Yorkshire Amateur League: Rodillian on right road away from relegation

Conor Firth, of Gildersome Spurs, gets a shot away against Morley Town AFC Reserves. PIC: Steve Riding

RODILLIAN climbed two places and moved five points clear of the Premier Division dropzone with Saturday's 5-1 success in an away clash at Trinity & All Saints that featured a switch of home advantage.

The fixture was one of just three surviving Yorkshire Amateur League games and the only game played on grass with Trinity actually leading 1-0 at the break after Ian Duggleby flicked home a long throw.

But the second half was a different story with a young Rodillian side, minus the suspended Josh Mundy, showing their opponents a clean pair of heels time and again down the flanks as they attacked dangerously on the break.

An injury to goalkeeper Will Carlisle did not help Trinity who were first pegged back by a Callum Green freekick with central defender Matt O’Brien adding a second.

Rodillian’s leading scorer Luke Playford notched the third, his sixth strike from eight League and Cup matches, with Green then completing his double.

Central defender Dom Doggett then capped the five-star showing as his strike brought up the Rodillian nap hand.

One game survived in the Championship with second-placed Leeds Medics & Dentists Reserves held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-battling Shire Academics in a game switched to the 4G pitch at Weetwood.

Medics would have gone top with victory and took a first-half lead through James Evans but Shire turned the game on its head to go 2-1 up after the interval.

Goals from Paul Benson and Chris Godfrey had Shire heading for only their third victory of the season but with five minutes left Niall Robinson took advantage of an excellent delivery from Hugh Goodchild to make it 2-2.

Robbie Thackray took the Shire man of the match award for his excellent efforts at centre-half.

In Division Two, second-placed Gildersome Spurs Old Boys moved four points off top spot with a 5-2 defeat of Morley Town AFC Reserves on the 3G pitch at Bruntcliffe School.

Ben Keedy was at the double for Spurs for whom Andy Feeny, Lee Thrush and Mike Hall also netted with Hall having now netted 19 domestic league and cup goals this season.

His feat is second only to Steve Wells who has bagged a phenomenal 35 for Farsley Celtic Juniors Reserves.

Keedy, meanwhile, is making his way back after injury and has now netted seven goals from his last six games in Gildersome colours.

Morley netted through Marc Haley and an Adam Lynes own goal but it was Spurs who came out on top with the industrious Conor Firth taking the man of the match award.