SUNDAY LEAGUE: Traf and Newlands win to set up title decider

Trafalgar powered to a 9-0 home win against third-placed West Pier.

Lewis Taylor opened the scoring with a powerful low shot from 35 yards out, and his Pickering Town teammate Billy Logan banged in two more before the break against a depleted Pier side.

The visitors may have been hopeful of an easier second half when Traf were reduced to 10 men just before the interval when Ali Caw was sent off for dissent towards the referee.

But if anything the hosts piled on the pressure in the second period thanks to the fresh legs of subs Mikey Barker and Kris Tate, with striker Barker banging in a hat-trick and Tate also netting, the rout completed by Neil Thomas’ brace of goals.

Boss Liam Salt admitted that his side were comfortable in their victory and that all eyes were now on Sunday’s showdown at Newlands, with the winners likely to gain the upper hand on the title battle.

Pier chief Paddy Parke said: “We were really down to the bare bones in our team today and I have to give praise to all the lads who turned up as they battle all the way through.

“Man of the match has to go to Dan Bradbury for a good display in central midfeld.”

Newlands are still two points behind Traf despite their 5-0 home win against 10-man Commercial, but do have a game in hand on the leaders.

Stew Bates led the way with a hat-trick, with Michael Wilson and man of the match Drew McCoubrey also on target.

Joint-boss Ben Luntley said: “Credit to Commercial as they worked very hard throughout the game, especially as they started with nine men, then got up to 11 after 10 minutes only for another to leave with 10 minutes to go.”

Heslerton took another step closer to promotion from division two thanks to a 3-1 win against an improving Newlands Reserves team.

Dan Blanchard’s 20-yard lob gave the villagers the lead at half-time, and the same player doubled the high-flyers’ lead early in the second half with another fine finish.

Josh Bown marked his comeback from a long-term injury with a cracking goal, the youngster gaining possession 35 yards from goal and bursting forward before rifling a 16-yard shot past the Newlands keeper and into the top corner.

Almost straight from the restart Adrian Kwiatowski pulled a goal back for the visitors with a stunning 30-yard shot into the top corner.

Blanchard missed the chance to complete his hat-trick when Newlands keeper Damien Jurkieweiz saved his 90th-minute spot-kick.

Man of the match for Newlands was Ross Taylor, while centre-back Mikey Webster was the star man for Heslerton.

Roscoes Bar edged closer to finishing in the top half of the table thanks to a 3-2 win at fellow mid-table side Ayton.

The visitors changed the formation to 4-3-3 and it seemed to work as Roscoes maintained possession very well.

Sean Rowley had a one-on-one twice in the first half but put both wide before he set up Liam Scott to go one-on-one with the keeper and dinked the ball over him to make it 1-0,

Early in the second half Roscoes won a corner and Sean Rowley crossed for Scott to head into the roof of the net.

With 20 minutes remaining Brad Parkin burst forward down the right flank from full-back and reduced the score 2-1 with a shot under the keeper.

Ten minutes later the visitors restored their lead when Sean Rowley laid it off for Martin Hadrick to sidefoot into the bottom corner.

With a couple of minutes left sub Kieran Friett finished well after being set up by Tyson Stubbings, despite the attempts of Liam Rowley to clear the ball away.

Roscoes boss Lee Paterson said: “Everyone had a great game but Liam Scott was man of the match for his two goals and his work-rate. Nathan Spink, starting for the first time in central midfield, kept us ticking over.”

Angry Ayton player-boss Mark Plumpton said: “It was a terrible performance by us, and I had to have a changing-room discussion with the lads afterwards. It was very disappointing considering we have been playing well lately.”