Harrogate and District League KIRKBY Malzeard returned to action in the Premier Division after a five-week layoff with a tough home match against defending champions and current league leaders Thirsk Falcons.

The visitors arrived sitting four points clear of secondplaced Kirkby at the top of the table, so it was a match the hosts could not afford to lose if they wanted to keep in touch.

They were given the perfect start when Tom Murphy fired them into the lead inside the first minute following a mistake from the Thirsk keeper. Things got even better for Kirkby when Tom Leeming then doubled their advantage before the break, and he then sealed an invaluable three points for the hosts with his second on the hour to leave them just one point off the top.

Bedale also returned to action in fine style with a 2-1 win at Kirk Deighton Rangers. Marc Adams was the hero with a neat brace to take his tally for the season to 13 and lift Bedale into the top half of the table.

In Division One, Masham kept themselves in the promotion frame with a 3-0 home win over Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves.

Jack Richmond gave Masham an early lead, stabbing the ball home from close range following a cross from Shane Parkinson, and it was Richmond again who doubled their advantage before the break after good work from John Ault and Chris Garbutt.

Richmond should then have completed his hat-trick midway through the second half after Garbutt sent him clear but he hit his shot straight at the keeper, although Marcus Liburd did seal the points 20 minutes from time after another good ball from the outstanding Garbutt.

In Division Two Boroughbridge A eased their relegation fears with a 0-0 draw at Pannal Sports Reserves. In a low-key game, neither side could shake off the ring-rustiness after five weeks without playing and it finished goalless.

In Division Three, Bedale Reserves jumped to the top of the table with a 17-0 thrashing of bottom side Addingham Reserves.

Steve Dawson with a four-goal haul, Stu Adams with a hat-trick and a brace apiece from Andrew Sturdy and Dave Proud helped Bedale to the top, although they were just as pleased with a fifth straight clean sheet, a run almost unheard of at this level.

However, overnight leaders Ripon Red Arrows did feel the effects of the break as they saw their unbeaten league run brought to a shuddering halt with a 3-0 defeat at Wigton Moor Reserves.

Kirkby Malzeard A remain in trouble at the wrong end of the table after a 3-1 home defeat against Helperby United, despite a goal from Mark Renton.