WIGGINTON Grasshoppers maintained their three-point lead at the top of the York Minster Engineering League’s premier division, but only after an action-packed, seven-goal thriller at Mill Lane.

Opponents Osbaldwick came out of the blocks firing but were reduced to ten men when a deliberate handball resulted in a red card before Gary Newton converted the subsequent penalty to open the scoring.

Minutes later, Newton raced on to Jordan Holt’s long ball to double the lead and Jamie Willstrop then completed one-twos with Eddy Clapham and Stuart Rice before making it 3-0.

Osbaldwick responded, though, when Chris Bilton set up Danny Penrose and the substitute scored with his first touch of the game.

A Bilton corner then sailed straight in, before Clapham got on the end of a Newton cross to put Grasshoppers back in the ascendancy.

But Penrose’s sublime lob from another Bilton assist made it 4-3 with less than ten minutes to play and Wiggy were hanging on at the death

Huntington Rovers’ sights remain locked on the leaders following a 2-0 victory over Church Fenton White Horse with 18-year-old George Brown bagging both goals.

Dave Watson’s brace sealed a 2-0 win for Dringhouses at Dunnington.

Malton and Norton overcame Sporting Knavesmire 2-1 with Liam Preston and Dean Nuttall the marksmen, while Matt Pallister and Ben Sheehan secured a 2-0 triumph for Copmanthorpe over Brooklyn.

Old Malton St Mary’s demolished York RI 10-1, but Riccall and Tadcaster Magnets shared the spoils in a goal-less draw.

In division one, Pocklington Town capitalised on leaders Poppleton’s day off by defeating Tockwith 5-1 to close the gap at the top of the table to eight points.

Third-placed Hemingbrough United saw Jamie Wheeler and Tom Collins double-strikes confirm a 4-1 win over Harrison Signs. Neale Fryirs replied for the visitors.

Cliffe were 3-0 victors at Heslington thanks to an own goal, plus strikes from Tom Hogg and Daniel Collins.

Jason Brown hit a hat-trick and Josh Butler and Jordan Thackray were also on target as Kirkbymoorside came from behind twice to defeat York St John 5-3. All three of the students’ goals were scored by Matthew Thompson.

In division two, Tom Matthews (2), Oliver Newby and Richard Tinson were the marksmen as table-toppers Wilberfoss beat Barmby Moor 4-0.

Stamford Bridge won by the odd goal of nine against Civil Service.

Craig Theaker gave Service a first-minute lead from the penalty spot before two goals from Nathan Spreckley made it 2-1 to Stamford at the interval.

A further two goals from Theaker, including a second penalty, nudged Service in front again before Alex Smith (2) and Max Faulkner turned the tables.

Lucas Owen’s late strike then reduced the arrears, but could not prevent Bridge taking maximum points.

Fulford United celebrated their first away win in two seasons with a tremendous 9-5 win over Hamilton Panthers.

In division three, Danny Cates (2) and Dan Witcombe netted as Rufforth United clinched a 3-0 victory over top-of-the-table rivals Huby to move five points clear at the summit.

Heworth Green are now their nearest rivals with Danny Marshall’s hat-trick and a John Moore effort seeing off South Milford 4-2.

A ten-goal contest saw Howden run out 6-4 winners at Selby Olympia, while Moor Lane’s Patryk Zimer and Lewis Bootland earned their team a 2-2 draw against Jorvik Blades, who replied through James Ford and Gary Rylance.

A 35-yard piledriver from Aaron Rose - his second goal of the game - put the seal on The Raj’s 3-1 success against Cawood with Ben Neal also on the scoresheet.

Bottom-of-the-table AFC Crayke caused a huge shock in division four by beating Bubwith White Swan 3-1 thanks to Alan Boyd, John Day and Karl Slater.

Luke Smith got both of Huntington’s consolations in a 5-2 loss at the hands of St Clements.

Bramham braces for Matt Lombard, Kyle MacDonald and Matt Fisher led an 8-0 rout of Swinton with Ian Prendergast and Adam Robinson joining in on the fun.

Brian Robertson (2), Stuart Harrison (2), Rob Tate (2) and Reece Chapman fired Pollington to a 7-2 victory over LNER Builders, for whom Gary Hardcastle bagged a brace.