Catterick Village 3, Menston Rangers 2

Menston Rangers lost their final game of the season to a Catterick side playing for fourth place in the league.

Menston started with the attitude this was a meaningless game following the securing of third place earlier in the week, and immediately found themselves under the cosh.

Almost inevitably Catterick took an early lead, although there was a large slice of luck in their first goal when last man Tom Duffissey slipped to let his man in for an easy finish.

Despite the goal Menston remained largely indifferent and Catterick retained the upperhand. Midway through the half they doubled the lead, although they were again helped out, this time by a sliced clearance from Dick Metcalfe.

Finally Menston came out of their shell and made a more even contest of it. The home side's moves were broken up, Richard Wintle up front started winning more than his fair share of flick ons and Phil Bateman started to run Catterick's left-back ragged.

Captain Craig Wood had a couple of efforts from outside the box which had power but lacked accuracy.

Menston pegged one back before half-time. Good work from Bateman and Ryan Dyer left leading scorer Scott Warbrick a routine tap in.

Menston started the second-half with a number of positional changes but just as sloppily as in the first-half. Within minutes Catterick added a third. This now spurred Menston on, and for much of the second-half they were the better team.

However, they were lucky not to fall further behind when Ryan Dyer was adjudged to have pushed his man in the box. Goalkeeper Simon Wintle bailed him out with a good save from the resultant penalty.

Almost immediately Menston went up the other end and pulled a goal back. Craig Wood's corner took the smallest of glances off Ryan Dyer's head and crossed the line before the Catterick defence could hook the ball away. For the last 20 minutes Menston hunted the equaliser they barely deserved, Mark George and Richard Dickinson causing the home side all manner of problems down the left.

As Menston pushed Gez Haughian from centre-back into a striking role the ball seldom entered the Menston half. It all came to nothing though, and Catterick held out for a deserved win.

Warbrick hat-trick

Pannal Sports Reserves 1, Menston Rangers 5

Leading scorer Scott Warbrick broke his drought as Rangers secured third place in Division Three of the Harrogate League, which should see the club promoted following the withdrawal of team from the division above.

Menston's goalkeeper withdrew 15 minutes before kick-off time. On a superb playing surface on the Stray, Menston started well on top. Early chances went begging. Ironically Pannal were starting to gain a foothold when Menston took the lead.

Good work from Richard Wintle let Scott Warbrick knock in his 20th goal of the season, and in so doing break Roger Turnbull's long standing club record.

Warbrick's second arrived withing minutes. Gez Haughian looked to have finished but the 'keeper clawed the ball out superbly but Warbrick was on hand to pounce.

Harry Bond sent a bullet header past the 'keeper and as the ball pinged around the Pannal area centre-back Richard Metcalfe hooked in a fourth goal.

The second-half saw a more even contest as Menston took their foot off the gas.

Although Pannal offered a little more of a threat still they did not create a clear cut chance and Menston looked the more likely to score.

However, with time running out Pannal got one back. A long clearance from bounced favourably for a nice lob over Wintle. Almost immediately Menston restored the four goal advantage.

A typically robust drive from the substitute struck the bar and Warbrick pounced to nod in his hat-trick goal. Pannal to their credit maintained a positive attitude throughout and were always on the lookout for goals.

Man-of-the-Match went to Scott Warbrick although every Menston player deserved credit for their performance.

On this showing it is hard to see why Rangers have only finished third in the league.

Menston ended this their tenth season in third place in Division Three of the Harrogate and District League, their best ever league position, in addition to having reached their first ever cup final, in which they were beaten on penalties.

The league will now consider whether this merits promotion, which is dependent on the number of teams re-applying to join the league next season. A decision is expected within a fortnight.