Burley Trojans 5

Harlow Hill 1

Trojans put the memory of their last game behind them as they strolled to a comfortable win against a weakened Harlow Hill side.

Manager Gary Shankland shuffled his pack after the six goal humiliation against Kirk Deighton, recalling himself and Oliver Barrand, and pushing Stu Copley into a striking role alongside Chris Connolly.

The move certainly paid dividends with a much more assured defensive display whilst Connolly and Copley shared three goals as Trojans completed their first league double.

This was one of Trojans best performances of the season and their sparkling passing football brightened up a gloomy afternoon. The scoreline in no way flattered the home side and, had they converted a greater share of the clear cut chances that they created, then Harlow could have returned to Harrogate highly embarrassed.

The opening exchanges were extremely cagey with Trojans' confidence still clearly shaken. It was the visitors who created the first opening when Tom Whitelaw forced Chris Hargreaves into action.

Right back Chris Storey then showed a lack of composure in front of goal when set up by Martin Vale, blazing high and wide. Connolly came within inches of latching on to Barrand's slide rule pass before he turned provider to set up Jonny Lofthouse. The winger easily rounded 'keeper Tony Diver and, with the goal at his mercy, managed to direct his finish against a post to the astonishment of everyone.

Harlow defender Nick Smith was cautioned for a crude foul on Connolly which was to later force Trojans' leading scorer out of the action. Not, however, before Connolly himself was booked for returning the compliment to Smith but he did exact more appropriate revenge by bagging a brace of goals before the break.

On the half hour left back Craig Renton broke up a Harlow attack and found Lofthouse who set up the lively Copley whose inswinging cross was met by Connolly who guided a deft looping header beyond the reach of Diver.

Trojans were now in the ascendancy but finishing off sides has become their Achilles heel in recent years and this seemed to be the case again. Ian McKain, twice, Barrand and Connolly were all off target with decent chances whilst Diver pulled off a great point blank save to deny Chris Lockwood.

McKain put in a towering performance at the heart of Trojans' midfield, making light of the heavy conditions. Dave Jones, comfortably Harlow's best player, gave Trojans a reminder as his 25 yarder thudded against the bar with Hargreaves beaten before Connolly doubled the lead three minutes before the interval with a goal of stunning quality.

Lofthouse played a one-two with McKain delivering a measured pass over the defence which left Connolly through on goal. With defenders closing in the in-form Connolly looked up and lofted a sublime finish over the stranded 'keeper.

The second-half began in a similar vein with Barrand latching on to Connolly's low cross and firing just wide whilst Copley fired over from Richard Wood's pass. Wood then added his own name to the scoresheet when he finished off an excellent move involving McKain and Barrand.

Goodison replaced Connolly and soon came close when he forced Diver into a desperate scrambling save. The one blot on Trojans' performance came 20 minutes from time as Hargreaves was left red faced when he allowed Nick Westbury's speculative effort to squirm under his body.

The respite for Harlow was brief and Copley restored the three goal margin within a couple of minutes with a fine individual effort.

Chris Worts completed the scoring ten minutes from time with his first touch after replacing Man-of-the- Match Copley. Wood sliced his shot across goal and the veteran Worts reacted quickly to steer the ball over the line from a seemingly impossible angle.

The result sees Trojans climb two places into second spot but leaders Sherwood hold a 13 point lead and with the resources at their disposal look odds on favourites to lift the title come May.

l Trojans travel to Kirk Deighton on Saturday keen to avenge their recent defeat against the same opposition, kick-off 2pm, meet at the Cricket Club at 12.45pm.