A HAT-TRICK from striker Danny Edwards saw Knaresborough Town move to the summit of the Toolstation Northern Counties East premier division on Tuesday night.

It’s been a blistering start to the season for Simon Parkes’ side, who maintained their 100 per cent record with a 3-1 victory over early strugglers Goole at Manse Lane.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the match after a teasing delivery was fired across the face of goal with 17 minutes played, but thankfully for Town, none of their opponents could get on the end of it.

Knaresborough soon found their rhythm however, Dom Creamer seeing his diving header come off the post before firing over the bar.

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However, the hosts were not to be denied in the second half, taking the lead in the 48th minute when Edwards volleyed Creamer’s cross past Jody Barford, before the striker doubled his tally with a fine curling finish from the edge of the box just after the hour mark.

Goole found themselves with a way back into the contest when Ben Gelder headed home from a corner, but Edwards restored Town’s two-goal cushion with 10 minutes remaining, again combining with Creamer to complete his hat-trick.

Goalkeeper Tommy Brown got down brilliantly to provide a one-handed save from a Goole attack in injury time, but the result was enough for Knaresborough to open up a two-point lead at the top of the table.

However, the same could not be said for Pickering Town, whose wait for their first point back in the division goes on after a 2-0 defeat at Bradford side Thackley.

The Pikes parted company with popular manager Rudy Funk last week, but Tony Hackworth, Wayne Brooksby and Jamie Poole are yet to see their side even score a goal.

Despite their hosts firing an early save from Harrison McGuire, Pickering started the better of the sides, firing efforts both high and wide in quick succession.

McGuire provided another smart stop midway through the half to deny Joe Mitchell’s drive from the edge of the box before the young goalkeeper watched on as a lofted header from player/manager Tom Greaves whistled narrowly wide.

Wayne Kitula, who made an impressive debut for the Pikes in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Seaham, then found himself in a fantastic position to fire his side in front but blazed his effort from 10 yards over the bar.

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The Pikes looked to continue in the same attacking vein during the second half, Luke Wilson keeping the Dennyboys in the game with a string of saves to deny both captain Brooksby and striker Keelan Grist.

That ultimately paid dividends for Thackley, who took their chances to break Pickering hearts with two goals inside the final five minutes to seal victory.

Former Bury AFC striker Greaves turned a defender before firing a thunderous strike into the roof of the net to open the scoring before George Green met Asa Mitchell’s cross to finish in similar style in the first minute of injury time.

Green was then sent off for a second yellow card in the dying seconds, but the Pikes could do nothing to improve on their 19th placed standing ahead of the visit of Frickley Athletic to Mill Lane on Saturday (3pm). 

Owing to scheduled opponents Campion’s rearranged Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie at Wythenshawe, Tadcaster remained without a midweek game, whilst Selby Town used their free evening to play a friendly against Garforth Town.

167 spectators watched on as the Robins drew 2-2, twice bringing themselves onto level terms through Kyle Fish and Edward Dry after Sam Barker and Joe Hobson had scored for their hosts.