Burley Trojans 4

Pannal Sports Res 1

IT was happy New Year for Trojans as they kicked off 1999 on a winning note. Teenage striking sensation Stuart Dibb netted all four goals as the home side comfortably saw off Second Division Pannal in the League Medal competition.

Phil Constantine set up Dibb for a tap in to open the scoring and the same player created the second shortly afterwards.

Pannal came back into the game and home 'keeper Chris Hargreaves was forced to pull off a wonder save to deny the visitors.

However, he was unable to prevent Pannal reducing the arrears before the break as Trojans sat back on their lead.

In the second period Dibb completed his hat-trick when he rounded the 'keeper following a long ball over the top and he crowned an excellent move by slotting home the fourth from John Lofthouse's measured pass.

Although the glory went to Dibb much credit should go to player-manager Gary Shankland for his battling performance in midfield and Steve Wilkinson whose excellent display at left-back earned him Match Point.

Red Arrows 5

Trojans Res 3

Trojans Reserves' recent good run came to an abrupt halt in a stormy affair at Ripon where they ended up with nine men courtesy of some bizarre refereeing decisions.

In a game of open attacking football Trojans led three times before eventually being overhauled by the home side.

After surviving a couple of early scares when player-manager Chris Worts cleared off the line twice in quick succession, university student Richard Wood opened the scoring on 15 minutes, finishing well from Gareth Goodison's astute pass.

Red Arrows levelled shortly afterwards when a hopeful punt into the area caught the wind and eluded stand-in 'keeper Stuart Forrest.

Wood doubled his tally almost immediately with the goal of the game.

When Gareth Goodison fed brother James, the young winger crossed from the bye-line for Wood to power home a header from 12 yards.

The home side got back on terms before the break when Trojans defence failed to clear a corner.

Mid-way through the second-half Trojans went ahead for the third time when, following Drew Thorpe's free-kick, Wood pressured a home defender into putting through his own goal.

Red Arrows third equaliser was hotly disputed with the ball appearing to go out of play from a corner before being touched in at the far post.

Wood was denied a hat-trick when his powerful drive bounced out of the underside of the bar before two goals in quick succession sealed victory for the home side.

Any chance of a Trojans comeback was effectively ended by two controversial red card decisions as the referee lost control and the match ended in unpleasant scenes.

Neither Trojans side has a game this weekend but the following week the first team visit Christ Church Old Boys, while the Reserves entertain Unison, both matches kicking off at 2.00pm.

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