1^st DECEMBER 2012

None of the top four sides in the York Minster Engineering Premier League collected maximum points in a day in which there were fewer postponements than expected considering the assortment of weather during the week.

Premier League Leaders Dunnington were held to a goalless draw at home by Riccall but extend their unbeaten run to 20 games,  the corresponding fixture last season,  also finished all-square.  In virtually a two horse for the Premier League Championship,  Dunnington sit eight points clear of Wigginton but have played two games more. Third placed Huntington suffered a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of the “away-day specialists” Terrington Glory despite taking an early lead through Tom Walters. Jordan Grose levelled for the visitors and Alex Yeats eighth goal of the season proved to be the winner for Terrington who are unbeaten in their last 13 away trips. Fourth placed Copmanthorpe visited a revitalised Hamilton Panthers on the back of three successive away wins but had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Christian Fox’s opener for Panthers was cancelled out by a Ben Sheehan penalty, the Cop Keepers third spot kick success this season. It was Cop’s first away draw in 23 games, their previous draw was also at Panthers, in April 2011. A goal in each half, the first from Danny Fogg , the second from Dean Nuttall secured a 2-0 home win for Old Malton against Dringhouses.

Many of the Aviva players attended Mark Benton’s wedding yesterday but none appeared worse for wear, (including the Groom !)  as Division One leaders Aviva pushed their unbeaten home run to 7 games with a  2-0 home win over Total Sports. A fortuitous deflection separated the sides at the break before Neil Richardson wrapped up the points with his eighth goal of the season. Tockwith failed to score an away goal for the third game on the trot as they lost 2-0 at Malton & Norton, on target for the Ryedale side were Marcus Godsell, scoring for the third game on the bounce, and Kingsley Daffern    

All three games in Division Two went in favour of the hosts, Heslington were three goals up inside 10 minutes in their encounter with Thorpe before eventually winning 10-3 and as a consequence move to the top of the table. The double figure tally included a hat-trick for Alex Sutherland, a brace each for John Pipe and Dave Ingle and one each from Andy Gray and Lee and Danny Topping. Osbaldwick extended their unbeaten home run to 4 games with a 4-3 win over Strensall and in doing so inflicted a first defeat of the season on their opponents.   The O’s raced into three goal lead through Ellis Turbine and two goals from Tom Wheatlands before a Strensall rally which was aided by two own goals, Jack Wilson levelled for the visitors before Nick Lawrie hit the  Osbaldwick winner. Cliffe move out of the relegation zone after their 3-1 home win over Bishopthorpe, Tom Hogg struck twice for the hosts with their third from Paul Tanton.

As Division Three leaders Bishop Wilton were without a fixture the chasing pack of three all took the opportunity to move three points closer. Barmby Moor moved into a second place on goal difference,  after they hit eight unanswered goals past struggling Crayke. Their tally was shared between Chris Tatterton (2) Will Nicholson, Simon Houlder, Jamie Sedman, Curtis Brooke, Andrew Palfreyman and Alex Downey.  F1 Racing slip down to third place despite their 3-1 win at Ouseburn. Richard Dwight,  who has netted 10 of the 12 Ouseburn goals this season, gave the home side an early lead but Neil Yeowart levelled before the break, George Trifan, scoring for the sixth consecutive game put F1 in front and the win was confirmed as Yeowart hit his second of the match.  Fourth placed Civil Service trailed to an early goal at home to Selby Olympia but hit back through Craig Theaker and Chris Smith to win 2-1 and maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Rufforth and Elvington shared the points for the second season running as they drew 4-4, Daniel Whitcombe, Connor Hares, James Everhard and Steve Gagen bagged for Rufforth with Neil Alexander, Ben Small, Tim Carrington and Sam Martin doing likewise for the Harriers.

Division Four leaders York Acorn came from 2-1 down to eventually win 8-2 at Wheldrake with half their tally from Leigh Dutton, brother Andy, scoring for the fourth game on the trot weighed in with a brace and their scoring was completed with a goal each from Lee Jacobs and Jordan Pearce, Steve Rawlinson and Jason McCloud replied for Wheldrake. LNER Builders kept their promotion hopes alive with a 4-2 win in an entertaining game at Moor Lane.  Nathan Berry gave the hosts the lead after just five minutes but in a 20 minute spell the visitors hit three goals before James Shaw reduced the arrears before the break but Builders confirmed their third away win on the trot with a fourth goal three minutes from time, Sam Hill and Dean Machin shared the Builder goals.  Melbourne registered their first home win since 3rd December 2011 with a 1-0 win over Huntington FC, Jamie Sellars hit the all important goal in the second half.

The top-of-the-table-clash in Reserve A finished all square just like they did last season,  as Dunnington drew 4-4 at Wigginton.  Grasshoppers, unbeaten in their previous 15 home games led through Craig Huggins and a Tom Metcalfe penalty before Steve Haddin reduced the arrears.  Rob Orr restored Wigginton’s two goal cushion but a Rob Hart goal just before the break ensured Dunnington were still in the game. Dave Thompson made it 4-2 but another Hart goal and a second from Haddin ensured the spoils were shared and Dunningtons unbeaten run of 22 games continues. Wigginton were the last team to defeat Dunnington in September 2011.  Dringhouses cruised to their first win over Haxby since January 2006 as they won 6-0 with their goals shared between James Kilmartin, Luke Whittaker, Sam Kitson, Tom Haws Stuart Jenkins and Sam Clipton. Old Malton hit five goals at Riccall for the second successive season as they won 5-3 with a double each from Jack Thackray and Dean Leadill and one from Adam Newall, Jim Darlison, Jake Garner and Trev Robinson replied for Riccall.  York RI avenged last seasons 7-2 mauling at the hands of Hamilton Panthers with a 8-0 drubbing of the same opposition, Dave McNichol hit four of their goals to add to a Danny Wood treble and one from Dave Clarke.

White Horse moved within a point of Reserve B leaders Easingwold after their 3-2 home win over Heslington, Jake Longstaff scored twice for the  Church Fenton side to add to a Tom Parnaby strike. Adam Lewis hit both Fulford’s goals in their 2-1 home win over Tadcaster while Ash Newton hit a hat-trick for Pocklington as they defeated Bishopthorpe 5-3, Mike Stacey and Nick Daniels completed the Pock scoring.

The top-of-the-table clash in Reserve C went comfortably in favour of Selby RSSC as they defeated Poppleton 5-2, the Selby side led at the break courtesy of a Kyle Pool brace and increased their lead further through Rich Milner and Janos Takacs before Danny Barrett scored twice for Pop but Josh Knowles late goal ended any hope for Pop. As a result of Poppleton’s defeat Malton & Norton move into second place following their 5-3 victory at Tockwith, Ed Marwood,  Joe Jefferson (2),  Nigel Allen and Steve Hoggard shared the Ryedale sides goals with Scott Poulter (2) and Henry Burton replying for Tockwith. Jamie Broughton (2) scored for the third game on the trot as his Thorpe side beat Wilberfoss 4-1, Chris Allen replied for Foss with Glen Littlewood and Matty Pearce completing the scoring for the Selby side.

Reserve D Leaders Crayke maintained their 100% record but only just as Glen Forester scored the only goal as Crayke beat Rufforth 1-0. Civil Service’s last away defeat was on the 3^rd December last year and despite falling behind to a Tom Wood goal at Bishop Wilton they eventually ensured their record exceeds a year as they won 4-2, Ross Dixon’s first of his two goals brought Civil Service level before Mark Lund and Declan Parks added further goals for Civil Service with Will Steele adding a late goal for the hosts. Chris Rowan scored twice for St Clements in their 7-0 win at Cliffe, Gareth Moore, Joe Hamilton, Ricky Murray, Tom Perkins and Adam Harrison completed the Saints tally.