FOOTBALL WOMBLETON Wanderers increased their lead at the top of the newitts.com Beckett League first division after returning to winning ways with a 5-0 victory at Slingsby.

Several games in the league on Saturday fell victim to the wintry weather but this one went ahead, with the Slingsby pitch in very good condition.

Wombleton welcomed back Luke McLaren, Jack Walsh and Shaun Clark to their side, with McLaren opening the scoring with a 30-yard lob.

Jake Dennison then won a penalty which was converted by Josh Tateson, who added his second goal before half-time for a 3-0 interval lead.

Wombleton continued to dominate and notched further goals through McLaren and Dennison to wrap up the points.

Victory was marred, however, by injuries picked up by Sean Walker and Tom Ellis.

Left-back Dave Drabble and keeper Shaun Suffield were Slingsby’s top performers, while Jordan Rivis was Wombleton’s man of the match after controlling the game and having a hand in every goal his side scored.

The other first division game played saw Union Rovers record their second successive convincing victory - beating Ryedale Sports Club reserves 11-1 at home.

Man-of-the-match Dean Sleightholme led the way with for goals, while Kingsley Daffern hit his first hat-trick of the season and Ben Webster also notched a treble. Luke Dawson got their other goal, while Ryedale notched a last-minute consolation through Seb Rivitt.

Making a late appearance as substitute for Union was assistant-manager and former Pickering Town favourite Andrew Thornton.

Keeper Tom Croot was Ryedale SC’s top performer, despite the scoreline.

Division two leaders Snainton reserves saw their game called off and second-placed Duncombe Park failed to take advantage - being held to a goalless draw by visitors Stillington Sports & Social Club.

The game was played on a very heavy pitch but was still a good, entertaining contest.

Both sides had chances to win it but Stillington keeper Chris Unsworth made a fantastic side each side of half-time while his side also hit the woodwork.

The men of the match were James Oldmeadow in defence for Duncombe Park and Oliver Everard in midfield for Stillington.

The big winners on the day were Kirkdale United, who won 4-2 at Settrington reserves to move up to fourth place.

Jordan Green put United ahead after just three minutes following a good move down the right involving Glen Forrester.

Settrington equalised three minutes later through Rhys Piercy but Kirkdale regained the lead in the 22nd minute as Jamie Harper was brought down in the area and Alex Croall scored the penalty.

Green extended the lead in the 33rd minute when he followed up a Croall shot which the home keeper failed to hold, but within a minute a second Piercy goal, when the United defence failed to deal with a through ball, brought the score back to 3-2.

The second half was 12 minutes old when Dean Coote hammered a shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

This was Coote’s second start since injury well before Christmas. Last week he came off early tired and a little rusty, but this week he did much better.

Further chances went begging for United but it was overall a good all-round team performance.

Gareth and Harry Thistleton were Setty’s top performers, while Green was man of the match for Kirkdale, who also had impressive performances from Coote and Andy Parker.