CHAMPIONS Sinnington began the defence of their newitts.com Beckett League division one title in good style with a 3-0 win at Thornton-le-Dale.

David Wilkinson headed his side in front, brother Stuart Wilkinson doubled the lead and substitute Luke Clemmit netted late one.

Thornton-le-Dale were very much in the game but missed chances proved the difference between well-matched sides.

Jamie Dennison and Tim Hunt impressed most for Dale, stalwart Paul Harland for the Sinners.

Union Rovers, runners-up last season, began with a goalless draw at Heslerton. Union had more possession but Heslerton had the better chances, including a 35th-minute penalty which was blasted wide by James McLoughlan.

Debutant forward Josh Beech, the former Thornton-le-Dale and Snainton player, starred for Heslerton, Anthony Taylor at left-back for Union.

Kirkbymoorside reserves saw off Gillamoor 7-0 – the Moorsiders having included six of last year’s Gillamoor side in their starting line-up.

Man-of-the-match Ryan Rivis (3), Reece Piercy, Daryl Rivis, Aaran Rivis and Josh Butler got the goals.

Andy Claughton was Gillamoor’s man of the match, Adam Durrant and Nathan Blacklock also doing well.

Bagby & Balk edged promoted Ryedale Sports Club reserves 3-2 thanks to Stuart Winter’s late winner.

Ryedale went ahead through Jamie Fewster’s 18-yarder, but visitors Bagby took control to go ahead through Darren Bell and John Martin.

Ryedale equalised after 85 minutes through Adam Hornby but, two minutes from time, Winter headed in at the other end.

The men of the match were Matty Bell at left-back for Ryedale and Jonathan Kendall in goal for Bagby.

Rosedale and Duncombe Park drew 3-3. Duncombe took the lead three times through Simon Cook, with a penalty for handball by Jonathan Seller, Fergus Ward and Nick Allenby, but Rosedale levelled each time, twice through Bowes and, with five minutes left, Tim Hodgson.

The men of the match were Rosedale centre-half and Park midfielder Cory Taylor.

Wombleton Wanderers started life in the Beckett League in fine fashion with a 6-0 division two win at Singsby.

Wanderers were two goals up within five minutes and bagged another four before half-time. Luke Tateson, Jake Dennison and Luke McClaren all notched braces, with McClaren and skipper Sam Appleton the star men.

Midfielder Sean Keefe was Slingsby’s man of the match. The game began with a minute’s silence in memory of Slingsby club stalwarts Walter Marshall and Peter Myers.

The league’s other newcomers, Settrington, lost 2-0 at home to Pickering Knights whose marksmen were Rowan South and Gregg Fawcett.

The men of the match were Setty midfielder Ben Saltmer and Knights forward Miles Dale.

Relegated Kirkdale beat Snainton reserves 2-0 through Michael Bumby, after good work by Graham Atkinson, and Atkinson himself, with a super solo goal late on.

Dean Coote, in midfield for Kirkdale, and Max Beecroft, debuting for Snainton, starred.

Missed chances cost Norton United as they lost 4-2 at home to Easingwold Town 3rds. Ben Tilley’s first-half brace for Town sandwiched a Alex Brooke reply, with man-of-the-match Eddie Paxton firing in a fantastic 25-yarder to equalise.

Norton hit the bar and missed three clear chances, only for Easingwold to win it through Tom Horner, their man of the match, and an own goal.

Union Rovers 2nds won 6-1 at Rillington reserves, after falling a goal down within 18 seconds, Phil Horton netting from the rebound after Nick Johnson had hit the bar.

Richard Abbey replied either side of half-time and second-half strikes followed from Phil Smith, Dhane Olly and man-of-the-match Luke Dawson (2).

Heslerton reserves drew 1-1 with Thornton-le-Dale reserves.

Dan Blanchard put Heslerton ahead as Thornton created the better chances only to see home goalkeeper player-manager Mick Norman make some outstanding saves.

Heslerton’s Liam Bradley was sent off after 61 minutes and, five minutes from time, Thornton’s Iain Farrow scored a fine equaliser.

Keep it in the family

RILLINGTON reserves began their newitts.com Beckett League season with a family affair and a new management team.

Veterans Phil Horton, Graeme Smith and Sid Oxendale are now player-coaches – and have been joined in the side by their sons.

Smith’s 16-year old twins Lewis, in goal, and Aidan, who was man of the match at centre-back, played their first games of senior football, having risen out of Heslerton’s junior set-up.

Meanwhile, Aidan Horton, Phil’s 16-year-old son, was at left-back, while Ross Leckenby, another ex-Heslerton junior, joined older brother Simon in the side.

Oxendale’s sons, Lee and Ryan, have been in the team for five years.

Rillington also signed Cameron Swift from Heslerton and Dominic Johnson from Settrington on the morning of the game, which they lost 6-1 to Union Rovers 2nds.