UNDERSTRENGTH newitts.com Beckett League leaders Wombleton Wanderers went down 3-2 to last season's champions, Kirkbymoorside reserves, on Saturday.

Lee Nesfield was the hero for the Moorsiders, hitting a hat-trick during a dramatic first division clash.

Hosts Wombleton were without five regulars but took an early lead through Josh Tateson - their top performer on the day.

Moments later, Tateson was brought down by Moorsiders' John Peel but his subsequent spot kick was superbly saved by Chris Nichols.

The Moorsiders then equalised through man-of-the-match Nesfield, who went on to give his side the lead with a second goal before half-time.

After the break, Jake Dennison levelled the scores on 65 minutes but the Wanderers were reduced to ten men when they had Michael Turnbull sent off and Nesfield went on to secure the points following good work down the wing by debutant Mike Thompson.

Heslerton moved up to fourth place after a 2-1 away win at Bagby & Balk.

Following an uneventful first period, man-of-the-match James Webb hit the crossbar early in the second half from 25 yards, before Rob Preston fired Heslerton ahead on the hour mark.

Ten minutes later, Joe Schofield doubled the visitors' lead.

Bagby reduced the deficit ten minutes from time with a goal from Tom O’Brien but Heslerton held on with Mike Brown’s header hitting the crossbar.

Danny Anderson was the pick of the Bagby players.

Sinnington moved up to fifth position following a very close game when they entertained Slingsby.

The only goal was scored by substitute Michael Bumby.

Prior to that effort, the Sinners had to re-organise their side after Rob Atkinson was forced off injured with young Will Sanders moving to centre back and enjoying an outstanding game.

There was very little to choose between the two teams after the interval with play flowing from end to end but Slingsby failed to get an equaliser.

The Sinners could now be without injured pair Graham Bateman and Atkinson for a while though.

Sanders and Toby Edwards shared the man-of-the-match honours with Slingsby right-back Brent Wilson and centre-half Michael Anderson unlucky to finish on the losing side.

Eighth-placed Union Rovers beat a Rosedale team one position below them in the table 9-3 with the goals shared out between man-of-the-match Ben Webster (three), Dean Sleightholme (two), Josh Ward, Nicky Todd, Paul Holder and Nicky Drew.

The Rosedale replies saw Tom Hodgson bag a brace – his first courtesy of an assist by Olly Wilkinson and his second from the penalty spot - with Neil Adams also on target.

Aaron Wells stood out for Rosedale in the centre of midfield.

* THE meeting of the top two in the Beckett League second division ended in a 3-3 share-all.

The Gillamoor ground was snowbound so the game was switched to Snainton reserves’ pitch and was an end-to-end cracker. Gills took the lead thrice but Snainton levelled each time, Dave Pearson bagging a last-minute equaliser.

Ryan Rivis fired Gill ahead after good work by Ryan Mintoft, but Pearson’s first cancelled it out.

Mintoft had a penalty saved before the break but put Gills ahead soon after the resumption. James Wilson equalised before Rivis got his second goal after good work by Sam Taylor.

Pearson’s last-minute goal capped his man-of-the-match show. Right-back Ryan Digua was Gills’ star man.

Duncombe Park rose to second after a 3-0 win at Norton United.

The hosts were the better side in the first half but Park got on top in the second and scored through Corey Taylor (2) and man-of-the-match Fergus Ward with an individual goal.

Kirkdale United dropped to fifth after drawing 2-2 at Thornton-le-Dale reserves. Kirkdale gradually got on top and Alex Croall opened the scoring after linking up well with Rob Galtrey. Luke Hobbs equalised and a wonder goal by Olly Baxter from 40 yards put Thornton ahead.

Croall saw a free-kick go just over, but eight minutes from time Rob Galtrey powered through to equalise.

The men of the match were Thornton midfielder Luke Dixon and, for Kirkdale, Andy Parker, with substitute David Daniels also shining.

Brooklyn 3rds enjoyed a 7-2 win at Settrington reserves - five goals coming in the opening 20 minutes.

The marksmen were Matthew Simpson, after good work by Scott Bown, Jack Boyes, with a 30-yarder, Richard Bignall, set up by James Barratt and Bown, and Barratt, with a solo effort and then a penalty for handball, which saw Settrington’s Danny Lewis sent off.

Setty hit back through Rhys Piercy and Sam Mills but late Brooklyn goals were added by Simpson, who beat two men and chipped the keeper, and Bown.

Lee Timms and Mills shone for Setty, Barratt, Jack McLoud and Bignall for the victors.

Pickering Knights beat Union Rovers reserves 5-2. Josh Brittain scored after 50 seconds en route to a hat-trick, while Phil Greg Fawcett set up Ashley Walker to fire home and later scored a penalty. The excellent Phil Smith hit both replies.

Union had two men sent off and Knights one. Brittain starred for the Knights, for whom Ryan Boyes, transferred from Ryedale SC, also had a good debut.

Stillington Sports & Social Club led Heslerton reserves 2-0 through Oliver Everard and Adam Baldwin but, in the second half, Ty Walton twice set up Dan Blanchard to score either side of heading in a corner as Hessy won 3-2.