Knaresboro' edge past Rangers

The result keeps Paul Stansfield’s side in touch with the NCEL Division One play-off places in seventh position ahead of their crunch showdown with sixth-placed Hallam this week.

Goalkeeper Ben Ledger saved early on his Knaresborough debut when he kept out a Robert Petch shot.

At the other end, Town’s Brad Walker then capitalised on a mistake in the Winterton defence, but was unable to hit home and Fraser Lancaster’s follow-up was blocked.

Paul Atkinson fired wide following Jonty Maullin’s flick-on, but soon Ledger was back in action to deny Joshua Peart and soon afterwards saved another Petch effort.

In the 33rd minute, Petch was sent off for a challenge on Sam Cook, reducing the visitors to 10 men.

Soon afterwards, Atkinson’s shot was deflected over the crossbar as the hosts looked to press home their numerical advantage.

Early in the second half, Atkinson latched on to a fine threaded pass from Dom Wilson to set up Lancaster, but his shot was saved by Lewis Tomlinson in the away goal.

Lancaster had another shot wide from Cook’s centre, before nodding in the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute.

Atkinson combined with Harry Brown down the left and Brown’s cross found Lancaster at the front post where he was able to beat Tomlinson’s dive with a header just inside the upright.

Walker was then wide from 30 yards out, but when Winterton pressed as Knaresborough hit their usual shaky period in the closing stages, Ledger had to save from Robbie Start.

Time was eventually seen out and maximum points secured after Colin Heath fired over from a Simon Parkes centre.