YORK Acorn battled to their first National Conference League premier division victory – overcoming Kells 30-22 in an entertaining game at Thanet Road.

Kells, in the top half of the table, had an early chance ruled out when Jack Stewart pulled off a great covering tackle to prevent the winger scoring.

Acorn then worked the ball to the other end of the field, forcing Kells to spill the ball, and Ryan Gallacher took a pass out wide to score despite the attentions of two defenders.

In the 26th minute, Kells fed the ball out to winger Martin O’Neil to score in the corner. However, great goal-line defence from Acorn prevented Kells scoring again immediately.

Acorn responded – Joel Johnson managing to run the ball out of the in-goal area to give the home side some vital possession before Jimmy Mountford broke the line and offloaded to Joe Budd to score between the posts, with Antony Chilton converting.

As the half drew to a close, Acorn's defence switched off allowing Kells to get a roll on, finishing with prop Ben Milburn having the space to score. A successful conversion from Ross Gainford levelled the scores.

On the stroke of half-time, Acorn were awarded a penalty on halfway and Chilton took the points.

Acorn started the second half in control, moving the ball out to Stewart to dive in the corner.

On 51 minutes, though, Acorn gifted possession to Kells who found space out wide for winger Reece O’Neil to slide in. The referee awarded a penalty try as the Acorn full back was adjudged to have used his knees in the act of tackling.

The first conversion attempt was unsuccessful but stand-off Ross Gainford added the two points from in front of the posts to level the scores again.

Acorn began to dominate possession, despite having a man in the sin bin. York's Tim Stubbs was held up over the line and in Kells' next set they knocked on without clearing their 20 metres.

With the ball back in Stubbs hands, he made sure of grounding the ball this time and Chilton landed the conversion.

On the hour, Kells fought back with hooker Nathan Doran exploiting a weak defence to score and, with a successful conversion, levelling the scores for a fourth time.

Kells were penalised in the 73rd minute for a high tackle and Acorn opted to try for goal again from halfway – and Chilton didn’t disappoint.

Defending their slim lead became a priority for Acorn as they looked for their first win of the league campaign.

And it came down to man-of-the-match Jimmy Mountford to gain vital metres, scurrying from dummy-half.

The opportunity to put the game beyond Kells arrived with two minutes to play. Stubbs was unstoppable from ten metres out and, with his fifth goal of the game, Chilton made it 30-22.