NCEL: Knaresborough Town hit Hall Road Rangers for six

Ben Parkes gave Knaresborough the lead in the ninth minute when he reacted quickest to slam home after goalkeeper, Richard Watson, Mitch Hamilton’s shot following Byron Littlefair’s centre from the left.

Paul Hagreen retained the lead when he saved from Mark Rudd, but then Parkes headed over after Hamilton had missed a cross from Nick Radcliffe who again exploited a weakness down the left flank.

Parkes was then sent free by Colin Heath’s threaded pass, but rushed his shot wide of the target.

Hamilton then had two efforts saved, the first a lob without sufficient height and the second a lower shot, but there were several more chances as the strikers struggled to overcome the offside trap, generally well marshalled by the home defence.

The ploy did come unstuck in the 34th minute when Colin Heath managed to stay onside as he ran on to Jim Bradley’s pass and strode forward to make it 2-0.

Heath’s header from Littlefair’s cross was then saved and Hamilton had another effort denied by Watson before the interval.

Dominic Wilson was narrowly wide soon afterwards, but Heath soon made it 3-0 when he fired home from a Littlefair pass in the 53rd minute. The goal proved decisive as it seemed to deflate the energy in the home side and more chances were regularly produced.

Firstly, Hamilton broke clear only for Watson to save. The same player was again denied after Heath broke clear and then Heath fired over after a flowing move down the right involving Parkes, Matty Pascal and Hamilton.

Matty Carter had a shot over for Hall Road and Hagreen also saved from Adam Foster before a Heath lob was again saved by Watson.

Heath did not have to wait long for his hat trick goal as he headed home following a cross-cum-shot from Liam Gray in the 76th minute.

Two minutes later, Gray made it five himself after Bradley’s pass and Heath was soon wide with another headed effort from Rob Mortimer’s centre.

Hagreen then preserved the clean sheet with saves from Marcus Hall and Foster before Pascal tapped home the sixth in the first minute of added time following great work from Hiliard Serrao who should have added one for himself as he rounded Watson only to shoot wide as the ball bobbled off the muddy surface.

Hall Road did have one last chance as Jordan Cox hit wide of a gaping goal as ‘Boro’ managed only their second clean sheet of the season.

Knaresborough Town Reserves gave Beeston St. Anthony’s a run for their money but eventually went down to a 5-4 loss in Mike Bligh’s first match in charge.

The side went ahead early on but Beeston built a 5-2 lead at the break beforea spirited showing after half time very nearly produced a point.

Brad Walker, Fraser Lancaster, Mark Fox and Ally Wilson got the goals for Knaresborough.