Trojan Res...2

Yew Tree.......4

YEW Tree travelled to Burley on a very wet Thursday night hoping to put a run of winning results together. Yew Tree started in positive fashion trying to play football and find feet.

The conditions did not help this style of play but Yew Tree also dug in when they had to and were not left wanting in the tackle, where young midfielders Stevie Richmond and Tim Armitage were dominant.

After both sides had created half chances it was Yew Tree who managed to make the breakthrough, Simon Malpass played the ball to Ben Kelly who turned and fed Mark Healeas, who beat the 'keeper. Burley did start to get into the game in the latter stages of the first-half but found the defence of Kirk, Haddock, Sharp, Pollard and Wrigglesworth hard to breach.

The second-half was started with the pitch completely ruined but credit to both sides, they both kept trying to play as much football as possible. A well-worked goal brought Burley back into the match just after half-time. Both sides then went close before Yew Tree regained the lead. A throw on the edge of Burley's box allowed Kelly to turn his marker and cross to Simon Malpass, who cut inside the defender and hammered the ball home.

Burley once again equalised through their centre-back. Yew Tree again picked themselves up and did not lie down to defeat as has been typical of their season. Kelly put Yew Tree back into the lead. A good run and finish by Kelly late on practically sealed the game and three more points for the Yew Tree in their topsy-turvy season. Match Point went to John Duffy.

Pateley Res....2

Yew Tree....... 3

Yew Tree had good possession and several chances were created. Pateley had their work cut out in the early stages trying to stay in the game.

The inevitable happened midway through the first-half and Yew Tree took the lead. A good run from Stevie Richmond enabled Ben Kelly to toe-end the ball past the 'keeper. Yew Tree continued to dominate but always had to be cautious against the break-away from Pateley. Yew Tree increased their lead before half-time through a rocket shot from John Willaby.

Yew Tree slipped into their old bad habits again, allowing Pateley to pull one back and then equalise.

This seemed to wake Yew Tree up and they were now all over Pateley in search of a winner. Willaby's chip bounced off the bar. Malpass and Healeas both went close before super-sub Tim Armitage came on to seal victory with a superb individual goal. Match Point went to Steve Richmond.

Yew Tree visit leaders Black Swan on Saturday. Team from - Kneedham, Haddock, Wrigglesworth, Pollard, Sharp, Armitage, Long, Malpass, Richmond, Kelly, Healeas, Lawrenson (Meet 1.15pm).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.