Wensleydale Creamery League

THE start of the second half of the season was marred when theleague's leading marksman John Pickard of Carperby broke his right leg in his team's 6-2 victory at Middleham Town last Saturday.

The 18-year-old sustained the injury after 25 minutes of a goalless first-half and the game was delayed for 35 minutes while he was taken to hospital by ambulance. He is unlikely to play again this season.

With Steve Harrison on as substitute, Carperby took the lead on the hour with a header from Darren Percival and five minutes later the home side conceded an own goal. Midway through the half, Paul Stephenson scored direct from a corner to add a third and Nick Oliver made it 4-0.

A spectacular 40-yard effort from Stephenson increased the visitors' tally before Middleham reduced the arrears with goals from Richard Weedall and Lee Fawcett. In injury time Harrison netted Carperby's sixth.

Another injury, this time in Richmond Mavericks' home game with Leyburn, had a dramatic impact on the result as the home side reversed a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 and end their visitors' ten-match unbeaten run. Leyburn got off to a poor start when James Wilkinson saw his penalty saved by home keeper Gary England after 15 minutes, but they took the lead through Steve French after 22 minutes. Four minutes into the second half, Wilkinson made no mistake from a second spot-kick and the visitors looked to be heading for victory when Richard Meehan made it 3-0 on the hour.

With just ten minutes to go, Leyburn lost central defender Phil Crowe through injury and, having used their substitutes, were reduced to ten men for the rest of the game. Mavericks seized their chance and goals by Kris Wharton and Clive Layfield brought them back into the game. In the final minutes, Wharton equalised and in injury time John Sinclair netted the winner.

Hawes United moved to the top when they travelled to Swale Travaux and won 3-0. Wayne Winspear put them ahead after five minutes with an 18-yarder in off the crossbar and five minutes into the second half Nick Prince added a second. On the hour, Prince struck again to extend the visitors' recent unbeaten run to ten games.

Bishopdale's recent climb ended when they were beaten 4-1 at home by Spennithorne in a game switched to their ground. Paul Orton put the visitors in front after six minutes and midway through the half he added a second with a spectacular 30-yarder.

Just before the interval, the home side pulled a goal back with a penalty by Andy Reaks but after 58 minutes Neil Atkinson netted a third for Spennithorne. A quarter of an hour from the end, Gavin Atkinson settled the issue with a fourth goal.

Catterick Garrison suffered their third successive defeat when they travelled to Bowes and were beaten 2-0. Scott Walker gave the home side the lead after two minutes and Andrew Close quickly added a second. Garrison rarely threatened and Bowes came close to increasing their lead in the second half when Robert Wilkinson hit a post.

After two defeats Reeth returned to winning ways when they visited Redmire and won 4-1, despite going behind to a penalty by Andrew Hunter after 25 minutes.

Five minutes into the second half, Jonathan Simpson equalised for the visitors and goals from Steve Porter and Steve Clarks Askrigg maintained their recent good form with a 2-1 home victory over Catterick Village in a game switched to their ground. Dominic Gregson gave them a first-minute lead and on the hour Gary Cockerill added a second. Midway through the second half. Chris Seymour scored for Catterick.

In a delayed first round tie in the Medals competition, Richmond Buck travelled to Hawes B and won 5-3. The home side took the lead with a David Allen penalty after 20 minutes, but on the half-hour Buck equalised with a free kick.

Hawes hit the woodwork three times before Brad Sleightholme restored their lead on the hour, but they conceded an own goal to level the scores. After 65 minutes Sleightholme scored his second but in the closing stages Buck hit back to score three times and win through to the next round of the competition