Leeper Hare York and District League

BOTH Malton teams in the premier league picked up three points last Saturday. Malton Bacon Factory maintained pole position in the premier league, making it six wins out of six, whilst Old Malton got back to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph at Bishopthorpe.

Leaders Factory comfortably beat Selby-based Riccall 4-0 at home. The game was only two minutes old when Nicky Cass's free-kick fell into the path of Lee Dunning, who shot past the keeper from close range.

It was one-way traffic from then on, event though MBF were not playing in top gear. Simon Collins notched the team's second goal on 40 minutes after good work from Lee Dunning and Nathan Milner down the right flank. Despite MBF's 2-0 interval lead, manager Wayne Read was far from happy about the number of chance's his side had missed.

His stern team-talk seemed to work as MBF stepped up a gear in the second half and played some attractive football.

Wayne Hazel and Tommy Oxtoby combined well down the left, whilst Jamie Barker and Nicky Cass looked calm and composed in the central defence, leaving goalkeeper Lee Rushworth a virtual spectator.

Nicky Drew and Darryl Craggs linked well to create MBF's third goal. Drew's accurate pass sent Craggs clear, whose

exquisite chip over the Riccall keeper left him scrambling and unable to stop the ball going into the net. A fourth goal followed when Nigel Allen coolly finished after being set up by Drew.

New signing Marcus Lee was then introduced with fellow subs Wayne Pillmore and Carl Stuttard being brought on soon afterwards. More goals should have followed but the visitor's goalkeeper was in excellent form, making fine saves from Milner, Dunning and Oxtoby.

Manager Read was pleased with his side's the second half performance, but knows there is still more to come. This week's game against Huntington has been postponed.

Old Malton, with a much-changed side following a pre-season exodus from the club, had the better of the opening half hour against Bishopthorpe, with Paul Boyes and Phil Hill looking dangerous. But neither side were creating clear-cut chances until the 35th minute when a Bishopthorpe throw-in was intercepted by Hill and he raced away unopposed to beat the Bishopthorpe keeper.

The home side settled after the interval and began to create chances. After a spell of pressure in which they hit the crossbar, they were awarded a penalty which Greg Fitzmaurice duly netted.

Their joy was short lived as, straight from the kick-off, the lively Boyes restored the Malton lead from close range.

Updated: 09:55 Wednesday, September 18, 2002