New Year with goals a plenty

Published on 10th January 2008 in Sport

Sunday League football returned to the fields and parks of the surrounding area last weekend, with goals the order of the day.

Fifty five goals in the eight games played in Divisions One and Two with high-scoring games, and teams helping their goal difference.

Division One

Rawcliffe Utd. 1, NUR 2

After a five week lay-off the visitors opened sluggishly in their Division One game at Rawcliffe on Sunday.

From the quarter-hour mark the midfield started to spray the ball across the park, making the home side look ordinary.

It was from a good run and cross by Taylor that the ball was controlled by the striker, who spun and hit the ball. which was parried by the keeper. But the follow up was too hot to hold and the visitors were ahead.

This started a fine 20-minute spell by the NUR and good chances were missed by Bussey and McKinnon. However, with 10 minutes left in the first half, Swan hit a cross-cum-shot which flew home, and that is how the half finished.

After the break the home side responded well and made a good fight of the game, putting the visitors under pressure without ever looking in danger of losing the match.

Chances were missed to finish the game off, Jo Burnitt going close with a towering header; Swan missed a good chance to make it three.

A long ball upfield by the home side caught the visiting defence in limbo and Rawcliffe reduced the deficit, but it was not enough to prevent a winning return for the Goole side.

Windmill 3, Victoria Rangers 5

Victoria Rangers were made to work hard for their success in the first game back after the Christmas and New Year break against lowly Windmill at Thorne on Sunday.

They eventually came out on top, but only after the hosts had kept in touch for threequarters of the 90 minutes on a bright and sunny morning.

The home side went ahead against the run of play, but Rangers were level when Liam Mitchell and Gareth Welsh made the opening for Jason Gibbon to slot home into the bottom corner.

The visitors continued to apply the pressure and went in front with a fine solo goal from Mitchell, ending with a shot into the top corner.

Minutes before the break Windmill levelled with one of their rare raids on the Rangers goal.

Shortly into the second half the visitors were back in front with a Mitchell free kick glanced home by Jason Gibbon.

With a quarter of an hour to go, Windmill were back on terms once more when they scored from the penalty spot.

However, the Vic were not to be denied and when Neil Harrison's header hit the crossbar, Gibbon pounced for his hat-trick from the rebound, and the game was eventually settled when a Liam Mitchell cross was met by namesake Ryan Mitchell with an angled volley - and in the end a deserved, if hard fought win.

The Mansfield Brewery Man of the Match went to Jason Gibbon.

Rangers entertain Rawcliffe United in the League Cup this Sunday, kick off 10.30am at Western Road.

...and elsewhere

Old Goole Veterans found their New Year getting off to a poor start when they were trounced 6-1 at last season's Division Two champions Canal Tavern.

A good morning too for Thorne Demi, who beat the current league leaders Vikings 4-1

Division Two

AFC Goods Office 8, Drax Athletic 4

Goals aplenty as AFC Goods Office on Sunday morning at Kent Road in Division Two, with an 8-4 win over Drax Athletic.

The visitors withstood an early barrage from the home side and took the lead when their striker ran on to score, but the Goods Office responded with Dave McMahon volleying home a Chris Gilmartin cross, this after John Brown had seen a header cleared off the line.

Brown did get on the mark shortly after as they went on front for the first time, following good work by Matty Whittaker.

And the provider turned scorer shortly after following good work from Gilmartin, Jason Newman and Andy Cunningham.

However, from looking comfortable they were pegged back before the half time break as Drax scored twice to level the game up.

And for a short while into the second half things didn't get much better for the hosts as the visitors went in front for a second time at 4-3.

However, they did respond and Andy Whittaker put them back on terms following a weaving run through three defenders and a crisp low shot into the corner.

The see-saw game eventually went the home side's way as they went in front through Dave McMahon's second goal, and Matty Whittaker scored his second to put daylight between the teams.

Full credit to Drax, it has to be said. They were not giving in and Dom McMahon had to save well. A goal-line clearance by John Brown denied them before Andy Cunningham made it 7-4 with a delightful 20-yard chip and Matty Whittaker completed his hat-trick after a fine through ball by Paddy Smith.

The Man of the Match for the Goods Office was Matty Whittaker.

Real United 8, Bay Horse Hotel 0

The home side were eager to kick off the New Year in style, having been stood down for five weeks, and they showed their South Yorkshire opponents little mercy.

They moved the ball around smartly and the visitors offered little by the way of return against one of the tightest defences in the division.

Goals were to come from Tom Gormley with two, but even he was outshone by father Eddie who rolled back the years with a thunderbolt from ten yards inside the visitors' half!

Jason Crisp helped himself to a brace on the way to the Man of the Match and further goals from Ben Rothery and the Heywoods, Adam and Nick, the game was well over before the final whistle.

Real United would like to thank Brothers Paul Giles and Archie Hollowell from the Poets Corner Unicorn Lodge for their generous donation to the club and the Steam Packet for their hospitality.

... and elsewhere

Leaders Rawcliffe Bridge Club were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at bottom club Cowick Cavaliers.

The home side, who are without a win all season took the Bridge, with just one defeat, all the way in a closely fought game belying the positions of the teams.

The day's other game saw a mid-table clash between the Kings Arms and Corner Pin turn out one-sided with the visitors coming out 6-2 winners.