ROSEDALE are now in pole position to claim the newitts.com Beckett League Division One title after two wins in four days propelled them to the top of the table.
Only The Valley can now overtake the league leaders – who overcame both Thornton le Dale and Ayton to move four points clear of Amotherby & Swinton at the summit – but it will be a tall order to do so.
Rosedale’s winning week began with a five-star display against Thornton le Dale on Wednesday night.
James Dunn scored twice, with Josh Butler, John Turnbull and substitute David Wilkinson also among the goals as the hosts built on their 3-1 half-time lead to cruise to a 5-2 victory.
Morgan Elven netted both of Dale’s goals, either side of the interval.
However, they found themselves behind as they entertained 10-man Ayton on Saturday – eventually scoring three times in the second half to turn the game on its head.
Eric Hall opened the scoring for Ayton in the 24th minute, with the visitors holding onto their slender advantage until the hour.
With their opponents visibly tiring after only able to field 10 players, Rosedale took full advantage, with Butler and Turnbull joining Paul Allsopp on the scoresheet to move them to the top of the table.
The only match in Division Two saw Fishburn Park Academy edge 10-man Goldsborough 2-1.
Goldsborough started on top in the swirling wind, with Ben Watson forcing the first save of the match with 10 minutes played.
He then squared to the onrushing George Sault on the half-hour, but after his effort had been turned away for a corner, Andy Martin could not keep his header the right side of the post as the sides played out a goalless opening half.
But the visitors were left facing an uphill battle after Jack Bowden was perhaps controversially sent off after a late tackle, and with 10 minutes remaining Fishburn finally found a breakthrough, playing the ball across the six-yard box before slotting home.
Goldsborough forced the home goalkeeper into a string of saves as they looked to come back into proceedings, only for Fishburn to extend their lead in added time with a lofted effort over Rob Ingham.
The visitors did dragged themselves onto the scoreboard late on after Adam Entwistle nodded in Phil Spencer’s far-post cross, but it was too little, too late, to kickstart a comeback.
Away from the league, Amotherby & Swinton earned their place in the final of the Scarborough District Cup with a 6-3 home victory over West Pier.
Mathew Webster’s brace paved the way for the hosts to progress, with George Peirson, Oliver Towse, Nathan Cross and Sam Flinton also finding the back of the net.
A Dec Richardson double and Will Jenkinson goal brought the scoreline back to 4-3, but after going down to nine men, Amotherby extended their lead, now setting up a final against Scarborough & District Saturday League leaders Edgehill at the Flamingo Land Stadium on May 1.
Heslerton sealed their place in the quarter finals of the Marisa Cup, but needed penalties to defeat Division One strugglers Bagby & Balk after a 2-2 draw at Sand Lane.
The hosts started like a train, with a mere 53 seconds on the clock when Jack Pinder finished off a well-worked team move to open the scoring.
And Pinder had his, and his side’s, second a quarter of an hour in, Jamie Atkinson chasing what seemed like a lost cause before Jake Allardice guided the ball into his path to stroke home.
Bagby halved the deficit on the half-hour from the penalty spot, and despite having been under the cosh, found a leveller from Ben Brown’s fine finish with an hour played.
Heslerton remained on top, but could not prevent penalties to settle the tie.
With Simon Clark having saved Bagby’s first two spot-kicks before seeing a third fired over his crossbar, it was left to Allardice to send the hosts through 3-0.
Ryedale are also safely through following their 4-2 triumph at home to Amotherby & Swinton Reserves.
Sam Turnbull opened the scoring for the hosts after 20 minutes, but they were pegged back by Alex Croall.
Turnbull saw a second cancelled out by Kyle Assanowicz on the hour, but late goals from Brody Norton-Hunter and Dan Greaves saw them run out winners.
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