Newlands sink Pier to boost title push

Joint player-boss Ryan Cooper put Newlands ahead and an own goal soon made it 2-0 to the hosts.

Cooper said: “Pier never troubled us in the first half but we just couldn’t find a third goal to kill them off.

“The second half was pretty much the same really but Pier came back at us and scored in the last 10 minutes making it a nervy finish, but we kept it together at the back.

“Michael Wilson was man of the match for us, with debutant Phil Dickens also playing well, he deserved a goal but good work by the Pier keeper denied him.”

Newlands are now two points behind leaders Traf, but have a game in hand on the pacesetters.

Both sides are in action on Sunday, with Trafalgar at home to Pier and Newlands playing host to relegation battlers Commercial at Snainton.

The following weekend the top two sides will clash at Snainton in a potential title decider.

West Riding cruised to a 16-1 win at Roscoes Bar to keep alive their hopes of pipping Heslerton to promotion as second division runners-up.

Luke Jones led the way with five goals for James Prethero’s side, while James Seymour, Jack Ramos and sub Josh Young scored a hat-trick apiece.

Aiden McCallion and James Burrows also netted for the visitors.

Harrison Pollard and Jones were the star men for West Riding.

Riding are now four points behind second-placed Heslerton with a game in hand, so it looks like the showdown between the two sides on Sunday April 26, the final second division game of the season, may well be a promotion decider.