KIRKBY Malzeard remain unbeaten in the league since mid-September after an impressive 2-0 premier division win at second-placed Burley Trojans last Saturday.

Andy Thompson fired them ahead from the penalty spot after only five minutes when Ashley Atkinson was brought down and it led to a dominant display from the visitors.

But it was not until ten minutes from time that substitute Sean Taylor hit the second to wrap up the points for Kirkby, who have now beaten the top two sides in successive weeks.

In division one, the performance of the day saw bottom club Kirkby Malzeard Reserves record a 4-1 win over visitors Bedale Town.

Tom Murphy put them ahead after 15 minutes and Matt Mitchell doubled the lead from the penalty spot ten minutes later. The match was over as a contest by half-time when Tim Conners made it 3-0 in the 40th minute and Shane Hayden added a fourth with 20 minutes left.

Although Bedale pulled a goal back with a late penalty of their own, it could not spoil Kirkby's day as they moved off the bottom of the table.

Elsewhere, Dalton Athletic's promotion hopes suffered a setback as they went down 3-1 at Pool Reserves.

The home side took the lead after 21 minutes and got a second before half-time. Dalton then staged a strong second-half comeback and Richard Balderston pulled a goal back in the 75th minute, but any hope of snatching a point disappeared three minutes later when Pool broke out to grab a third.

An under-strength Masham team travelled to leaders Thirsk Falcons Reserves and were soundly beaten 4-0. The visitors started brightly, but could not find the net and once Thirsk took the lead after 20 minutes there was no way back for Masham.

The result of the day in division two saw a young Ripon Red Arrows team hold leaders Bramham to a 2-2 draw.

Having lost 7-3 at Bramham the previous week, the Arrows were fearing the worst when they fell behind after only six minutes. But Lee Fagg fired them level 12 minutes later.

Although the unbeaten Bramham side regained the lead before the break, Arrows battled hard in the second half and got a deserved equaliser in the 65th minute. Fagg's shot was fumbled by the Bramham keeper and Bob Mackle followed up to score.

All their good work looked to be in vain when Bramham were awarded a last-minute penalty, but Andy Kirkbright pulled off a great save to earn his team a point.

Catterick Village also had a good day, winning 1-0 at Harlow Hill Reserves.

Andy Coe got the vital goal after half an hour and Village then staged a strong rearguard action to keep Hill at bay and hold on for a vital victory.

Boroughbridge A travelled to Pateley Bridge Reserves and also came away with a 1-0 success.

The visitors dominated much of the match, but were guilty of some wayward finishing, especially when Tony Allen rounded the keeper after 72 minutes but somehow put the ball wide of an empty net.

It looked like being a costly miss until Phil Forbes-Bell finally found the target for Boroughbridge four minutes from time.

In division three, Kirkby Malzeard A ran into all sorts of problems at Half Moon before finally going down to an 8-3 defeat.

The home side, who had ex-Manchester United and Leeds winger Lee Sharpe in their line-up, raced into a 5-0 lead by half-time as Kirkby suffered an injury to their goalkeeper and played a large section of the match with only nine men.

Half Moon hit another three goals early in the second half before Kirkby staged a strong late rally.

Shane Abbott hit a hat-trick in the final 15 minutes, which he completed from the penalty spot in the last minute.