Leeper Hare York and District Football League premier division champions Dringhouses were grateful for an early chance to get Saturday's shock defeat against Thorpe United out of their system - and they took it.

They beat last season's runners-up Pocklington 2-1 with Mark Woodward stabbing in the winner three minutes from time.

Dringhouses had opened the scoring on 58 minutes when Shane Laverack fed Lee Atkinson, who netted in the bottom corner. Pock equalised ten minutes later with a Robert Gibson free-kick.

Malton Bacon Factory won 7-0 at Bishopthorpe.

Malton, who did the double over Bishops last season, went ahead through midfielder Darrell Craggs and although the hosts created ample chances to level, the turning point came just before the break when Alex Strickland tapped in from a corner and virtually from the restart Seb Twose put over another cross which Strickland headed in.

Bishops made Malton work for their goals but could not stop both Craggs and Strickland completing hat-tricks, Simon Collins also scoring.

Thorpe United will be looking to build on their great opening result when they entertain Dunnington tomorrow night.

T & L entertain promoted Haxby while Osbaldwick take on Wigginton Black Horse, a game they won 8-3 last season.

Updated: 11:05 Tuesday, August 17, 2004