NOVEMBER 10^th 2012

With York Minster Engineering Premier League Leaders Dunnington away on cup duty, the chasing pack of five clubs all took advantage to move three points nearer the leaders.

Wigginton put five goals past Easingwold Town for the second time this season, a Lee Stewart goal separated the sides at the break but the Grasshoppers hit four goals in the final half hour through Matt Tiplady, Lee McQuade – his 18^th of the season – Josh Hutchinson and Harry McMillan. It was the fourth game on the trot that Easingwold had conceded five goals. Huntington trailed to a Darren Sellars goal at York RI but levelled through John James before the break and a second half brace from Chris Dyson secured a 3-1 victory for Huntington.  Since gaining promotion to the Premier League Poppleton have never beaten Old Malton at home and despite a spirited performance the record stays intact, Robbie Baker put the Ryedale side in front but within 10 minutes Richard Moss had equalised and brother Nick,  hitting his third goal in as many games,  gave Pop the lead just before the break.

Two second half goals from Scott Preston – one from the spot -  condemned Pop to their eighth home game without a win. In a repeat of last season’s score line Dringhouses defeated York St Johns 2-0 with both goals, the first from Craig McShane, the second from Liam Stilgoe been provided by pin-point crosses from the left. Dringhouses have now beaten the students in their last five meetings. Tom Littlewood scored the only goal of the game as Terrington slipped to their first defeat in five as they lost 1-0 at home to Riccall. Selby RSSC are still looking for their first home win the Premier League after going down 2-1 to Copmanthorpe despite taking an early lead. Mark Featherstone equalised for Cop before Chris Storey hit their winner from the penalty spot. Adam Fishwick gave basement side Hamilton Panthers the lead at Rowntrees but the lead lasted just eight minutes before Ken Davis restored parity with a penalty. In the second half Joe Cox sealed a 2-1 win for Rowntrees.

Division One leaders Aviva suffered their first away defeat in ten games as a goal in each half, the first from John Marshall, the second from Rory McCray condemned them to a 2-0 defeat at White Horse, it was the Church Fenton sides 13^th home game without a defeat. Aviva’s last defeat was in December at White Horse. St Clements moved on level points with the insurance side at the top of the table after they extended their unbeaten run over Tockwith to six games with a 1-0 win,  Scott Nicholas hit the only goal of the game. Haxby moved out of the bottom two after they secured their first win in five matches with a 2-1 win at Amotherby, Simon Wall equalised for the hosts after Nathan Green had put Haxby in  front and the win was confirmed by Dale Waddington two minutes from time.                  

As a consequence of the top two sides in Division Two both suffering away defeats, the top five sides are now separated by just two points. Previous leaders Fulford went down 2-0 at Strensall where Lee Lyons and Danny Mason were on target for the hosts and second placed Osbaldwick lost 3-2 at Heslington. Two goals from Martin Pepper and one from Lee Topping saw Heslington race into a comfortable lead at the break and though O’s scored twice after the break Heslington, who have not lost at home to Osbaldwick since October 2007,   held on to their lead and become the new league leaders. Tadcaster Magnets extended their unbeaten home run to 19 matches after they drew 2-2 with Stamford Bridge, Chris Bowles put Stamford in front but before the interval Adam Standridge and Phil Smith had turned the game in Taddy’s favour only for Nick Shaw to salvage a draw for Stamford 20 minutes from time. Joe Gardham put Bishopthorpe ahead inside the first minute at Rawcliffe but the hosts recovered to earn a point from a 3-3 draw, Tom Botterill and Simon Wilson (2) were on target for Rawcliffe with Ben Jones – the divisions leading scorer – added to a second for Gardham,  replying for Bish.

The top four sides clashed in Division Three and it was the home sides that triumphed. Previous leaders F1 Racing on the back of a 12 match unbeaten run and visiting Barmby Moor. a side that they had beaten in the last five encounters but it proved to be unlucky 13 for F1 as they went down 4-3 despite Dan Cooper giving them an early advantage. John Hardcastle levelled before the break, and three goals in fifteen minutes from Simon Houlder and two from Curtis Barker put Barmby well in control though F1 did reduce the arrears with late goals from George Trifan and Rich Proctor. Bishop Wilton moved to the top of the table  but only on goal difference which had been improved with their 8-1 win at Rufforth. Tom Knowles maintained his sequence of scoring in every game in some style as he hit four of their goals with Tom Wood (2) Krammer Smith and Darren Woodhead completing their tally. Selby Olympia recorded their first away win since last November as they won 2-1 at Huby, Lee Briscombe netted for the hosts and a goal in each half, the first from Alistair Brown, the second from Mike Edam earned Sporting Knavesmire a first win of the season as they defeated Ouseburn 2-0. Civil Service chalked up their second successive home draw and Crayke their third away draw on the trot as the two sides drew 3-3, Craig Teaker and Chris Smith raced the home side into a two goal lead before Crayke levelled through Stu Pierce and Dam Smith, an own goal restored the lead for Civil Service but Matty Warrinner levelled again for Crayke.

No change at the top of Division Four as the top two sides both recorded comfortable away wins. Second placed Tadcaster Town won 5-1 at Huntington FC, Pete Webster bagged the solitary home goal while leaders York Acorn won 6-1 at LNER Builders. Within the first 20 minutes Builders had their keeper dismissed for an handling error but managed to restrict the visitors to just a single goal in the first half but a brace each for Wilson Briggs and brothers Andy and Leigh Dutton ensured that Acorns maintained their 100% away record this term. Dean Machin hit the lone Builders reply. Wheldrake registered their first away win since October 2010 as they won 3-2 at Melbourne, Geddis Lababuskis and Kieran Hartnell hit the Melbourne goals but George Ledley (2) and Ben Patchesa won it for Wheldrake. Moor Lane conceded two goals in the opening ten minutes in their home encounter with Selby Town Res before rallying with goals from John Langley, Tyler Dawson (2) and Adam Bunce as Moor Lane won 4-3.   

Three second half goals helped Reserve A leaders Wigginton extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches as they won 3-1 at Old Malton despite  a Neil Wilford penalty giving the Ryedale side the half-time lead. Rob Orr levelled for the Grasshoppers before goals from Craig Huggins and Ben Thompson confirmed Wigginton’s first league win at Malton in six attempts. Huntington Rovers cruised to their first league win of the season as they trounced Hamilton Panthers 8-1, Lee Bunce marked his Huntington debut with four of their goals. Reece Derbyshire, Shaun Ellerby, Ash Hill and Gareth Hirst shared the others. Dan Hilton hit a hat-trick for Haxby as they defeated Copmanthorpe 3-1 to push their unbeaten home run to 4 matches, Cops last win at Haxby in the league was in October 2008.

The top two sides in Reserve B both won and subsequently have opened up a five point lead over the chasing pack. Leaders Easingwold crushed York St Johns 8-1 with half their tally scored by Andrew Metcalfe (Snr), Ben Tilley and a hat-trick from Andrew Metcalfe (Jnr) completed the rout. Second placed White Horse scored all their three goals at Amotherby inside the first 20 minutes as they chalked up their fourth away win on the bounce. The Church Fenton goals were shared between Kyle Hesling, Adam Beavers and James Mason.  Aviva’s Dave Butchart scored for the third game on the trot when he gave his side the lead at Bishopthorpe but Bish snatched a point with a Andy Fenwick equaliser as the game finished 1-1.

Reserve C is developing into an interesting scenario with the top six sides separated by just two points. Poppleton currently take pole position after securing their first away draw since March 2009 (31 games) with a 2-2 draw at Rowntrees.  Shaun Stewart hit a double for the hosts before Chris Crawford reduced the deficit and Justin Benford equalised. Only goal difference denies Thorpe Utd top spot in the table after they just edged local rivals Hemingbrough by the odd goal in nine, Jamie Broughton (2) Byron Summers (2) and Danny Mustill bagged for Thorpe whilst the Hemingbrough goals were shared between Ricky Hutton and Alex Bentley.  Stamford Bridge took the local bragging rights for the first time in seven years following their derby win over neighbours Wilberfoss. After a goalless first half Matt Free, Jamie Rank and Gareth Owen fired Stamford into a three goal lead before the visitors hit back through James Parkin and Matty Holes but Fraser Henderson made it 4-2 and sealed the win with a late goal. Tockwith hit two late goals through Phil Wardman and an og to snatch a 4-4 draw at home to Strensall, earlier the visitors led through Martin Stone, Harris Sanderson and a Jamie Lawrence brace with the hosts opening goals both from John Richardson. It was Tockwith’s first draw in 14 but Strensalls second successive 4-4. 

Reserve D leaders Crayke maintained their 100% record as they defeated third in the table F1 Racing 4-1, the sides went into the interval on level terms after Matty Bilham   - scoring for the fourth game on the trot –had given Crayke the lead but before the break Mark Foster levelled for F1 After the break Crayke seized the game and the points  with further goals from Mark Parrish, Rob Steel and a second of the game for Bilham.

Rufforth’s Tom Bateson maintained his record of scoring in every game this season when he hit his sides second goal in their 4-4 draw with second in the table Civil Service, Gareth Strain, the division top goal scorer,  hit a brace for Civil Service as did his teammate Ross Dixon while the other Rufforth goals came from Steve Fratson, and a Rupert Rogers double. Two goals from Adam Harrison helped his St Clements side record their first away of the season with a 5-2 win at Wheldrake, the Saints remaining goals came from Gareth Moore, Ricky Murray and Mark Harrison with Tom Anderson and James Walton replying for Wheldrake.