Thornton-le-Dale moved to the top of newitts.com Beckett League division one after beating previous leaders Kirkbymoorside reserves 5-3.

Last season’s champions dropped to third following the defeat.

Goals from David Elliot (2), Luke Hobbs, Tim Hunt and Simon King earned Thornton maximum points against a Moorsiders team who replied through Andrew Ferguson, Michael Turnbull and Ben Leach.

Hobbs opened the scoring on five minutes with a back-heeled effort after a well-worked move involving Hunt and Elliot.

Kirkby equalised when Ferguson netted following a corner but, after King headed against the bar, he helped Elliot beat the offside trap to claim his first goal of the afternoon.

Hunt then sent Thornton into the interval 3-1 up following a 30-yard effort that squirmed under the visitors’ ’keeper.

In the second half, Elliot and King extended the hosts’ lead before Turnbull and the Moorsiders’ star man, Leach, reduced the deficit.

Thornton’s Tom Atkinson took the man-of-the-match honours.

Luke Dawson, a Paul Holder penalty and man-of-the-match Dean Sleightholme’s solo effort ensured Union Rovers moved up to second after a 3-2 win at Gillamoor, who replied with two goals from their top performer, Jack Dawson.

Norton United are still searching for their first victory of the season but were much improved in a 3-1 defeat at Rosedale, who had Martin Foxton (2) and Jonathan Seller on target.

Sam Keyworth pulled a goal back for Norton, who had Graham England in fine form. Stuart Dowson was Rosedale’s star performer.

Man-of-the-match Mikey Brown headed Heslerton to their second league win of the season after teammate Wayne Pilmoor had earlier cancelled out Darren Beattie’s opening goal for Bagby & Balk, whose leftback Stuart Winter impressed most.

In division two, man-of-the-match Matty Gardner scored twice – once from the spot and the other a fine solo effort – as Ryedale Sports Club reserves recovered from going 2-1 down to Aislaby United.

Ben Thompson also bagged a brace for Ryedale with Mark Davidson doing the same for United, for whom left-winger Chris Lightfoot starred.

Leaders Union Rovers 2nds beat Thornton-le-Dale reserves 5-1 with Richard Abbey hitting his first hattrick of the season and man-of-thematch Kingsley Daffern and James Halliday also netting. Adam Parker got a consolation for Dale from the spot.

Gillamoor reserves won 3-0 at Rillington Athletic reserves thanks to Josh Tateson, Jake Dennison and Luke Tateson. Dennison, Kieron Spry and Jack Walsh proved inseparable for the man-of-the-match accolade with Simon Leckenby standing out for Rillington.

Tim Ward’s header earned Pickering Knights a 2-1 triumph over Heslerton reserves. Tom Harrison had earlier levelled with his head for Heslerton after Adam Ridley broke the deadlock for Knights, whose Ben Luntley was named man of the match.

Top performer George Everett’s double strike helped Amotherby & Swinton 3rds defeat Duncombe Park 3-2, with Ben Weatherall the visitors’ other marskman. James Craig and Danny Drake replied for Park, who had Jamie Nixon and James Oldmeadow in fine form.

Huntington hammered Ampleforth 11-1 with man-of-the-match Peter Webster (4), Sam Lowther (3), Aaron Mills, Steve Durbin, Steve Spaven and David Haczynsky all netting.

Liam Connely grabbed a late consolation for Ampleforth, whose Lewis Hutchinson deserved better.

In the York FA Saturday Junior Cup second round, Beckett League side Slingsby went down 7-0 to Civil Service, despite goalkeeper Mick Norman sharing his side’s man-ofthe- match prize with Luke Gibson.