DUNCOMBE Park took over top spot in newitts.com Beckett League division two after previous leaders Snainton reserves were held to a draw by Heslerton reserves.

Duncombe won 3-2 in an entertaining game at Thornton-le-Dale reserves, after taking a three-goal first-half lead.

Jack Chadwick bagged his 16th goal of the season to open the scoring after 20 minutes, and man-of-the-match Nick Allenby headed in a Jake Fox cross after 35 minutes and then slid in to notch his second goal five minutes later.

The second half brought a much stronger Thornton performance, inspired by a half-time team talk by manager Kian Brewster.

Luke Hobbs scored five minutes after the resumption, with Jamie Dennison getting their second five minutes.

Trevor Clubley, at centre-back, was man of the match for Thornton, who also had Luke Dixon in impressive form.

Snainton reserves' match against Heslerton reserves was end to end.

Snainton, with a superior height advantage dominated midfield, and, although Heslerton created the more clear-cut chances in the first half, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock through Nick Ellis with an 18-yard low angled shot.

Heslerton came up against impressive shot-stopper Scott Wardman, who kept his side in front with some super goalkeeping in a man-of-the-match show. When they did beat him, the woodwork thwarted them midway through the second half.

The leveller finally arrived when a Steve Walker corner evaded defenders allowing Aidan Horton to put the ball home.

Eoin Linehan was Heslerton's top performer.

Stillington Sports & Social Club had an unexpected 2-1 win at Pickering Knights.

Josh Brittian fired the Knights ahead after 17 minutes with a 18-yard right-foot shot, but Oliver Everard equalised 10 minutes before half-time and Nathan Hussian bagged the Stillington winner after 54 minutes.

The Knights hit the woodwork three times and found the Stillington keeper Chris Unsworth in outstanding form.

Centre-back Josh Fawcett was the man of the match for the Knights, who also had an impressive debut by teenager Ryan Taylor, son of a league legend Steve, the former leading scorer with Sinnington and Aislaby United.