NCEL: Knaresborough Town edged out by Winterton Rangers in classic

In a game of many chances, Knaresborough Town were left wondering how they managed to finish with a zero points return after a 4-3 reverse against Winterton Rangers at Manse Lane.

Knaresborough opened strongly and Brad Walker had a shot over the top in the first minute but in the 5th minute, his side took the lead when captain, Will Lenehan, headed home powerfully from a George Eustance free kick on the right.

Jonty Maullin had to be alert to clear his own line when Winterton attacked for the first time, but soon Knaresborough were again creating chances and Jim Bradley fired wide and Eustance had a shot saved by Adam Stevens after turning well in the penalty area.

Euustance then cleared off his own line from a James Watson header from a corner.

Winterton were then awarded a free kick which they took quickly to catch out the home defence for Craig Palmer to head home from a right wing centre in the 27th minute.

Within a further minute, WInterton had the lead when Jack Rushworth could only parry another Palmer header and Rhys Vazquez knocked home the loose ball.

Three cautions were issued as the half became even more competitive and Brad Walker had the best two chances for ‘Boro’ as he first forced a save from Stevens after Gary Collier’s cross and then hit over from a Eustance free kick.

In the seven minutes after the break, Knaresborough were shocked by two more Winterton goals from two attacks as defensive lapses allowed them in.

Firstly, Palmer was left in too much space on the left centre of the area following a ball in from the right and managed to hook across Rushworth into goal. Four minutes later, in the 52nd minute, another right wing cross was headed back across and full back Watson was left with an empty goal to make it 4-1.

After that shock, Knaresborough virtually took over the game and were hardly troubled at the back for the remaining 38 minutes.

Ben Parkes headed over, Bradley had a shot deflected wide, Maullin forced another save from Stevens as did Walker as Winterton held on desperately.

Collier was then brought down in the 62nd minute and Blaine Hobson fired in the penalty to the disgust of Stevens who was cautioned for kicking the ball away.

Soon after, Maullin fired against the top of the bar and then a Eustance centre caught the back of the bar on its way to safety.

In the 72nd minute, Maullin chased a ball into the area, but was beaten to the ball by Stevens, who responded by throwing the ball at the ‘Boro’ player’s head. Both players received yellow cards which meant an early bath for the Winterton custodian.

The siege on the visitors’ goal continued but reserve keeper, Lewis Tomlinson, only sixteen years old, saved from Walker, tipped over from Eustance and saw a Lenehan header fly over.

Collier’s shot was saved, Parkes was wide and Lenehan had a headed “goal” disallowed for a push before both he and Walker fired narrowly wide.

Collier fired over, Walker then had a tap home disallowed and Mike Morris had a shot cleared from the line before Eustance’s free kick was tipped over. After a string of corners, Eustance did smash home in the 8th minute of added time but the final whistle blew as soon as the kick off had been carried out and Knaresborough were left to rue a massive amount of missed chances along with the lapses at the back which cost the side a just return from the afternoon.