Six of the best for Trojans Reserves

BURLEY Trojans Reserves began their festive celebrations early with a resounding win which turns up the heat at the top of the table. Their hosts, themselves victorious at leaders Ripon in their last game, were brushed aside as they found the twin strike force of Gareth Goodison and Gary Shankland too hot to handle. Whilst Shankland and Goodison, who weighed on with his third hat-trick of the season, made the headlines it was a complete team performance from Trojans which demonstrated why they are now firm favourites for promotion.

Playing on the immaculate Killinghall Moor surface, the visitors took only four minutes to register their first goal. Andy Wheeler, who impressed at left back, started the move with an intelligent ball to Shankland. His flicked header found Darren Bates who sent Goodison clear. The young striker still had plenty to do as he brushed his marker aside to rifle home from just inside the area.

Trojans doubled their lead on ten minutes as their constant pressure again paid handsome dividends. Midfielder Kieran Hanogue's left wing cross eluded Shankland but the ever alert Bates timed his run at the far post to control and beat keeper Steve Henessey with ease.

Unison battled gamely and skipper Tim Fendyke made a good block and then Bates foiled Paul Foster with a last ditch tackle.

Trojans were finding the fast and true surface to their liking and Bates and Hanogue all had chances to increase the lead, the latter completely miskicking from six yards out following a Pete Spivey corner.

Keeper Michael Sant, a spectator for much of the game, was called into action on twenty minutes, saving smartly at the foot of a post from a Dan Kelsey drive. Steve Hitchen, Bates and Goodison all had opportunities to further increase the lead as the visitors threatened to run riot. It was no surprise when the third goal arrived just before the break, with Shankland's low cross being clinically dispatched by Goodison.

Unison were fortunate to still have their full complement following midfielder Dan Miller's verbal assault on referee Ralph Milnes on the stroke of half-time. The Knaresborough official extended some seasonal goodwill showing only yellow following the x-rated outburst.

The second- half began in much the same fashion with Goodison lobbing on to the bar and Bates seeing his shot well saved by Henessey when well set up by Steve Nelson. Goodison's hat-trick duly arrived on the hour mark. Hitchen split the home defence and Goodison hit his shot early, the ball squirming through the Henessey's grasp. In a rare moment of danger Andy Wheeler cleared off the line from Charles Ingham but in truth the Trojans back line was never seriously threatened all afternoon.

Bates added his second and Trojans fifth with an angled drive when Shankland set him free on the right. Substitute Rob Wheeler came close to adding to the tally, dragging his shot wide after neat approach work from Nelson and Shankland .

The one black mark of the afternoon came ten minutes from time when Fendyke was booked for a late tackle to halt a rare Unison attack.

Man-of-the-Match Shankland got the goal he deserved with five minutes remaining. Rob Wheeler's right wing corner was touched on by Goodison and Shankland followed up at the far post to lash home a left foot drive much to the delight of the travelling supporters.

l Trojans first team fixture at home to Tockwith fell victim to Bradford Council's decision to close all pitches over the Christmas period and on Saturday they travel to Beckwithshaw, kick off 2.00pm. The Reserves are also away, making the short journey to Pool 'A', kick-off 2.00pm.