Northallerton Elders 3

Skipton Building Society 0

DIVISION two leaders Skipton suffered a blow to their title hopes with a lacklustre performance at Northallerton Elders last Sunday, writes Ricky Butler.

The Leyburn-based side knew a point would have guaranteed them a quick return to division one, while victory would have virtually secured the title.

But Elders also needed the points to keep their own promotion hopes alive.

Alex Bell got clear for Elders after only four minutes, but pulled his shot wide from a good position. A minute later Glynn Barnard found himself unmarked in front of goal at the other end, but blazed his effort wide of the target.

Elders made the most of that reprieve in the 15th minute when Dave Proud sent Bell clear again. This time he was able to drill his shot past Skipton keeper Charlie Allis from ten yards to give the home side the lead.

Skipton looked for a quick response and within five minutes Steve Butterworth headed over from close range while Tim Burn in the Elders goal did well to deny both Barnard and Carl Orton.

But it was Elders who broke out to double their lead in the 35th minute.

Craig Chandler won the ball on the edge of the Skipton area before squaring it to Bell, unmarked ten yards out. He had time and space to place the ball past the exposed Allis and put the home side in complete control.

Skipton were now all over the place at the back and three times John Lofthouse missed chances to really embarrass the league leaders.

The visitors reorganised in the second half, but any hope of a comeback was dashed within four minutes of the restart.

Dave Harmsworth was penalised for handball on the edge of his own area and Chandler's weak free kick somehow slipped through Allis' arms and into the net to leave Skipton with a mountain to climb.

But it was Elders who continued to look the more threatening. In the 55th minute Bell created the chance for his hat-trick with a neat turn in the box, but Allis did well to save his shot. Then a good move involving Chandler and Nick Kitchen saw Bell shoot wide from a good position.

Skipton rarely looked capable of finding a way back into the match, although Harmsworth did see a goal-bound effort from Carl Handley's 62nd-minute corner deflected over the bar by Steve Revis.

It was only in the final minute that Skipton at last showed what they are capable of.

A great run by the otherwise subdued Handley put substitute Martin Butterworth away down the right. His perfect cross into the centre was met by the head of Lee Fawcett, but Burn made a brilliant save to deny them even a consolation.