BAGBY & Balk upset newitts.com Beckett League first division leaders Wombleton Wanderers to reignite the title battle.

Mid-table Bagby won 2-1, handing the Wanderers only their second league loss of the campaign.

Champions Kirkbymoorside reserves missed the chance to close the gap, losing to Heslerton, who jumped over them into second place.

Thornton-le-Dale, the fourth team in the title hunt, were, like Hessy, the other big winners on the day.

They slipped a place in the table, from third to fourth, but reached the semi-finals of the Ryedale Hospital Cup while seeing two of their title rivals drop league points.

In the first half at Wombleton, Bagby & Balk had a goal disallowed for offside, but they were then awarded a 35th-minute penalty after Steve Tarpleee was pushed over - Olly Brookes converting it.

After 55 minutes, Shaun Hudson - the man of the match - cut inside from the left and scored with a low angled shot to double the lead. Ten minutes later, Luke McLaren scored for Wombleton but, as hard as they tried, they could not find an equaliser past impressive young Bagby & Balk keeper Tommy Hunter.

Centre-back Sean Walker was Wombleton’s best performer.

Heslerton began the day in fourth but rose two places as they made it seven wins in a row, seeing off the Moorsiders 2-0.

Heslerton dominated the first half but failed to convert their chances.

They remained patient, though, and continued to play good football, eventually getting the breakthrough when top scorer Joe Schofield latched onto a superb through ball from James Webb to fire home.

Schofield had earlier had a goal disallowed for offside.

Heslerton manager Marc Craig decided to introduce new signing Tyson Stubbings, who previously played for Ayton in the Scarborough & District League. Stubbings had not been on the pitch long when he received the ball from Robbie Preston, rounded the Moorsiders keeper and put the ball into the net for a fine debut goal.

There were no more goals but the result was never in doubt.

The men of the match were centre-half Chris Bell for Heslerton, and teenage right-midfielder Jack Mosley for the Moorsiders.