BOOTHAM ‘A’ maintained their lead at the top of the York Conservative Clubs Carlsberg UK Snooker League table despite losing 4-3 in a thriller at home to Fulford ‘B’.

The match went to the wire - a re-spotted black - in a deciding frame.

Fulford’s Bob Smith only needed one colour to win it but Jeff Brown potted them all to level the scores. Brown had chances on the deciding black but Smith took the acclaim.

Russ Shaw had earlier put Fulford one up as he beat Tim Fillingham (20 break), potting a long blue and pink for the frame.

Rob Barron cleared up from brown to black to beat Dean Smith and level, but Phil Cook got home on the black against Andy Wynn.

There was then a long drawn-out game between Barry Rankin (24 break) and Lee Eldridge, the latter taking pink to put Fulford 3-1 up.

Bootham got back into it, though, with Stuart Martel never in danger of losing against Fabian Sueess before Colin Robinson beat Dave Coggan to set up the decider.

Acomb ‘A’ pipped Heworth ‘A’ 4-3 in another cracker - albeit marred as the latter had only six players so forfeited a decisive frame.

Acomb’s Dan Potter (30 break) recovered from a 56-point handicap to beat Keith Watkinson, but Mark Hodson beat Richard Lillie to level and Neil Wood made a 73 break as he came back from 54 points down to beat Nick Marchant and put Heworth ahead - going top of the Pasema Highest Break Award leaderboard in the process.

Paul Holmes took the last three colours to beat Nick Dyson and level, and team-mate Jon Milner (27 break) played well to beat Clive Whyte. Mick Borg looked like taking the sixth from for Acomb, too, but a massive kick on the blue let Mark Winskill in and he potted the last three colours to win the frame.

Fulford ‘A’ whitewashed to go joint-second with Acomb ‘A’.

Dave Atkin, Tom Lewis, Sam England and Tom Wilson beat Alan Sherry, Dan Pawson, Dominic Spiteri and Roger Ward respectively.

Pete Dunmore potted well, leaving Malton captain Phil Hart to concede with all the colours on the table, while Sam Parkinson won a tough frame against Chris Atkinson on the pink. Alan Reed beat Shaun Pawson to complete victory.

Andi Ireland made an 54 break to beat Acomb ‘B’s Steve Rodgers but his Heworth ‘B’ side lost 4-3.

Peter Revis had given Heworth a good start, beating Chris Nicholson, but Nick Goodacre beat Andy Ogley and Kevin Ventress beat Ian Strickland to put Acomb ahead.

John Sherlock levelled against Andy Morgan and Ireland put Heworth 3-2 up, but Acomb’s Andy Stone (22 break) and Jeff Winter (33 break) struck back against Pete Henderson and Simon Whiteley.