MALTON ‘A’ increased their lead in the York Conservative Clubs’ Carlsberg UK Snooker League to five points after a close 4-3 win over Fulford ‘B’.

They went 3-2 ahead through Dominic Spiteri, Simon Weatherill (58 break) and Lee Taylor (34 bk) against replies by Jim Rollinson and Bob Smith, the over-50s champion.

Roger Ward won the match before Andy Warriner earned Fulford’s third point.

Fulford ‘A’ blew away thoughts of their six consecutive defeats at the start of the season by notching up a fifth win on the bounce, moving them up two places to second spot.

Roland Cox won the first game then James Lee, Luke Fleet and Mike Walsh moved Fulford 3-1 ahead.

Mark Calpin responded but Tim Lister and Alan Reed made it a 5-2 victory for Fulford.

Heworth ‘A’ moved level on points with Fulford ‘A’ after a narrow defeat of Acomb ‘B’, who dropped two places to fifth.

Neil Wood (56 bk), Nick Dyson and Gary Douglas made it 3-0 before captain Steve Rodgers replied.

Kevin Gall sealed the win, but Andy Stone and John Ashwell held the score at 4-3.

Bootham ‘B’ came back from 3-1 behind to make it six consecutive defeats for their ‘A’ team.

Paul Mahoney (27 bk) won the first frame then Chris Dower, Tim Fillingham and John Darley (20 bk) moved the ‘A’ team 3-1 ahead.

Captain Colin Robinson thought he’d won the match after potting the blue but Matt Smith got the required snooker then fluked the black.

Lionel Barnes (25 bk) and Ian Robinson, who held off Barry Rankin (38 bk) to win on the colours after Rankin had gone in-off after potting the last red, made it a 4-3 success for the ‘B’ team.