
The Wensleydale Creamery League has played its first set of fixtures since March.
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Last season was brought to a halt due to Covid-19 and this season is also likely to be disrupted, but for now the battle for league title honours has begun.
Reeth began strongly with a 7-2 victory over Carperby.
Adam Simpson got a hat-trick, with James Bowler-Jones scoring twice. James Connelly and Ross Barnet also got on the scoresheet.
Veteran forward John Pickard scored for Carperby after the Reeth goalkeeper picked up a back-pass and he was set up from the resulting free-kick by Paul Stephenson.
Carperby improved slightly in the second half and James Spence got a close range goal to reduce the deficit, but it was too little, too late.
Elsewhere, the Buck Inn also enjoyed a good win, with a 5-0 away mauling of Spennithorne and Harmby. Only the heroics of Spenni keeper Nathan Walker preventing a bigger defeat.
Spenni had an open sight of goal in the first five minutes with Buck stand-in keeper Andy D’Arcy making a good low save to his right.
From then on it was all Buck, creating a host of chances and going one nil up from a Stewart Fotheringham free kick, with Walker making his only error of the day. Buck made it two after great work down the left from Marshal Thorogood who squared it for Danny Allen to tap home.
Buck should have been at least three up by half time but Walker pulled off an excellent penalty save to go with his numerous stops in the first half. Spennithorne improved after half time but the game was over when Connor Metcalfe finished a flowing Buck move and a Marshal Thorogood brace gave Buck the score line they deserved.
The day’s closest contest was between local rivals Richmond Town Reserves and Richmond Mavericks, with Mavs taking the three points with a 3-2 win.
With Richmond Town ‘s game being cancelled due to a Covid-19 case among the squad, the reserves’ ranks were boosted by some first team talent.
But Mavs’ Andrew Pritchard started the season where he finished the last by banging in goals, getting one in each half after Sam Pickersgill got the first after just eight minutes.
George Battersby and Edward Lewington scored for Town, who were able to take advantage of the new rule allowing five substitutes, in the second half but Mavs held on for the win.
Fixtures – 26.9.20
Carperby v Colburn
Reeth v Catterick Garrison
Richmond Buck Inn v Richmond Mavericks
Richmond Town Reserves v Leyburn Town
Spennithorne v Unicorn