Chamionship-chasing Nestl Rowntree went nap against fierce cross-city rivals York RI at New Lane to keep up the pressure on West Yorkshire League leaders Carlton Athletic.

Rowntree's 5-1 win keeps them nine points behind Carlton with three games in hand, while the defeat leaves RI rooted to the foot of the table with a crucial six-pointer against fellow strugglers Rothwell coming up next week.

Rowntrees dominated the first half and went ahead on 20 minutes through hotshot Brent Terry, who slid in the rebound after Steve Ward had been denied by 'keeper Simon Hammond after latching onto an errant back pass.

Ward then scored a fine individual goal to double the advantage before the break.

The hosts came more into it in the second half and Colin Rayner halved the deficit with a 20-yard chip over Neil Smallwood, but Rowntrees took control again as Terry notched his second to make it 3-1.

Former RI midfielder Scott Barley then made it four with a quickly taken free-kick and, after Lee Bond - in his first game back following a five-week suspension - blazed an RI penalty over the bar, 'Trees' Matty Wain scored from the spot to complete the scoring.

RI manager Colin Rayner said: "I did not think they were four goals better than us. In the first half they played well but we improved quite a lot in the second half.

"We missed some chances and a lack of concentration at the back for a couple of goals let us down and our heads went after that. But you can see why they are a good side."

Rowntrees boss Jim Collis was happy with the win but angry that he will now be without midfielder Barley for most if not all of the run-in.

"He's got a seven-week suspension picked up for two sendings-off in Sunday football," said Collis.

"He now misses 18 games of football. He's done nothing wrong for us but we suffer. He should serve his ban in Sunday football only, and it should be a suspension based on matches rather than weeks."

Meanwhile, Carlton maintained their lead at the top of the table thanks to a rousing finish at Knaresborough Town which saw them win 6-3.

Steve Davey and Mick Adams put Carlton two up but Town hit back to go ahead through Patrick Taylor, Sal Njie and an own goal.

However, the visitors slammed in four goals in ten minutes, Vernal Blair notching a hat-trick and Chris McIlduff getting the other.

Ten-man Harrogate Town saw two UniBond League division one points snatched from their grasp when hosts Belper Town equalised on 80 minutes following a mistake by goalkeeper Rasti Martos.

The Slovak failed to cut out an 80th-minute corner and saw Karl Payne volley home from just six yards.

Scott Bairstow had given Harrogate a 25th-minute lead with a penalty but his side were reduced to ten men ten minutes later when Chris Hudson received a second yellow card.

Michael Ord was another 'Gate player to be booked, following a late off-the-field incident with a spectator.

Harrogate Railway Athletic enjoyed a superb 3-1 thrashing of ten-man Goole in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

The visitors were a man down after just 15 minutes when Andrew Horsfield earned his second booking and Railway went ahead a minute before the break through skipper Liam Gray.

Mark Bramall levelled things on the hour but Matthew Flynn and Pete Wrigley scored twice in two minutes to hand the hosts the points.

Selby Town's premier division match at Eccleshill United was postponed, as were the division one games between Gedling and Pickering Town and Tadcaster Albion and Maltby Main.

Pickering Town Under-19s kept up their challenge for the Northern U19 Alliance League title with a 7-0 hammering of Fields of Bradford.

Sharp-shooter Matt Dobson went nap with five goals, while Andrew Jones and Andy Moorhouse also netted.

* A new six-a-side football competition is starting up for teams involved in York's Saturday and Sunday leagues.

The Umbro Premier Soccer League will take place on the Astroturf at Huntington School every Wednesday, starting in early May.

For information and starter packs ring 01904-692444.

* York Referees' Association hold their next meeting on Thursday at the New Earswick Bowls Club, starting at 7.30pm.

Updated: 12:54 Monday, April 09, 2001