THORNTON-LE-DALE are the new leaders in the first division of the newitts.com Beckett League after enjoyed a 5-1 win over Union Rovers.

Both sides were up for the game - the first after the festive break - and a man-of-the-match performance, including two goals, by David Elliot was to the fore as Thornton came out on top.

Previous leaders Wombleton Wanderers were on cup duty - suffering their first defeat of the Beckett League season when falling 2-1 at Sinnington in the Gordon Harrison Memorial Trophy.

Thornton-le-Dale broke the deadlock against Union after 35 minutes when a Nick Wilkinson corner found an unmarked Gary Parker to notch a fine goal.

They doubled their lead after 53 minutes when a long run by Elliot ended with a shot which was partially saved with Simon King following up to score.

Rovers came more into the game as they tried to hit back. Home keeper Davd Sturgess produced two very good saves midway through the second half but, after the second, the ball came back into the area for the impressive Nicky Drew to score and put new life into his side.

Nevertheless, eight minutes later a fine run down the wing by Luke Clemmitt ended with a cross which saw Elliot head the ball back into the path of Clemmitt, who scored.

Two minutes later, Elliot bagged his first goal and, four minutes from time, he got his second from a corner, which resulted from a solo run from midfield by Will Dunnet, who saw his shot saved.

Dwayne Young was Union Rovers' man of the match.

Last season’s champions, Kirkbymoorside reserves, stayed in the title hunt as they came out on top in a five-goal thriller at Slingsby which flowed from end to end.

Slingsby were the better side in the opening quarter by the Moorsiders then took a two-goal lead by the half-hour mark thanks to a Craig Ibbotson penalty and a goal scored by Jack Dowson.

Slingsby then came back to level matters before half-time with goals by Sean Keefe and Scott Simpson, via a free-kick.

The second half was very even and was decided 15 minutes from time when the Moorsiders' Lee Nesfield scored a superb goal to win the match, seal a man-of-the-match display, and lift his side up to fourth with games in hand on the three teams above them.

Midfielder Daryl Craggs and striker Simpson were Slingsby’s top performers.

Heslerton, with player-manager Marc Craig away on holiday, recorded their third league win of term when beating Bagby & Balk 4-1.

Bagby & Balk, missing a few players, took the lead on the half-hour mark with a free-kick converted by Martin Kendall.

Heslerton’s stand-in player-manager, Gareth Driver gave his side some stern words during the interval and the second half was a different story.

Wayne Pilmoor equalised five minutes after the resumption and, five minutes later, hard-working forward Robbie Preston put Hessy ahead after fine work by Nicholas Schofield.

They increased their lead after 75 minutes thanks to a Chris Bell penalty after Simon Oxendale had been brought down and, 10 minutes from time, man-of-the-match Preston scored his second goal of the afternoon following good work by Lee Oxendale.

Central defender Stuart Winter as Bagby & Balk’s man of the match.