Bardsey 0 Burley Trojans 4

BURLEY Trojans finally got back into action after three weeks without a Heck Foods Harrogate League Premier Division game due to the adverse weather.

They travelled to Bardsey FC with the sides separated by three points in the league table.

Manager Tom Higman was keen to hit the ground running to keep up the good form of 2018. With 15 players to pick from there was plenty of places up for competition with the likes of veteran player Stuart Dibb on the bench.

Trojans were fast out of the traps and put pressure on the Bardsey back four with Dan Henderson and Danny Bryan in the centre of midfield.

It was non-stop action from the midfield pair and they played in Pad Bibby two or three times within the first 20 minutes and bringing some great saves from the Bardsey ‘keeper.

The deadlock was finally broken when neat link-up play from midfield set Bibby free, and seeing the ‘keeper off his line he lobbed the ball over him into the empty net.

Burley controlled the tempo and were only troubled once before half-time when a long ball caught the back four out and fell in to the path of the Bardsey striker who hit the bar from a few yards out, hitting the crossbar.

Normality was resumed when Ben Garnham cleared his lines to in-for striker Chris Holmes who duly slotted home for his 13th goal of the season.

Half-time came and no changes made. It was much of the same and Trojans were breaking through midfield regularly to try and extend their lead.

Bryan showed neat footwork before lifting the ball over the top of the Bardsey defence for Bibby to capitalise to lob the ball into the empty net.

Injuries saw both Dave Healy and Eddy Bryan go off in defence so Higman shuffled the pack bringing on both Dibb and Cory Nas.

The latter slotted into midfield and kept the high tempo up, causing the Bardsey defence to stay on high alert while Dibb slotted in at centre-back.

Simon Walker was taken off with 15 minutes to go with Redmond Joseph take his place and it wasn’t long before the substitute went close to opening his account for the season, shooting just.

The game was wrapped up in the final moments when Holmes jinked between two defenders and his rasping drive was fumbled into the goal by the Bardsey ‘keeper.

Trojans entertain Pool AFC A in the quarter-finals of the Harrogate League Cup on Easter Saturday.