Northants Senior Youth League

Corby Town maintained leadership of the Northants Senior Youth League East Division after a hard-fought 1-0 win against Yaxley.

Ben Williams scored the only goal for the young Steelmen at Steel Park and they head the table by a point from reigning overall champions Peterborough Northern Star, who also won.

They beat an Eynesbury Rovers side who started the evening in third place with Ben Catanach scoring twice and Reece Currie once, cancelling out Jamie Hutchinson`s effort for the visitors.

S&L leap-frogged Eynesbury into third spot after two home wins in three days against the bottom two teams.

Thrapston were the first victims, beaten 3-0 at Occupation Road, although the young visitors gave a good account of themselves and Luke O`Dell in goal gave a particularly inspired performance.

The hosts led through Brane Dujic`s header at the break, and Jon Dean and Adam Saunders added further goals in the second period, with O`Dell and the woodwork combining to keep the scoreline down to 3-0.

S&L followed that up with an even more comprehensive win against second-bottom Rushden & Higham United.

A young and spirited Lankies outfit looked like heading for a real walloping as Macauley McBride helped himself to a first half hat-trick that he could almost have doubled but for some last-ditch defending.

Dean added a second half header and Adam Wilson completed the nap-hand after a fine move involving six S&L players.

The West Division is boiling up for an exciting finale.

For the majority of the season it looked as though Cogenhoe United would stroll to the title, but back-to-back defeats has seen them lose the leadership and give AFC Kempston, Woodford United and, as outsiders, ON Chenecks, the chance to take the crown.

Last week Chenecks beat the Cooks to take over as leaders – this week Kempston, who have games in hand, won 4-0 at Compton Park.

Ben Walsh bagged a brace for the visitors, with Arron Ramsey and Gareth Hunt adding the others.

Woodford maintained their late charge after beating bottom-markers Bugbrooke St Michaels by the same scoreline at Birds Close with Logan Roberts on target twice and Ryan Merry and Ed Kostiuk netting singles.

And with Woodford`s last three games being against Chenecks, Kempston and Cogenhoe, they really have a great chance to come through the pack to take the title.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds finished their first-ever league campaign with a comfortable win over a battling Olney Town side at Kiln Park.

And it was James Harrison`s evening as a crowd of 281 saw the young striker score all of the goals in their 4-0 success.

He bagged a first half brace and then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot around the hour-mark after he had been brought down by the visiting keeper, and then added the fourth in stoppage time.

(Contender of `photo of the year` by Mal Swinden)