AN OWN goal by Malton Bacon Factory's Jamie Barker after only two minutes set reigning champions Pocklington on their way to a vital 2-1 York and District Leeper Hare premier division win in the top of the table clash.

Bacon Factory attacked from the start but in what was Pocklington's first attack the unfortunate Barker stuck out a foot and deflected a cross over the head of his own goalkeeper.

Ten minutes later Pocklington went two up when Andy Fenwick headed home a corner unchallenged.

The Factory side settled and midway through the half Simon Collins finished off a good move to bring them back into contention.

The second half was an even affair with perhaps the better chances falling to The Factory but they were foiled by two saves from Scott Silburn in the Pocklington goal and were unable to force an equaliser.

Bishopthorpe claimed three valuable points with a 3-2 win at Osbaldwick

Joe Gardham struck a Bishopthorpe equaliser after Andy Triffitt had put the home side in front and he netted a second after the break.

Although Lee Bond added another for Osbaldwick, Graham Wigley struck the vital third goal for Bishopthorpe.

After a run of defeats, Rufforth bounced back with a 2-1 win over Crayke.

Andy Moss and Gary Moss struck for Rufforth although Mark Hutchinson had netted for Crayke.

The mid-table encounter at Dunnington ended all square with Jamie Smith hitting an equaliser for Wigginton Grasshoppers ten minutes from time. Chris Burgess had given the home side the lead.

Huntington have now recorded four wins on the trot and remain unbeaten since Christmas but they left it late to snuff out the challenge of Kartiers 4-2.

After a dour first half, the game sprung to life and produced six goals in the second period.

Huntington's Iain Dunn started the goal spree four minutes after the restart, with Graham MacDonald quickly making it two but then the visitors bounced back to level the scores.

Six minutes from time, Jack Wilson and an own goal settled matters for Huntington.

Struggling Riccall were shown no mercy by a rampant Dringhouses side. It was 8-0 by half-time with goals from Lee Atkinson (2), David Allison (3), John Lake and Joe Gaughan (2).

Mark Woodward came on in the second half and claimed a hat-trick and Craig McShane rounded off the 12-0 score-line.

Wigginton Black Horse took a giant stride towards promotion with a 4-2 win at rivals Copmanthorpe in division one.

The visitors were rampant in the first half with Matty Wain hitting a hat-trick and Lee Knaggs making it 4-0, before Copmanthorpe replied with strikes from Graham Butcher and Mark Gregory.

Thorpe United were lying second in the table before Saturday's games, but a 2-1 defeat at Post Office saw them drop back to fifth.

Both the Post Office goals were netted by Richard Dalby in the first half.

Seventh-placed T&L Selby are still in promotion contention after a 6-1 win at New Earswick and Fulford managed a point with a 0-0 draw at home to South Bank.

A Julian Peck goal in the first half was enough to give division two leaders Stamford Bridge the three points against visitors Easingwold.

White Horse went down 4-1 at Hamilton Panthers despite taking the lead after 20 minutes with a Gary Rucklidge goal.

Pickering Town's Phil O'Reilly made his class tell by bagging all four of the Panthers goals.

The 5-1 score in Barmby Moor's favour did not do justice to Heslington who conceded three goals in the last ten minutes.

Tom Rastall and Richard Allison had sandwiched John Thornton's effort for Heslington, before Allison (2) and Rastall made sure of the points.

Ouseburn & Hammerton were two goals down by half-time against visitors Huby, but turned the tables in the second half to run out 5-2 winners with goals from Darren Horsfield, Alistair Ramsey, Robert Youhill and Stuart Ramsey.

Elvington Harriers returned to league action with a 3-0 win at LNER Builders, Tom Hovington, John Garnham and Richard Walshaw scoring.

Olly Newby struck a hat-trick for Wilberfoss in their crunch division three promotion game at Selby RSSC.

Moor Lane remain top but they have played five games more than Wilberfoss and have a slender three-point advantage but they did their goal difference no harm with a 9-4 win over Heworth.

Goals from Andy Innes, Paul Jones (3), Andrew Metcalfe, Danny Yates (2), James Preston and Simon Gaines settled matters.

Two penalties helped Hemingbrough's Danny Smith to his hat-trick as they beat York RI 4-1 with Craig Welford adding the fourth.

Rawcliffe's woes continued as they went down 5-1 to Norton with Darren Heels managing their consolation goal.

Marton cum Grafton went down by the same margin at home to Amotherby & Swinton with Nick Westbury claiming their only goal.

Wheldrake entertained Strensall edged past hosts Wheldrake 3-2.

Goals from Matt Gomm and Sean Cane for Strensall were countered by Nick Henshaw and Steve Rawlinson, but the decisive goal was claimed by Matthew Brown.

More Leeper Hare reports later this week.

See page 19 for news on the York League representative side.

Updated: 11:14 Monday, March 10, 2003