage. Jason Evers replied for Back Horse.

Both New Earswick and Copmanthorpe romped to 10-0 wins. Wigginton Grasshoppers were on the receiving end at New Earswick where Des Grant (3), Craig Goodchild (3), John Conroy (2), Robert Cole and Paul Stimpson were the scorers. Barmby Moor suffered in the Copmanthorpe blitz.

Table toppers Huntington were grateful for three points against Easingwold after falling behind to a Tim Jackson goal. Chris Dower headed the equaliser and Lee Jackson hit a last minute winner.

Only two of the top three in Reserve 'C', Hamilton Panthers and Thorpe United, were in action and both recorded comfortable wins.

Panthers struck seven past Wilberfoss with Steve Gagan (3), Lee Hall and Mark Moore on target. Mark Bramhall netted Wilberfoss's consolation.

Thorpe won 4-2 at relegated Civil Service where Mark Dawson and Nick Doggitt scored for the home side. Two goals apiece from Barry Martland and Martin Rhodes saw Thorpe home.

Hemingbrough beat Rufforth 3-2 thanks to strikes from Keiron Morris (2) and Craig Welford.

Amotherby, second in Reserve 'D' won 4-1 at York RI thanks to goals from Shane Olley (2), John Dunning and Richard Kerrison. Colin Brown pulled one back for the home side.

Norwich Union moved into third place with a 9-1 win over Norton United and, with games in hand, could catch Amotherby. Adie Ogden (3), Nick Henshaw, James Hutt, Stuart Wilson, Robert Collier and Andrew Wood were their scorers.

Fulford twice threw away a two-goal lead at Huby to lose 4-3 Sean Cade and Danny O'Leary put Fulford in the driving seat before Dave Brogan pulled one back. Steve Dunn saw Fulford leading 3-1 with five minutes remaining but amazingly netted three more goals to snatch the points.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, April 15, 2004