Match Report | Knaresborough (H)

Northallerton kicked off their pre-season by hosting fellow North Yorkshire side Knaresborough Town of the NCEL Premier Division.

The two sides met in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round last season, with Knaresborough coming out on top.

The game began with a minute's silence held in memory of former Ryhope Colliery Welfare and Billingham Town manager, Gary Pearson who passed away earlier this week.

First Half

As is to expect in the opening pre-season fixture, supporters from both sides weren't graced with free-flowing football in the early stages.

An end-to-end affair but with neither side showing much of real quality in order to test the defences.

Jordan Hines had an opportunity for the visitors but he could only drag his effort wide before Town had an effort well saved by the Trialist ‘keeper in the Knaresborough goal.

Then in the 36th minute, the game kicked into life…

In a typical commentator’s curse moment Town took the lead from a Shaun Ryder trademark thunderbolt from the edge of the area as he dispatched his effort into the top left corner.

Town started to gain a foothold in the game and controlled proceedings until the HT whistle.

Half-Time: Northallerton 1 - 0 Knaresborough

Second Half

Knaresborough came out with a fully changed XI from the first period whilst Town brought on Trialists C, D and E as well as Dan Jones to replace Jackson, Crust, Graham and Stephenson.

With the array of changes on offer, it did take a little while for the game to settle and for the chances to start emerging.

Jake Rose found space to put in a great cross but the resulting effort from Sam Cook could only find its way over Tom Dawson's goal.

Town then had an opportunity after a defensive mix-up, however, the Knaresborough backline managed to recover before a clear-cut opportunity presented itself.

The building Town pressure eventually resulted in a second goal shortly after. It was that man Shaun Ryder bagging his second. Taking the ball under his control with a great touch, he proceeded to bend an effort into the bottom corner just beyond the reach of Corbett in the Knaresborough goal.

Town continued to put on an impressive pre-season performance and were pushing for further goals. Especially Shaun Ryder who tried in vain to bag a hat-trick of strikes from outside of the area but Corbett was on hand to prevent Ryder from achieving his goal.

Town continued to control the game in its final stages and progressed with a solid win to start their pre-season.

Full-Time: Northallerton 2 - 0 Knaresborough

Teams:

Northallerton

Starting Lineup: Dawson, Jackson, Trialist A, Crust, Graham, Marron, Chidanyika, Ryder, L Jones, Stephenson, Trialist B

Subs: Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E, D Jones, Rae, Wilson

Goals: Ryder (36, 63)

Knaresborough

First-Half XI: Trialist A, Hall, Clark, Anderson, Racher, Trialist B, Rose, Trialist C, Creamer, Hines

Second-Half XI: Corbett, Marsh, Dobson, Cook, Racher, Rose, Walker, Bedford, Navier, Gregson, Edmondson

Attendance: 118