DUNCOMBE Park and Brooklyn 3rds lost ground in the promotion race in division two of the newitts.com Beckett League on Saturday.

The two sides lost at home to Heslerton reserves and Thornton-le-Dale reserves respectively, allowing Kirkdale United, with games in hand move up to third position behind leaders Snainton reserves and second-placed Gillamoor.

Duncombe Park dropped from to fourth after a 5-2 home defeat to an impressive Dan Blanchard-inspired Heslerton side.

The game hung in the balance until late on, despite the final scoreline.

Heslerton took an early two-goal lead through Aidan Horton and Blanchard, before Park halved the deficit with a well-taken strike from an acute angle by Jack Chadwick.

Hessy replied almost immediately with Blanchard scoring his second goal. The visitors were then awarded a penalty but Tyrone Walton saw his spot-kick and follow-up effort well saved.

The Park keeper made two further outstanding saves but Heslerton got a fourth goal as Blanchard completed a first-half hat-trick.

In the second half, Park stepped up their play and man-of-the-match Chadwick scored a second goal on the hour mark, the game was finely balanced until Heslerton scored a fifth - Blanchard again the marksman.

Andy Norman, along with Blanchard, stood out for Heslerton.

Brooklyn 3rds fell from fourth to fifth after a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Thornton-le-Dale reserves.

There was no referee but Brooklyn reserves manager Cirk Newton took the whistle and both teams thanked him for his efforts.

A good game ensued, with Thornton-le-Dale taking the lead a minute before half-time thanks to Darren Davies, and doubling it through Stuart Chapman on 70 minutes.

The last 10 minutes saw Brooklyn in all-out attack mode, with Kieran Wall halving the deficit only for determined defending to deny them a draw.

Brooklyn midfielder Scott Bown and Thornton midfielder Jake Harrison were the men of the match.

Snainton reserves had goalkeeper Scott Wardman to thank for their 2-1 win at Union Rovers reserves.

The experienced number one produced one of the saves of the season late on to keep his side in front and maintain their position at the summit. It capped a man-of-the-match display.

Snainton's player-manager had been so keen to be involved that he travelled up from Newquay on the morning of the match and his side strolled into a two-goal first-half lead through James Wilson and Nick Ellis.

Ten minutes from time, Union Rovers pulled a goal back through Phil Smith, but Wardman's super stop two minutes from time denied them a share of the spoils.

Ian Blanchard was Union Rovers' man of the match.

Gillamoor enjoyed an 8-1 home win over Stillington Sports & Social Club.

Gills took an early two-goal lead through a Ryan Rivis brace, both set up by Nathan Blacklock through balls.

Stillington were then awarded a penalty which was taken by Karl Simpson but saved uperbly by Gillamoor keeper Adam Durrant.

Minutes later, Simpson did score for the visitors, but a Blacklock header from a Sam Taylor corner restored Gillamoor’s two-goal. Just before half-time, Gillamoor's Ryan Mintoft hit a post from an acute angle.

The hosts got well on top in the second half, with man-of-the-match Rivis hitting three more goals to take his tally to five. The impressive Blacklock got a second and Karl Smith notched the last.

Brendan Carrick was Stillington's man of the match.

Kirkdale United lepfrogged Duncombe and Brooklyn into third after man-of-the-match Sean Murray's late penalty gave them a 2-1 home win against Settrington.

Kirkdale had a strong penalty appeal turned down after seven minutes when Paul White appeared to be brought down, and, five minutes later, good work by Glen Forrester and White created a chance which went begging.

Rob Galtrey, Jono Wheeldon, and Alex Croall all went close before half-time, Croall’s effort hitting the woodwork.

Kirkdale took the lead after 49 minutes when Croall coolly took his next chance, but back came Settrington.

Kirkdale keeper Terry Dodds was forced to make an outstanding save on 55 minutes and, on 65 minutes, Setty drew level.

But Kirkdale bagged a winner after 83 minutes when the impressive Galtrey was brought down and Murray scored from the spot.

Kirkdale’s Dean Coote, who was badly injured before Christmas and needed hospital treatment, is on the road to recovery, having been told he can start with light exercise in the coming week.