ROSEDALE, who will finish next to bottom in the newitts.com Beckett League first division, caused a major upset on Saturday and threw the title race wide open, by holding leaders Wombleton Wanderers to a 1-1 draw.

The result put even more importance on this Saturday’s potential title decider when Wombleton visit second-placed Heslerton (2pm).

Wanderers have a better goal difference but now only a one-point lead with both sides having three games to play.

Tim Hodgson, the Rosedale skipper, opened the scoring after only 30 seconds.

Wombleton saw chance after chance go begging, with Luke Tateson also having a second-half penalty saved superbly by impressive Rosedale keeper Shaun Dowson.

The leaders finally got their equaliser with 10 minutes left, Tom Ellis, their top performer, firing in an unstoppable 20-yard strike, but they could not find a winner.

Centre-back Tom Bell and Dowson were Rosedale’s men of the match.

Thornton-le-Dale rose to third after a 2-0 win at Ryedale SC reserves, who put a strong side out for this derby.

Thornton took a second-minute lead as Tom Atkinson set up Craig Sunley.

Four minutes later, team-mate David Elliot hit a post, while midway through the half Gary Parker headed onto the bar, with the ball bouncing down and out for a goal kick to Ryedale.

Just before half-time, Luke Clemitt shot just wide for the visitors.

Thornton continued to dominate in the second half game but didn’t get their vital second goal until the 85th minute when a Will Dunnett free-kick was cleared out to Simon King who scored with a lovely strike.

The men of the match were Lewis Danby, playing up front for Ryedale, and Thornton midfielder Sunley and defender Tom Atkinson.

Meanwhile, first division Sinnington needed an 85th-minute goal from Kristian Nicholson to edge second division Kirkdale United 2-1 in their Ryedale Hospital Cup semi-final, to set up a final against Thornton-le-Dale next month.

Kirkdale stunned their hosts by taking a first-minute lead through Jamie Harper, The Sinners began to settle and enjoyed the bulk of the play but Kirkdale’s Andy Parker, Josh Berry and Phil Ward coped well - until Jonny Brown, a constant threat in a man-of-the-match show, hammered in a 38th-minute equaliser from 10 yards.

Kirkdale’s Phil Ward saw a 35-yard free-kick come back off the bar and Dean Coote forced a very good save from Sinners keeper George Brown.

The second half was end to end.

Kirkdale had penalty appeals waved away when Alex Croall was seemingly brought down, but they also needed a couple of excellent saves by Darren O’Grady to keep the scores level. Man-of-the-match Harper headed another good Sinnington chance off the line with O’Grady beaten.

The winner arrived from a hotly disputed Sinnington corner, Nicholson hitting the ball home through a crowded area.

Second division leaders Duncombe Park crashed 3-0 at Pickering Knights.

Ashley Walker crossed from the right for Ryan Boyes to score a superb header – his first goal for the Knights since his transfer from Ryedale SC.

It was 2-0 when Ryan Taylor crossed from the left and Walker flicked the ball on for Steve Carter to tap in. A minute before half-time Walker flicked the ball on for Greg Fawcett to score with a well-placed header.

Midfielder Tim Whincup was the Knights’ man of the match. The Park performance was so poor they had no man of the match at all.

Third-placed Gillamoor boosted their promotion prospects with an 11-1 thrashing of Thornton-le-Dale reserves.

Ryan Rivis hit four goals, Danny Drake, Nathan Blacklock and Ryan Mintoft two each, and Tom Skelton one.

Striker Drake and left-midfielder Mintoft starred.

Settrington reserves won a well-contested derby at Union Rovers reserves 2-0.

Setty started brightly, with Rhys Piercy and Nathan Jackson forcing fine saves from the Union keeper, before the pressure paid off on the half-hour when a Lee Timms free-kick was whipped into the area and fell to Jack Batty, who hit a first-time shot into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.

Union missed a few chances but so did Settrington in the second half, with Sam Mills and Nathan Craine both going close before a brilliant through ball by Jackson set up Sam Mills to the second.

Union left-back Ian Blanchard and Setty pair Josh Ellis and Sam Mills were the men of the match.

Ty Walton’s inch-perfect second-half shot into the bottom corner brought the game’s only goal as Heslerton reserves edged Brooklyn 3rds in a very good, tight contest.

Brooklyn had had most of the possession, with Cameron Swift having a good effort cleared off the line.

Hessy centre-back Ross Flinton and Brooklyn teenager Josh Towse, playing in central midfield, were the men of the match.