Big win for Shelf FC in title bid

Callum Lewis scored four times and Alex O’Keefe got the other three as the fifth-placed visitors were put to the sword.

The win left Shelf 13 points behind leaders Ryburn with five games in hand.

There was a second 7-0 win in the Premier with Sowerby Bridge cutting loose against lowly Calder ‘76. There were four goals from Luke Maguire and a couple from Damian Watkins.

The good news for Calder is that they are safe after Northowram lost 4-3 at home to Greetland in their penultimate contest.

The damage was done for the next-to-bottom Rams when they conceded four goals in the first 30 minutes.

The tall figure of John Crowther proved a real handful and he headed his side in front after four minutes, only for visiting keeper Greg Taylor’s “air shot” from a harmless back pass to leave Lewis Oldridge with the simplest of chances.

Greetland scored three times in seven minutes through two more headers from Crowther, when then set up Tom Wall to make it 1-4.

A Greetland penalty bounced before clearing the bar and four minutes from half-time Oldridge gave the struggling Rams a lifeline when he converted a spot kick.

The Rams had the better of a scrappy second half and Jake Baker’s well-struck volley from distance on 53 minutes accounted for their third goal. Ash Smee hit a post and both keepers made good saves.

The Rams stay above Illingworth St Mary’s on goal difference after the Saints lost 5-2 away to Shelf United on the Lightcliffe Academy 3G.

Billy Grogan was the star performer with four goals for the hosts, who remain third.

Saints hit the woodwork early on but Grogan scored twice in quick success after balls into the box from Elliot Parkinson and then Hayden Finch.

A mix-up in defence allowed Luke Prosser to reduce the deficit before half time but replacement Brad Etheridge made it 3-1 with a decent finish.

Grogan added to his tally with a superb half-volley from the corner of the area into the top corner.

Prosser scrambled a second for Saints and Grogan struck a post with a penalty before adding his fourth two minutes later.

Monday - Premier Division: Midgley United v Northowram, Shelf FC v Greetland, Sowerby Bridge v Hebden Royd Red Star.

Division One: Calder 76 Res v Illingworth St Marys Res.

Division Two: AFC Crossleys Res v Greetland AFC Res, Shelf United Res v Sowerby Bridge Res.

Ziggy’s Metro Cars Invitation Cup final: Flying Dutchman v Shelf FC Res.

Wedndesday - Premier Division: Greetland v Ryburn United, Midgley United v Shelf FC, Sowerby Bridge v Illingworth St Mary’s, Sowerby United v Shelf United.

Division One: Brighouse Sports v Holmfield, Salem v Denholme United.

Division Two: AFC Crossleys Res v Northowram Res.