IT was mixed fortunes for Woodbank when they came back to league duty this week.

Their results mean they have to win all their eight remaining matches to take the title.

On an ice-bound Glossop pitch the lads did well to survive a gale force blizzard and sub zero temperature to lead 1-0 at half-time through Rob Phillips.

When Steve Taylor chipped the home defence for Phillips to score from the restart, Woodbank took control.

Substitutes Simon Kelly (2), Stuart Hutton and Jake Heap, ably abetted by a Carl Greenhalgh 'special' made it 7-0 in a match ruined by the elements.

Sunday's match at leaders Denton Villa hinged on two astonishing refereeing decisions which left managers, players and spectators stunned with disbelief.

And they may eventually cost Woodbank the title.

A long Denton clearance found their left winger alone yards offside in the opening minutes. Astonishingly, play was waved on and a simple goal ensued.

Sixty seconds later the nonplussed visiting defence were carved apart for number two. This was to be Denton's last attacking contribution to the match.

After 65 minutes Stuart Kelly's corner was volleyed home by Wayne Dalton then two minutes later a Woodbank player was felled on the edge of the six-yard box.

The whistle blew with no home protests then the referee, still in the centre circle, gave the free kick outside the penalty area. Valiant Denton hung on grimly for a dramatic victory.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.