PARKVILLE SETTLED quickest with Cian Maddens free flicked cleverly into space by Ebby Quigley for Ronan Byrne to volley narrowly wide on six minutes. The raiding Cian Madden stretched the Hanover defence to the limits and he earned a free which was scrambled clear by a relieved Hanover defensive unit. Later, JJ Connolly raced forward and delivered a delicious cross which Ebby Quigley angled just over on 17 minutes.

This proved to be the straw which broke Hanover's patience and as they improved Phil Nealon set up Mark Kelly, who side stepped his marker but fired a shot straight at the visiting keeper on 28 minutes. Parkville found themselves pinned into their own half but the closest that Hanover came to scoring saw a Johnny Jones effort well saved shortly before half time.

Hanover were visibly getting more confident during the third quarter and Mark Kelly went close to breaking the deadlock when he angled a fine header onto the United bar on 54 minutes.

A defensive lapse resulted in Parkville taking the lead on 65 minutes when Ronan Byrne touched a Michael Browne free to the net. With Hanover reeling United almost burgled another score through Michael Browne who unexpectedly shot wide from a promising position on 70 minutes. Hanover's response saw Alan Shaw, PJ Brennan and Mark Kelly bring the best out of the United keeper.

With time running out Hanover finally made the breakthrough with J Brennan setting up Johnny Jones to equalise close to the final whistle and reward the earlier efforts of Mark Kelly, Trevor Webster, Alan Byrne and Paul Dowling. Best for Parkville included Cian Madden, David James, Jonathon Smithers and Michael Brown.

Stretford United 1 New Oak Boys 4

LOCAL PRIDE and bragging rights are powerful motivators in derby games.

With New Oak's Sean Kelly bursting down the wing and with a surprised United rearguard stretched to the limit the New Oak player laid off to Seamie Doran who advanced to the by-line before delivering for James White to angle a good header inside the far post on two minutes.

It was a move of consummate efficiency and effectiveness which a confident New Oak were required to demonstrate also in defence as a stung Stretford responded with alacrity with Jones Osaro crossing perfectly only for an unattended Conor Dooley to drive his shot wide of an inviting target. New Oak keeper Dale Kearney was getting busier during the following exchanges and he made a very good save when Kieran Dollard released to James Ryan whose shot was smothered by the brave keeper.

The mounting pressure finally told when James Ryan persistence forced a New Oak defender into a panicky handball resulting in a penalty which saw Dale Kearney going close to preventing Garry Powell from converting to level the score on 32 minutes.

Stretford have been made to suffer from lapses in defensive concentration on occasion and during the course of the following exchanges New Oak's James White led a break and crossed towards Seamie Doran who distracted the United keeper allowing Paul Broderick to steal in and restore the New Oak lead on 35 minutes.

Disaster struck for Stretford when a lengthy clearance dropped into no mans land behind the last line of United defenders and the United keeper was beaten in the race to the ball by Seamie Doran whose header found the net to give New Oak a handsome lead on 37 minutes. Almost fatally, New Oak took their collective foot off the gas and more accurate finishing by Shane Farrell and James Ryan might have seen the sides go in level at half time.

As the third quarter exchanges developed Stretford began to exert a much firmer grip on the game forcing Dale Kearney into a series of smart saves but a lack of conviction in front of goal was costing United dear as the game entered the final quarter. United introduced John 'Hajji' Doyle and Mick Doyle who combined to put 'Hajji' through but the United layer had a rush of blood before shooting high over the New Oak goal.

New Oak found themselves pinned in their own half with Ken Lacy making a score saving clearance off his own line on 76 minutes. New Oak were never overwhelmed and occasionally timed a break out to mount a smart attack but Stretford's Garry Powell and

P.J. Connolly were defensively solid successfully containing the ever-present threat of Jimmy White and Seamie Doran.

Whatever chance the home side had of levelling the scores evaporated when the increasingly impressive Tom Coakley was fouled on the edge of the United box and Paul Broderick rifled the free into the top corner to clinch the points.