Football: Haxby United draw in opening division one game (From York Press)

Football: Haxby United draw in opening division one game

10:19am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Sport By Terry Todd

Both sides relegated from last season’s York Minster Engineering Football League premier division failed to get off to flying starts in division one.

Wilberfoss lost 1-0 at home to Pocklington while Haxby drew 2-2 with Total Sports.

Dale Waddington gave Haxby the lead before goals from Ben Brannigan and Tom Robinson swung the game in favour of the visitors.

But a late equaliser from Henry Robinson registered Haxby’s first draw in 32 games.

Two goals from Simon Reeves helped Malton & Norton extend their unbeaten run from last season to 14 matches as the Ryedale side drew 2-2 at promoted Aviva for whom Tom Shirley and Neil Richardson replied.

Since joining the league seven years ago, St Clement’s have never lost an opening day fixture and despite falling behind to a Graham Hutchinson goal 15 minutes from time at Tockwith, they preserved that record.

Scott Nicholas and a brace of goals from Bobby Clapham confirmed a 3-1 triumph for opening-day specialists St Clement’s.

Heworth and Bishopthorpe , the two relegated sides from division one, clashed in their opening fixture in division two.

And Heworth, who last season did the double over Bishopthorpe, continued the trend winning 4-3 with Lee Bunce scoring all four of their goals.

Rawcliffe suffered an opening day defeat for the first time in seven years as they lost 3-1 at home to Thorpe. John Moss hit the solitary Rawcliffe consolation.

Last season’s division three champions Tadcaster Magnets were within a minute of opening their campaign with a win after Andy Kitchen had given them a first half lead at Strensall .

But the hosts salvaged a draw with a last-minute equaliser from Jason Heslop.

The title of strangest own goal of the season might have already been claimed.

The benefactors were Heslington during their 2-2 share-all at Cliffe.

Nathan Parker put the home side in front only for Paul Tanton to over-hit a back-pass from 35 yards out which gave his own goalkeeper no chance at all and duly levelled the game.

Parker restored Cliffe’s lead before Aidan Bardy equalised to confirm parity.

In the only fixture in division three, Steve Gagen marked his debut for Rufforth in style.

He notched a hat-trick as Rufforth beat Selby Olympia 5-0. Billy Martin and Ryan Wilson completed the nap hand for Rufforth.

The lone second-string fixture ended with Malton & Norton defeating Selby RSSC 3-0 in reserve division ‘C’. Joe Jefferson and Ed Marwood (2) were on target.