Harrogate and District League: Kirk Deighton Rangers keep heat on Rawdon

Aspy scored in each half in the 2-0 victory over Kirkby Malzeard at a gusty Barr Field on Saturday.

Rangers remained one point behind Rawdon, who defeated bottom side Pannal Sports 4-0 on Saturday.

On the run, Deighton boss Dan Marshall said: “It’s a huge plus. When you’re winning players take to the pitch with that extra bit of confidence,”

“But I still feel there’s a lot more to come from us in terms of performance. In most games we have dominated a 30-minute period, but there’s only been one game where we have really played for 90 minutes.””

Relegation threatened Kirkby have only won one match this season, but Rangers boss Marshall predicted they would escape trouble in the run-in.

“To say they are second bottom, they were probably one of the better sides we have faced this year,” he said. “I they can get that team out week in week out, I have no doubt they will move up the league.”

Former leaders Bedale Town kept their noses in the title race with a 4-1 win at Clifford,

Knaresborough Celtic are playing a fixture catch-up after drainage issues at home ground Thistle Hill, but they made use of Knaresborough Town’s ground on Manse Lane on Saturday to beat Wetherby Athletic A 3-0.

Goals from Craig Robinson (2) and Tom Meader helped Celtic close the gap on fourth-place Athletic to two points.

Boss Chris Hirst said: “It was very difficult in the wind and that played a major factory. We kicked downwind in the first half and hoped to get a substantial lead, but we only went in 2-0 up which isn’t always enough.

“We played a lot better in the second half. The ball wasn’t running away from us as much.
“All in all it was a pleasing win.”

Elsewhere, Beckwithshaw Saints Reserves closed the gap on Hampsthwaite United in Division Two with a 3-1 win at Hampsthwaite FC. Two first half goals from George Medd and one from Greg Harrison was enough to take the points in tough conditions.

United’s match at Burley Trojans was postponed.