Football: Late goals help Union Rovers continue winning run (From Gazette & Herald)

Football: Late goals help Union Rovers continue winning run

3:12pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Sport

Union Rovers were given a few shocks before they maintained their 100 per cent record in the newitts.com Beckett League on Saturday.

They eventually beat mid-table Bagby & Balk 4-0 but three of the goals were scored in the last 10 minutes Ashley Cooke put them ahead midway through the first half and the second half was end to end until Rovers made the game safe as Cooke completed a hat-trick before Phil Smith netted with two minutes remaining.

Centre-back Chris Cook was Union’s man of the match.

Second-placed Kirkbymoorside Reserves won 4-2 at Norton United.

The hosts were much the better team in the first half but the Moorsiders took the lead through Jason Brown on the half-hour mark.

Josh Milner equalised with a 20-yard free-kick five minutes before half-time, but Jason Brown crossed the ball for Lee Nesfield to restore Kirkby’s lead just before the interval.

The Moorsiders played much better in the second half and scored through Bradley Spink – his first ever senior goal – and with an own goal from a Jason Brown cross. Five minutes from time, Norton’s right-midfielder Milner, their man of the match, pulled a goal back with an unstoppable 20-yard shot.

Joe Witty also impressed in midfield for Norton, while Max Fraser was Kirkbymoorside’s star man, with Aaron Rivis, Brown and Spink also standing out.

Ryedale Sports Club maintained their 100 per cent record in division two with a 5-1 win at Rillington Athletic Reserves.

Man of the match teenager Jamie Fewster scored a hat-trick – his first in senior football – with goals after six, seven and 16 minutes, with Matty Gardner, Tom Tate and Steve Stead the respective creators.

Rillington pulled a goal back through Ryan Oxendale’s 25-yard free-kick but Ryedale netted again on 33 minutes when a Ryan Boyes corner found Matty Gardner who swivelled around a defender and scored with his left foot.

In the second half, Chris Rhodes combined well with Fewster to set up Boyes to seal the win.

Centre-back Graham Smith was Rillington’s top performer.

Second-placed Union Rovers 2nds tasted defeat for the first time this season in the league when they visited Heslerton Reserves who were bottom but rose to ninth after this much improved all-round performance and 3-2 victory.

Tom Harrison gave Heslerton an early lead and Ryan Cooper equalised.

Rovers were then awarded a penalty, with Heslerton goalkeeper Gavin Leppington carried off. Substitute ’keeper Gareth Driver superbly saved Richard Abbey’s spot-kick, and Heslerton went on to lead 3-1 at the interval thanks to goals by Tom Delaney and Harrison.

Fifteen minutes from time Union scored their second with a Mark Craig own goal, but Heslerton held out. Ryan Cooper, in midfield, was Union’s top performer.

Slingsby and Aislaby United drew 4-4 in a rearranged game.

Shaun McIlrevey opened the scoring after two minutes for Slingsby, but goals by Kenny Temple and Simon Rouph (2) turned the game around. A second McIlrevey goal reduced Aislaby’s lead but Temple struck again before the break. In the second half Slingsby, for whom Ady Holtby and McIlreyey starred, played better as Aislaby tired and Luke Gibson and Sean Keefe hit back on the scoreboard.

Centre-back Trevor Clubley was Aislaby’s man of the match.

All other league games were postponed.