Trojans see title hopes fade with home defeat

BURLEY Trojans saw their receding title hopes evaporate with a lacklustre display against opponents who now appear to be emerging as the main challengers to Ilkley.

Trojans were without first team regulars Nick Quaife and Kieren Hanogue but they have enough quality in their squad to have put up a better showing against a very committed Pannal side.

Midfielder Danny Martin came closest to opening the scoring for the visitors in the first-half when he fired over from a good position and then headed a Justin O'Hallerhan corner just wide. At the other end 'keeper Mark Latimer plucked a Jonny Lofthouse corner off the head of Stuart Dibb as he challenged.

Pannal continued to take the game to Trojans with Martin having a neat volley comfortably saved by Chris Hargreaves and then Chris Lockwood bravely blocked a O'Hallerhan effort at the expense of a corner.

The visitors then contrived to strike the woodwork three times inside five minutes around the midway point of the half. Centre-forward Mike Kell struck the foot of a post and then Greg Darcey saw a blistering drive brilliantly tipped on to an upright at full stretch by Hargreaves.

Right-back Steve Kitching then struck the top of the bar with a speculative cross-cum-shot as Trojans rode their luck.

Gareth Goodison had Trojans' best chance of the half when he outpaced Roger Thompson but overran the ball on the bobbly surface and allowed Latimer to gather.

Trojans were then denied a clear penalty five minutes before the break when Stuart Copley burst into the area only to be hauled back by Kitching. Referee Adam Bowen who had an otherwise excellent game seemed to be the only person in the ground who did not spot the incident and waved play on. Within a minute Pannal were in front and this time there was no disputing the penalty awarded their way.

Trojans conceded a free-kick in midfield and were slow to re-group. Pannal worked the ball up the middle and Martin's charge into the area was unceremoniously halted by a combination of Ian McKain and Chris Lloyd.

O'Hallerhan's spot kick was clinical and found the bottom corner. The half- time break did little for Trojans fortunes and they fell further behind on the hour.

Slack defending at a well worked corner allowed Ian Carter to turn inside the area and, although he miscued his shot, it still found the back of the net.

Trojans introduced Phil Constantine in a bid to liven things up and he made an immediate impact, forcing Rob Taylor to head off his own line. Constantine also set up Lofthouse but his drive was just too high. At last Trojans were showing some commitment and passion, and Constantine tricked his way through and this time Thompson had to head to safety from his dangerous cross.

In the closing minutes Trojans went as close to scoring as they had come all afternoon when Connolly's deep corner was met by substitute Matt Steer whose goalbound header was desperately hacked off the line by Kitching with Latimer finally beaten.

Lloyd picked up match point, putting in a confident performance at left-back as he deputised in Trojans' overworked defence.

Trojans are without a game on Saturday and just have one remaining league fixture, at Boroughbridge, and will need to rediscover their early season form ahead of their Senior Cup semi-final if their season is not to end in disappointment.