Eskvale and Cleveland League

After some good cup results, Lealholm were attempting to improve their league position in a close fought game at Brotton.

The game remained goal-less for the first hour then Brotton were caught out with a break by Knight who took his chance well to net Lealholm's first. Ten minutes later the Brotton keeper was forced to make an exccellent save, unfortunately his clearance was impeded by a defender and Lealholm substitute, Thompson hit the ball over the line. In the last minute Brotton were awarded a corner and in their attempt to pull a goal back had too many men in the area leaving Howearn free run to slot home a solo goal.

Boosbeck Athletic fought hard to win three points away to Gt Ayton, Craig Winter and Stuart Lyon both scored midway through the first half after some poor defensive play by Ayton. The home team should have made more of their chances in front of goal leaving Boosbeck to carry the two goal advantage to the break. The second half was a one sided affair after Ayton dominated and managed to pull a goal back with a well taken volley from Murray. Despite Ayton's continuous pressure they failed to find the equaliser even though Gt Ayton's man of the match Saul Clifford came close on two or three occasions with Boosbeck defending resolutely to the end.

Staithes' battle to retain their high league placing suffered a setback in a good game against Highland Laddie. An exciting opening saw Laddie pressing hard, then Staithes began to settle and good work by Gibson led to Calvert volleying home from 18 yds. Booth, a threat throughout the game for Laddie, was brought down by Farndale and Burns slotted home neatly from the resulting free kick to level. The game was now end to end, with Trenholm going close for Laddie and Libby for Staithes but the first half remained 1-1. The second half began briskly with Laddie pressing the Staithes' defence, Hutchinson particularly strong. Calvert and Gibson working hard in the Staithes' midfield created a half chance and a hotly disputed penalty followed which Glen Smith duly converted. Burns and Trenholm both had chances soon after but no breakthrough came. Then on 75 minutes Combellack skipped past the last defender only to shoot over the bar. Laddie got their just rewards five minutes later when Combellack slotted home a great solo goal. Laddie now buoyant kept pressing and great work by brown saw his shot rebound off the crossbar in the 86th minute, leaving the honours even at the final whistle.

After a well fought battle between Hinderwell and Lingdale the scores ended evenly. At the start of the game Hinderwell played some good football and had two early chances but failed to score. As the half went on Lingdale stepped up a gear and took the lead when a poor kick from the Hinderwell keeper fell straight to striker, Hololob. Hinderwell found the equaliser before the break when a throughball from brown fell for Clennan to score. A hard fought second half saw Lingdale miss four good opportunities then Hinderwell got back into the game and a fine run with a shot from 25 yards from Sivills found the top left corner of the net. Straight from kick-off Lingdale won a corner and a disputed push in the back saw the referee, much to the players' surprise, award a penalty, Whitehead calmly converted making a draw a fair result.

Whitby Fishermans entertained Grosmont in a good game on a rather rough pitch. Fishermans started slowly with Grosmont having most of the early play then a breakaway cross from the left found Paul Graham's head to give Whitby the lead. Grosmont continued to be the better team without threatening and this remained the only goal of the first half. The second half was a total change with Whitby constantly attacking and only some excellent fingertip saves by veteran keeper Tom Pierson in the Grosmont goal kept the score down. Whitby got their reward when a good throughball to Graham, leaving him one to one with the keeper was coolly finished for his and Whitby's second. Good defending from Grosmont kept the score down and in the final minute a Grosmont corner resulted in a snap shot from striker Woods beating the Whitby keeper.

l The league's committee would like to assure clubs that contrary to rumours currently circulating, the league is not folding and indeed is going from strength to strength with some applications already received for next season. Any interested teams may contact the secretary, details of the annual meeting will be announced at a later date.