Football: Dean Sleightholme puts Union Rovers top (From Gazette & Herald)

Football: Dean Sleightholme puts Union Rovers top

3:02pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Sport

Union Rovers climbed to the top of the newitts.com Beckett League with a 2-1 win at Kirkdale United.

Kirkdale are struggling in the league but were unfortunate not to get anything from the game, as they were denied by two second-half strikes after taking the lead on 28 minutes through a well-worked Martin Grayson goal.

It wasn’t until the 73rd minute that Rovers equalised courtesy of Sean Willie, and the game looked to be heading towards a draw until Dean Sleightholme gave his side the winner five minutes from time – before being sent off three minutes later.

The win means Rovers replace Rosedale at the top after the previous leaders slipped up 3-1 at home to Bagby & Balk.

First-half goals from Tom Chapman, Graham Barker and Andrew Parkinson saw the away side to victory and they defended solidly in the second half to stamp out any signs of a Rosedale comeback.

Barker and Parkinson both had good chances to score early on before Bagby deservedly took the lead through Tom Chapman.

Karl Clacherty equalised for Rosedale two minutes later but Bagby hit straight back through Barker and Parkinson doubled their lead before the break.

Sinnington rose to third with a deserved 4-2 win over Gillamoor, despite playing much of the game with 10 men after Paul Harland was sent off in the first half.

A Stuart Wilkinson hat-trick and a goal from player-manager Lee Mitchell gave the Sinners all three points, with Dave Gardner and Josh Tateson on the scoresheet for Gills.

A first-half brace from Wilkinson had put Sinnington 2-0 up before Gardner pulled a goal back just before half-time.

But Sinnington put the game to bed in the second half, with Mitchell’s goal being followed by Wilkinson’s third, which rendered Josh Tateson’s late strike a mere consolation.

Duncombe Park entertained Kirkbymoorside Reserves in a thrilling 2-2 draw, with all four goals coming in the first half.

Aaron Rivis put the Moorsiders ahead but Danny Drake’s right-wing cross was headed in by Nick Allenby for a deserved equaliser.

Jason Brown restored the Moorsiders’ lead but Danny Drake ensured Duncombe came back again with a strike before the interval.

Ryedale Sports Club Reserves stayed top of division two after a 5-0 win over Rillington Athletic Reserves.

A Marc Dobson hat-trick and two from Matty Gardner gave Ryedale a comfortable victory, and they could have won by more had Rillington ’keeper Steve Oxendale not been on top form.

Goals from David McBurnie, Ryan Cooper and Richard Abbey ensured Union Rovers 2nds stayed second with a 3-2 win over Aislaby United in a tight game.

A goal from Daz Davies and a late Ben Chapman strike gave Aislaby hope but Union held on for the win.

A single Jonathan Davies strike was enough to give Snainton Rovers victory over Easingwold Town 3rds, while Slingsby picked up their first win of the season in emphatic style as they crushed 10-man Gillamoor Reserves 5-0.

Jack Hopwood scored twice in the second half to add to Luke Gibson’s earlier brace and a Paul Cook goal before half-time.

Two goals in six first-half minutes gave Pickering Knights a 2-0 win at Heslerton Reserves in the first round of the Ryedale Hospital Cup.

Adam Ridley and Miles Dale struck without reply to send their side through, with James Boak picking up the man-of-the-match award for his strong display at centre-back.