Stephenson brace fails to save Heslerton from Thornton Dale defeat

Heslerton hosted Thornton Dale with the home side quickest out of the blocks.

Visiting keeper Kieran Edmond was tested inside the first two minutes, pushing a Tom Stockdale effort round the post.

Moments later the Dale gloveman was indebted to Luke Bancroft, saving off the line from Morgan Kendrew.

Heslerton’s superiority eventually paid off as Stockdale fed Lewis Stephenson, although initially fouled the Blues player remained on his feet to fire home.

On the half-hour mark the hosts doubled their advantage as Kendrew found Stephenson at the far side of the six-yard box to grab his second.

Then, a crucial mistake by the home keeper gifted Thornton a way back as Marcus Godsell fired into an empty net, within minutes the visitors were level.

Following a free-kick the loose ball was fired in from close range by Jack Connelly, one of several players who Heslerton protested were in an offside position.

The second half saw Thornton begin the brighter and six minutes in a quick move resulted in Godsell squeezing the ball into the Heslerton net.

From then on it was pretty much one-way traffic as the Blues looked for a response.

Kendrew came closest, first bringing a fine save yet again from Edmond, throwing himself across six yards to push the ball clear, and then when the busy keeper was beaten, again by Kendrew, the ball cannoned off the crossbar to safety.

Amotherby & Swinton welcomed Snainton in a game that saw two goals inside similar minutes as Nathan Cross scored for the hosts, only to see his effort cancelled out immediately by McKenzie Pllu.

Snainton took the lead with little more than a quarter of an hour remaining through Dan Simpson before Jack Grimwood saved the home side’s blushes with a leveller two minutes from time.

With Danby unable to host their home tie with Kirkdale United the game was played on Malton’s 3G surface.

A far cry from the North Yorkshire Moors the artificial surface suited Danby who ran out victors by five goals to one. Kyle Clacherty hit a brace, along with strikes from brother Harvey, Adam Bainbridge and Rhys Mould.

Harry Bowsher would grab United’s consolation effort.