Football: Union Rovers shocked as Thornton-le-Dale take points (From Gazette & Herald)

Football: Union Rovers shocked as Thornton-le-Dale take points

3:55pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Sport

THORNTON-LE-DALE sprung a surprise by winning 2-0 at second-placed newitts.com Beckett League division one hosts Union Rovers.

Craig Sunley saw a header for mid-table Thornton hit the crossbar on 53 minutes before the visitors forged in front just after the hour when Rory Lancaster set up Harry Kenworthy to score a fine goal.

Three minutes later, man-of-the-match Lancaster received the ball on the halfway line before outpacing the home defence with a brilliant solo run and slotting past an advancing John Towse to double his side’s advantage. Towse was Union’s top performer.

Hat-trick heroes Luke McLaren, Scott Simpson and Like Tateson led the rout as Gillamoor annihilated Norton United 15-0.

Man-of-the-match Jack Dowson, Josh Tateson, and substitute Ryan Rivis also bagged braces while Norton goalkeeper Chris Seager did a great job in keeping the score down.

Bagby & Balk’s star man Steve Tartlee earned his team a share of the spoils against Heslerton, who had earlier gone ahead through Andy Sellers.

Right-back Ross Flinton shared the Heslerton man-of-the-match award with centre-half Rob Haigh.

In division two, Ryedale Sports Club Reserves defeated fourth-placed Snainton Reserves 6-3 in what both teams described as a fine game of local league football.

Ryedale took the lead when Dave Hoyle set up Alex Ibbotson to score from 18 yards. A minute later, Marc Dobson combined well with Ben Thompson to set up Ryan Boyes to score at the second attempt after Snainton ’keeper Gareth Barnard saved his initial effort.

Snainton replied when a cross by player-manager Dan Bateson was headed into his own goal by Ryedale’s Carl Roffe, but Ryedale quickly made it 4-1 as Thompson set up Ibbotson to bullet home a header and Heath Brown won the ball in midfield and played it to Thompson, who lobbed Barnard from 25 yards.

A defensive mix-up allowed Snainton’s star performer, Sam Wallace, to reduce the deficit but Ryedale continued to outperform their hosts in the second half and a long Ibbotson throw saw Dobson score with a header.

Snainton again replied, with a Richard Swiers penalty, but Ryedale sealed their win as another Ibbotson throw saw Dobson turn on a sixpence and fire home.

Scott Dixon’s penalty proved the difference as Easingwold Town 3rds beat Heslerton Reserves 1-0.

Heslerton’s Peter Tiffany hit the crossbar and Andy Norman a post.

Midfielder David Waite was the man of the match while Andy Norman starred in the centre of defence for Heslerton.

Luke Gibson’s hat-trick meant Slingsby saw off Gillamoor reserves 3-1.

Gillamoor responded through Jake Dennison but Ashley Walker had a penalty saved by home ’keeper Shaun Suffield.