THE slow thaw came too late to save most of the scheduled Leeper Hare York and District League programme but nine games were completed.

Post Office, the division one table-toppers, entertained fourth-placed Osbaldwick and the game remained scoreless until the 70th minute when the visitors took the lead with a deft chip.

Minutes later James Bonarious equalised with a 20-yard free-kick and the points were shared.

Thorpe managed a 5-2 win over St John's College to keep themselves on the fringe of the promotion race.

Shane Singleton caught the Students cold in the first minute to put Thorpe in front and added a second 20 minutes later.

Emmett Clerkin got St John's back into the game when he netted five minutes before the break but Thorpe regained command on the restart with a goal from Alan Ward and two from Craig Anderson.

Rob Burton managed another for the Students when he scored from the penalty spot 15 minutes from the final whistle.

Only one game survived in division two and Heslington took advantage by easing their relegation worries with a 3-2 home win over Hamilton Panthers.

Gary Newbould, Paul Clarke and Danny Walters put Heslington three up by half-time although the Panthers missed a penalty.

It was a different Panthers side after the break and on the hour Simon Marshall netted to make a game of it.

Ten minutes later Steve Stone hit a second for the Panthers to set up a tense finale but Heslington managed to hold out for the win.

Sheriff Hutton increased their lead at the top of division three by winning the top-of-the-table clash with second-placed Poppleton 4-1.

It was Poppleton who took the lead through Chris Balmer after ten minutes and they controlled the game for the first half hour, but a goal from Simon Roy levelled matters before half-time and Sheriff Hutton took over in the second half.

Steve Aconley fired Sheriff Hutton in front, their third came from an own goal and Aconley rounded things off with his second of the game.

Dunnington and Wigginton Grasshoppers shared the points with a 2-2 draw in Reserve A with all the goals coming in the first half.

Neil Martin put Dunnington in front when he scored direct from a corner and Paul Fowler made it 2-0 with a 30-yard shot.

Liam Holmes reduced the arrears for Grasshoppers in the 35th minute and just before half-time Ian Atkinson equalised.

Neither side could find the net in the second half but Luke Roberts missed a golden chance to win it for Grasshoppers when he shot wide after breaking clear of the Dunnington defence in the 85th minute.

Pocklington came away from Bishopthorpe with three points after a 2-0 win.

Ian Serginson opened the scoring for Pocklington and claimed he had a part in the second goal although it has been credited as an own goal. Once again both goals came in the first half.

Copmanthorpe moved four points clear in Reserve C with a 3-1 victory after their home game with White Horse survived the weather.

Paul Scurry gave them a one-goal advantage in the first half when he beat the White Horse goalkeeper with a clever chip and after the break the prolific Callum McKay sealed the win with two more goals.

White Horse pulled one back when Nigel Chester scored from a twice-taken penalty.

Updated: 12:18 Monday, January 07, 2002