Knaresborough Town sign off for 2025/26 season with home win over champions Liversedge FC

Winger Slater Barnes rounded off a superb season by scoring a match-winning brace to take his personal tally for the campaign to 20 goals in all competitions.

And the three-point haul was sufficient to lift Simon Parkes’ team one place in the league table to ninth, where they sit on 51 points having won 13 and drawn 12 of their 38 league fixtures.

Title winners by some distance, Liversedge arrived at Manse Lane having tasted defeat just twice in their previous 37 Premier Division outings.

But, Boro were determined to sign off on a positive note, and they ultimately got their rewards thanks to some clinical finishing from Barnes.

Chances were few and far between during the first half, with the visitors having arguably the pick of the bunch.

Lewis Barlow broke free and got himself into a great position, only for Knaresborough’s teenage goalkeeper Jake Turnbull to deny him before James Clark cleared the cross-bar from the rebound.

There was even less action at the opposite end, where Barnes saw a couple of weak efforts easily dealt with by Liversedge’s stand-in keeper Joe Walton.

After the break, Knaresborough, without several regular starters, had the advantage of a swirling wind.

It was not long before Jack Lazenby shot over the top as the home side pressed, while Liversedge also threatened through Alfie Dean, who was thwarted by Turnbull.

Sam Barker then went close for Boro, with Sam Leverett next to threaten the opener, though his header was easily dealt with by Walton.

Leverett’s curling shot was saved by Walton not long afterwards, with the visiting custodian then dealing with a Luke Stewart attempt at the back post after a fine left-wing cross from Barnes.

The breakthrough did however arrive in the 66th minute when Aaron White centred from the right and Barnes slammed home.

But, within a minute, Liversedge were level. Dean tried his luck from outside the penalty area and the ball bobbled over Turnbull’s dive and into the corner of the net for 1-1.

Jack Durkin shot wide when well-placed to convert another Leverett opening, and White was also off-target before the Boro winner arrived in the 87th minute.

Lewis Knight, on as substitute, cut in from the right wing and saw a strike was blocked, though Barnes followed up to knock the loose ball past Walton to make it 2-1.

There was still time for Kelan Swales to force Turnbull to save with his legs as Liversedge tried to force a second leveller, but Parkes’ troops were able to hold out for the points.