Despite the freezing weather only three of the scheduled 32 league games were postponed.

The Division One title race is proving keenly competitive with only two points separating the top four.

South Bank remained unbeaten until December but have now lost two on the trot, and both against title contenders. They went down 3-0 at Osbaldwick, conceding first-half goals to Danny Leach and Andy Triffitt and a third from Dave Watson in the second-half.

Huby moved out of the bottom two with a 2-1 win at home to Wigginton Black Horse who dropped into a relegation spot. Tom Green netted in the first half for Huby and Neil Newton responded before Andrew Metcalfe bagged the winner after the break.

Copmanthorpe just edged out T&L Selby 2-1 in the Division Two match of the day. The Selby side scored first but Lee Atkinson levelled before half time and Darren LeFevre grabbed the winner midway through the second half.

Second-placed Fulford managed three points at lowly Heworth but only just. The only goal of the game came in the 70th minute when Dave Houldridge let fly from 35 yards to beat the Heworth 'keeper.

Norton did well to take a point off third-placed Stamford Bridge but might regret not holding on for all three after Stewart Ellis had given them a first half lead. Nick Long equalised two minutes from time.

Stillington triumphed in the derby at Easingwold thanks to a last gasp winner from John Anderson. The same player gave Stillington a first half lead but the home side levelled in the 17th minute when the ball found its way into the Stillington net in a goal mouth scramble.

Heslington crashed 4-1 at at Haxby & Wigginton and can only blame themselves for missing numerous chances. As it was, Phil Kennedy and Richard Iggulden found the net for the home side before a Danny Walters' reply.

Jon Machin and Kevin Andrew completed the scoring after the break.

The Barmby Moor versus White Horse game was abandoned after 30 minutes as the pitch began to freeze with Barmby Moor leading 2-0. Barmby now face five games to be played on April evenings.

Sheriff Hutton bagged a 1-0 win at Wheldrake through Russell Holmes to remain top of Division Three.

Poppleton maintained their promotion tilt with a 4-1 home win over Hemingbrough. Craig Suttle, Richard Allman, Joe Vaughan and Matthew Graham were their marksmen.

LNER Builders had to settle for a point as they shared six goals with Rawcliffe Rangers. Each time the Builders had to level through John Dean, Jim Clayton and Andy Green - the last coming from the penalty spot five minutes from time.

Moor Lane staged a revival countering from 3-0 down to grab a point from Selby RSSC with strikes from Mick Kenyon, Danny Yates and a Paul Jones penalty.

Dringhouses are now ten points clear in Reserve 'A' despite not having a game.

Second-placed Kartiers came unstuck at Pocklington losing 4-1.

Ian Serginson scored the only goal of the first-half, but after the break Les Falkingham, Richard Millett and Scott Silburn made the points safe before Kartiers netted a consolation ten minutes from the final whistle.

The Wigginton derby went to Grasshoppers who just managed a 3-2 win over Black Horse.

Black Horse scored first when Simon Johnson hit the first of his two goals but James Wood levelled before half time. Luke Roberts netted twice in the second-half to give Grasshoppers the win but both teams remain deep in the relegation fight.

Haxby's plight at the foot of the table took a turn for the worse as they were thumped 9-0 at New Earswick.

Evergreens Tex Williamson and Kenny Tuite both helped themselves to hat-tricks, Martin Corr netted twice and Chris Smith weighed in with one. Unusually, Bishopthorpe find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone after losing 3-2 at South Bank. The home side took a 2-0 lead into half-time and added a third before Bishopthorpe staged a revival in the last half hour but could not find the extra goal.

Andy Noble, Adam Cook and Dave Kettlewell scored for South Bank with replies from Paul Broadbent and Graham Wigley.

Old Malton currently look the most likely team to challenge Dringhouses. They overcame a determined challenge from fourth-placed Huntington to win 3-2 with goals from Dave Bradshaw (2) and Paul Boyes. Chris Dower and Bradley Grimshaw responded for Huntington.

Osbaldwick and Malton Bacon Factory look to be breaking away from the chasing pack in the Reserve 'B' promotion race and are now nine points clear.

The former did not have a game but Malton Bacon Factory won a tight tussle at Riccall 3-2 after coming from behind to grab a late winner through Simon Collins.

The Bradley brothers, Liam and Gavin, netted for Riccall but Collins and Chris Bell twice brought the scores level before Collins' telling touch.

Two goals from Dave Bailey and one from Martin Reynolds helped Poppleton to a 3-1 home win over Boroughbridge.

Rufforth trailed 2-0 at home when Nigel Allison and Joe Robson scored for Barmby Moor but goals from Adam Errington, Paul Storr and Paul Hemingway (2) turned things around.

Stamford Bridge maintained the pressure on RESERVE 'C' leaders Copmanthorpe by winning 3-2 at Heslington.

Andy Webb netted twice for the home side but Stamford fought back with goals from Martin Smith (senior), Martin Smith (junior) and Darryl Carter.

Fulford thrashed Heworth 9-0, Robin Clyfan leading the way with four.

Updated: 11:31 Monday, December 31, 2001