THE LEAGUE returned to action last Saturday after a five-week lay off and defending champions – and current leaders – Bowes were made to fight all the way for a 3-1 win at Spennithorne and Harmby.

Rory Edwards gave the champions a narrow half-time advantage, but Craig Marwood looked to have earned Spenni an unexpected, but fully-deserved, point with a close range equaliser ten minutes from time.

However, the league’s leading scorer Wayne Thwaites restored the Bowes’ advantage from the penalty spot just five minutes later, before he sealed the points in the final minute with his 32nd goal of another prolific season.

Buck Inn Broncos moved back up to second place with a 9-2 home win over Reeth. Ben Hodgson led the way with a fourgoal haul while Phil Stirling, with a hat-trick, and Mickey Sartini with a brace sealed a comfortable Broncos victory.

Steve Bainbridge and Andy Johnson had earlier found the target for the visitors who had been in good form before the winter break.

Richmond Town Academy, who had started the day in second place, dropped down to third after they were surprisingly held to a 3-3 draw at Redmire United.

In fact, it could have been a whole lot worse for the Academy as goals from James McGregor, Joe Willis and Stuart Dent gave Redmire a 3-0 half-time advantage but the visitors fought back in the second half with a brace from Simon Wood and a strike from Mickey Dale to earn themselves a point.

Colburn Town kept the pressure on the leaders with a 7-1 win at neighbours Unicorn FC.

Carl Pottinger and Nige Cole both struck twice while Stuart Murray, Scott Morton and Nick Jenkins were also on target for Colburn, with Luke Dent scoring the hosts’ consolation.

Leyburn United were in the goals as they won 12-0 at bottom side Hawes B. Oliver Anderson struck twice in the first half, while Glynn Barnard and Pete Westwood, with his first goal for more than three years, ended the match as a contest before the break.

Chris Greig made it five shortly after the restart, while Anderson and Barnard then hit two more each to complete their hattricks before Westwood added his second. Greig then became the third Leyburn player to complete a hat-trick ten minutes from time, while substitute Jordan Braithwaite completed the scoring in the closing stages.

Buck Inn Old Boys were another team to find their shooting boots after the Winter break as they won 9-2 at Askrigg United.

Mickey White headed home a cross from player-manager Paul Ramsay to give the visitors an early lead, while Anthony Mc- Geough, Steve Ellison and John Bishton then sealed the points before half-time.

Hayden Miles and Gary Cockerill were then both on target for Askrigg, but White and Bishton added two more each to complete their hat-tricks, while a penalty from Gary Eggleston completed the rout.

Richmond Mavericks A ended a poor run of results with a 4-1 win at inconsistent Carperby Rovers.