Pitchero Non League

A rampant Blue Square Bet North Harrogate Town side gave Northern Ireland hosts Crusaders a lesson in football with an amazing performance on Saturday.

Crusaders, who fielded a strong team minus one regular centre back who was playing in another friendly and have won two cups last season with this squad, simply had no way of answering Town’s attacking play.

A hat-trick from striker Chib Chilaka and goals from Paul Beesley, Luke Dean - a 25 yard stunner - Alan White, Alex Meechan from the penalty spot and Jonny Allan did the damage.

Conference Premier new boys Dartford beat Leyton Orient 1-0, courtesy of a Danny Harris effort in front of 633 at Princes Park.

A good performance by Dartford`s league rivals Forest Green Rovers, who looked the stronger side against a Cardiff City team playing their first pre-season game of the summer.

The only goal of the game came courtesy of excellent work by James Norwood.

The pacey winger charged down the left and a fantastic ball in to the box found Omar Koroma, who tucked the ball under Joe Lewis to put Rovers ahead with what proved the only goal of the game.

Conference Premier side Wrexham's 100% winning pre-season record was ended by a stylish Blackpool outfit in an end-to-end contest at the Racecourse Ground.

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips won and converted a 14th minute penalty before Martin Riley opened his Wrexham account with a point-blank header after 32 minutes.

Scott Robertson's scrambled effort in injury-time gave the Seasiders a slender half-time advantage they held until the end.

The game between Ryman League Premier Division Wealdstone and Conference Premier Braintree Town finished 1-1 at Grosvenor Vale.

James Mulley scored for the Stones, home keeper, Rikki Banks, ensuring honours were even with a late penalty save.

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North side Farsley FC beat Conference North neighbours Guiseley 2-1 at Throstle Nest where two second half goals from Farsley cancelled out Gavin Rothery’s 65th minute equaliser from the spot.

For the opening minutes Guiseley showed some slick passing but couldn’t find the killer pass to convert their superiority into goals. When they did get through invariably the offside trap was sprung and even though the Lions had the ball in the net twice it was all to no avail so the only notable change was Jacob Giles replacing Steve Dench on the half-hour mark.

Then second half started with the usual flurry of substitutes and it was Farsley who went ahead before Rothery looped his spot-kick past a committed Tom Guildford.

Slack marking 5 minutes gifted Chris Walton a free header at the far post from a left wing corner and that was it.

Bobby Grant gave Scunthorpe United a narrow victory at Conference North side FC Halifax Town, while at Stockport Sports (formerly Woodley Sports), the now North West Counties Leaguers shared a 1-1 draw with Conference North outfit Droylsden.

Steve Hall scored the goal for the Bloods on 75minutes, with the equaliser coming just 3 minutes later from John Marsden.

Conference North new boys Brackley Town were held to a goalles draw at the New Windmill by Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division Leamington.

Brackley`s league rivals Boston United fell to their first defeat of pre-season, losing 2-0 at the Sir Halley Stewart Fields against ChromaSport & Trophies United Counties League Premier Division neighbours Spalding United.

Goals from former Pilgrim Lee Canoville and a late header by Ben Good separated the teams.

Another Conference North outfit, Colwyn Bay, were beaten 2-0 at Llanelian Road by Conference Premier newcomers Macclesfield Town.

Nathaniel Brown gave the Silkmen the lead after 7 minutes and Waide Fairhurst doubled that from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.

Bay`s new league rivals Chester FC beat an Aston Villa XI 2-1 at the Exacta Stadium in front of a crowd of almost 900.

Nathan Jarman and Antoni Sarcevic scored the home goals after Villa had taken a first half lead.

Conference South side Chelmsford City beat Ryman Premier visitiors East Thurrock United 2-1 with goals from Cliff Akurang and ex-Kettering Town man David Bridges.

Chelmsford`s league rivals Bromley were beaten 2-0 at Hayes Lane by a youthful Charlton Athletic side, whose goals came via a stunning free-kick from Ruben Bover and a neat finish from Joe Pigott.

Recent signing Max Worsfold was on target for another Conference South outfit, Staines Town, but Marcus Gayle`s side were beaten 2-1 at Ryman Division One South Godalming Town.

Colchester United came from behind to beat Ryman League Division One North side Brentwood Town 2-1.

Sherwin Stanley gave Brentwood the lead 5 minutes before half-time when he dinked a shot past keeper Mark Cousins from close range.

But John-Joe O'Toole equalised for the U's less than a minute later when he headed in Anthony Wordsworth's cross from close range.

And Colchester took the lead shortly after when Freddie Ladapo finished from close-range, after O'Toole had battled his way through in the area.

ChromaSport & Trophies United Counties League Premier Division Peterborough Northern Star drew 2-2 at UCL Division One Bourne Town with goals from Dan Clements, who has re-signed after playing for the club around his university commitments last season, and another new signing, Andy Furnell.

Wisbech saw ther 100 per cent summer run ended in their final friendly outing ahead of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division kick-off next weekend.

UCL Division One side Sileby Rangers drew 1-1 at the Fenland Stadium - striker Chris Bacon hit the Wisbech goal.

There was an afternoon of entertainment and incident as Ryman Division One South side Whitstable Town fell three goals behind in 18 minutes against Kent Hurlimann Leaguers Canterbury City.

The Oystermen then fought back to get back on level terms only to lose the match with a speculative shot beating Nick Shaw to give the visitors a 4-3 victory.

Canterbury, who start their league campaign next week, started the stronger and it was no surprise after 6 minutes that they took the lead. Ex-Whitstable midfielder Stephen Baines sent in a cross ball to find Alex Waugh who put Canterbury one ahead.

Two minutes later City went further ahead when after a goalmouth melee Chris Elliott found the back of the net.

Town could have got back in the game after 17 minutes when Dean Grant was brought down whilst weaving his way along the by line. Stuart Vahid stepped up and fired the penalty sky high over the bar. Within a minute another ex-Whitstable player Jake Gess was left one on one with Shaw and was able to lob the ball over the keeper to find the back of the net.

At half-time the team talk worked wonders as after only a minute of the second half Shane Hamshare crossed in to find Jake Beecroft who fired home. Then after 52 minutes Town nearly got another goal but the first of three great saves from former Whitstable keeper denied Dean Grant. Four minutes later Hamshare had a shot push over the bar by the in-form City keeper.

Then after 68 minutes a cross ball was handled in the Canterbury area. The referee had no hesitation but to point to the spot and this time Beecroft slammed the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later the fight back was complete as a mistake in the City defence was punished by Dane Luchford slammed the ball home.

But after Town had done all the hard work a speculative shot from outside the box the ball slid in the corner of the net past Shaw to score Canterbury’s winner.

NPL First Division South side Stamford are still unbeaten in pre-season after coming from behind to register a fourth successive victory.

Paul Mayo and Gary King hit the goals as Graham Drury’s new-look Daniels eased past East Midlands Counties Leaguers Thurnby Nirvana 2-1.

NPL Premier Division Rushall Olympic and Southern Premier Stourbridge played out a goalless draw in a competitive contest at Dales Lane, although clear chances were at a premium.

NPL First Division South side Carlton Town had goals from Joe Naylor, Ian Brown and Ryan Whitehurst to thank for a 3-1 win at Baris Northern Counties East League Shirebrook Town.

NPL First Division North side Lancaster City produced a spirited second half fight back from a three goal first half deficit against NPL Premier Division Kendal Town.

An own goal from Daniel Gregson in the first half, coupled with strikes from Danny Wisdom and ex-Dolly Alex Taylor gave Kendal a 3-0 lead at half-time as City looked out of sorts and out of the game. However, a penalty from Tom Kilifin and a fantastic headed effort from Daniel Gregson gave City a fighting chance of a result but couldn't find a third.

Lancaster`s league rivals Warrington Town played out a 1-1 draw with NPL Premier Division side Ashton United.

Both teams have high hopes ahead of the 2012/13 season with both sides playing free-flowing, attacking football from the kick-off.

The home side started strongly with chances being created from both flanks. Town went ahead when Fraser Ablett was put through on goal and fired past the Ashton keeper on 25 minutes.

Just before the break Ben Deegan made it all square giving the visitors a share of the spoils.

The Glassboys league rivals Banbury United were on the wrong end of a 4-1 beating at Southern Division One Central side Rugby Town.

However, with absentees due to holidays and injuries it was a rather different Banbury side to that which had lined up for friendlies thus far this pre-season.

Banbury though began well enough, looking dangerous early on. As early as the 6th minute a James Robbins cross from the left was met by Ricky Johnson whose powerful shot rocked the cross bar.

Just 2 minutes later a free-kick was awarded to United five yards outside the Rugby penalty area. Martin Hutchcox stepped up to strike the ball over the wall and into the corner of the next giving David Bevan in the Rugby goal no chance.

However, within 5 minutes Banbury were 2-1 down as Rugby exposed frailties in the Banbury defence to score through Seb Hamilton and then Michael Williams.

Banbury still looked dangerous going forward and pushed for an equaliser but just 3 minutes before half time Hamilton scored his second of the game to make it 3-1 to Rugby.

There were, as usual, many changes to both sides throughout the second half. The changes didn't help the flow of the game and the second half was much more of a non-event. Three minutes from time Banbury were opened up once more with a cut back from the right bye line being slotted in by Morris to make the final score 4-1.

Ryman Division One North Tilbury put on an excellent performance to win 3-0 at Ryman Division One South hosts Ramsgate with goals from Sam West, Martin Llewellyn and Jamie Williams.

Molten Spartan South Midlands Leaguers Leverstock Green went down to a 4-3 home defeat to UCL Premier Division Desborough Town, for whom Jon Mitchell recorded a hat-trick.

Another game between SSML and UCL sides saw Aylesbury United earn a 4-2 result at AFC Kempston Rovers.

Paul Edgeworth made it three goals in three games as he gave the Ducks a 23rd minute lead, profiting from good work and a precise through ball by Ian Cooper.

But United got sloppy and conceded two poor goals - the first 7 minutes later when the ball landed at the feet of Kempston's left-back who had all the time in the world to steer it past Jack Sillitoe.

Kempston went on to dominate proceedings and Aylesbury were indebted to Sillitoe for a number of very good saves throughout the match keeping the hosts at bay.

Aylesbury reached the interval level when Jack Wood bundled in Michael Kilpa's corner from close range in first half stoppage time.

The Ducks and added two further goals to their tally after the break.

First, Joey Acheampong was hauled to the ground giving Ian Cooper chance to score from the penalty spot.

Then, Stacey Field scored with an excellent finish to make it 4-2 in United's favour.