KNARESBOROUGH TOWN fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat against league leaders North Ferriby on Saturday. 

North Ferriby were promoted to the Northern Counties Eastern League premier division this season, but have adapted well to their new surroundings and find themselves five points clear at the top of the table. 

Defeat for Knaresborough saw Simon Parkes’ side slip to 12th in the table, with it looking very likely that the Boro will remain in the same division for next campaign. 

It’s now back-to-back victories for North Ferriby, who enjoyed three second-half strikes to claim the three points. 

Club captain Ben Parkes made his 250th start again the Villagers, who were forced to defend early on. 

Niall Tilsley saw a header comfortably dealt with by Tommy Brown, before Louis Kirk couldn’t direct his nodded effort on target. 

Danny East would try an audacious overhead kick not long later, but the ever-present Brown was on hand to deal with the strike. 

Heading into the second half, Boro’s Sam Cook was controversially sin binned when kicking the ball away. 

Danny Clarke was substituted on for Danny Buttle, and it proved to be an inspired decision by the Villagers.

Within 30-seconds of being on the pitch, Clarke calmly tucked home a Danny Emerton free-kick to gift the home side the lead.

Just seven-minutes later, it was two for North Ferriby.

A deep cross caused confusion amongst the Knaresborough defence, allowing Oli Donald to sneak between and flick the ball past Brown at the back post, doubling the Villagers advantage.

With the game pretty much guaranteed, one final blow was struck in the dying moments of the game through Josh Morrall.

Netting his first for the club, Morrall confidently picked up possession before dispatching a cultured finish past Brown to end a disappointing afternoon for the Boro.

North Ferriby’s manager was pleased with the result, telling the Ferriby media team: “We spoke at half-time about what we needed to do, and in the second half we were much better.

“We were deservedly winners.”

In other club news, Knaresborough have appointed Nigel Corner as the club’s new Head of Development.

Corner was already part of the club committee and played a crucial role in the rise of the Women’s Team, who are on course to win promotion from the West Riding Women’s League division four.

Knaresborough Chairman Peter Plews said: “Nigel has lots of experience around the game in a variety of roles which makes him a great for this role.

“We are incredibly motivated at the club to look at all ways to improve and keep driving forward.”