TOP of the table Ripon City hosted third placed Sessay Cricket Club and fought out a 3-3 draw in division one of the Hillsprint Hambleton Football Combination on Sunday.

Richard Thompson gave Sessay the lead after 18’. Matty Vincent equalised for Ripon with a fine strike from the edge of the Sessay penalty area on 20’. A Paul Beesley header put Ripon ahead on 35’. Thompson equalised for Sessay on 42’ with a well taken penalty. In the second half Beesley scored his second goal for Ripon with another well taken penalty on 75’ to put his side 3-2 up.

On 82’ Sessay were awarded their second penalty of the game. Thompson took the kick and hit the Ripon bar with the ball bouncing down and according to the referee went over the Ripon goal line for a goal which he awarded. The Ripon players protested that the ball had bounced back into play and not into goal. The goal stood to give Sessay a point and Thompson his hat trick. Both teams maintained their league positions.

In division two, top of the table Robert Thompsons, Thirsk visited seventh-placed club Thirsk Town at Thirsk and Sowerby Flatts in this local derby, and won 2-0. Liam Cook put Thompsons ahead after 5’. James Spence doubled Thompsons score on 15’, and that was the end of the scoring. The win moves Thompsons five points clear at the top of the table.

Bottom club Knayton visited sixth-placed AFC Nags Head, Northallerton. Knayton won a very close game 3-2. Danny Newton put Nags ahead on 19’ with a fine strike. Jake Porter equalised for Knayton with another good goal. On 42’ Tom Hogg put Knayton ahead with a shot from 15 yards into the top right-hand corner of the Nags' net.

A minute into the second half Knayton caught the Nags' defence cold when Porter scored his second, shooting wide of Chris Gray in the Nags' goal. Lee Manamley reduced the arrears for Nags on 72’, however, Knayton held on to claim the points and move them up to fifth in the table. Nags drop down a place to seventh.

The Broughton & Kirby Hibs Reserves versus Black Swan, Bedale game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

In division three, second placed Potting Shed, Northallerton hosted seventh-placed Catterick Garrison Football Centre and won 3-1. Potting Shed got off to a flyer after a minute when a through ball by Dan Rafiq was missed by the Catterick central defence, the ball reaching Ryan Monaghan White who scored to give his side the lead.

On 67’ Serhat Ozkanli put Potting Shed 2-0 up. They went 3-0 up on 81’ courtesy of an own goal by Catterick. Two minutes later Scott Leeming reduced the arrears for Catterick, however, Potting Shed held on comfortably to claim the points and move them to the top of the table. Catterick remain in seventh.

Third-placed Kirklington hosted fifth-placed Oddies WMC and fought out a 2-2 draw. James Newcombe gave Kirklington the lead on 14’. On the stroke of half time Jordan Wallace converted an Oddies' corner to level the scores. On 70’ Josh Yanac put Kirklington back in front. Nine minutes later Will Horner equalised for Oddies when he tapped home from another corner. Kirklington can thank their goal keeper and man of the match Dean Elsworth, who made some amazing saves to keep his side in the game.

There are no fixtures on December 27. Fixtures resume on Sunday, January 3. The league council would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year.