Boro cruise to Carnegie win

Second-placed Eccleshill United kept up the pressure on Paul Stansfield’s side with a victory at Grimsby Borough, but the men from Manse Lane remain two points clear at the summit with two games in hand.

Both Ben Cohen and Rob Youhill saw early efforts saved by Carnegie keeper Lewis Hill, who was kept busy throughout the afternoon, and had to be at his best to keep the score down.

Boro did however go ahead in the eighth minute when Brad Walker’s cross from the left was volleyed home by Youhill, the ball entering the net via the far post.

Hill saved again as Youhill broke free on to a Dom Wilson pass, before Cohen had a low shot tipped wide.

Dan Thirkell’s strike was then kept out by the home custodian after Gregg Anderson centred back into the area following a partly-cleared corner kick, while Will Lenehan headed wide from another Youhill corner.

Boro’s number one, Jack Rushworth, made his first stop just after the half-hour-mark when a low shot from Daniel Walker found its way past the defence, but the visitors were soon back up at the other end and this time Anderson’s shot forced Hill into action once more.

Thirkell then fired against the bar and Walker broke through only for Hill to save again.

A Tom Whiting shot curled narrowly wide of Rushworth’s post as Carnegie briefly rallied, but in the final four minutes of the half, two more goals effectively settled the match.

Firstly, Youhill ran on to Cohen’s pass and coolly rounded Hill before knocking the ball home in the 42nd minute and then Cohen ran across the area before interchanging with Walker to gather the return and smash home.

The second period began in similar fashion to how the first had unfolded, with Ben Parkes seeing a strike saved, Anderson having one cleared from the line and Lenehan hitting the post.

All this action came before the busy Hill made an excellent tip over from Cohen to keep the score at 3-0.

Boro were not to be denied, however, and Steve Bromley registered number four in the 68th minute when he nodded home Cohen’s cross but after Walker was narrowly wide, it was the home side which scored the final goal of the encounter.

Substitute Jordan Denby hit a consolation for Carnegie, after a Whiting shot rebounded off an upright with 79 minutes on the clock.

Hill made one further fine stop when he tipped over another curling shot from Walker, but Stansfield’s men had already done more than enough.