WIGGINTON Grasshoppers moved eight points clear at the top of the York Minster Engineering League premier division following a hard-fought 3-1 victory at title rivals Huntington Rovers.

The defending champions had to dig in during a fairly even first half which saw Rovers have the better of the chances, with Neil Cadywold having to produce a fine save from George Brown and Huntington talisman Chris Dyson firing narrowly over the bar.

As the half wore on, the visitors grew into the game and Tom Derbyshire struck the foot of the post with a long-range effort as Wigginton began to look for the opening goal.

It came on the stroke of half-time, when Neale Holmes fed Matt Tiplady and the striker slid the ball under Chris Barrett into the net.

The second half saw Wigginton on top for large periods, and it took just seven minutes for them to double their advantage, Eddy Clapham smashing the ball into the roof of the net after it had only been half-cleared from a corner.

Huntington, third in the table, were brought to life by the goal, and they created several chance before James Edmond steered the ball home at the third attempt following a fine double save from Cadywold.

Derbyshire then found the woodwork again as a 25-yard effort cannoned back off the bar, with Wigginton once again pressing forward.

They were rewarded in the dying minutes when Jamie Willstrop side-stepped a defender and the goalkeeper before laying the ball across for Kain Rogerson to side-foot home.

Second-placed Old Malton St Mary's now have two games in hand on Wiggy having had a blank weekend.

They were due to meet Teesside outfit Nunthorpe in the North Riding County FA Saturday County Cup quarter-finals but the tie was called off because of snow, rearranged for next Saturday.

Another such tie, between premier division rivals Copmanthorpe and F1 Racing, did go ahead, though, with Racing storming through 6-0.

Two goals from Alex Martin and one from Jason McCloud put F1 three ahead after just 15 minutes and, despite a hard-working performance, Cop could not respond and F1 continued to create chances.

Liam King hit a powerful strike to make it 4-0 before doubling his tally shortly afterwards. Alex Martin then made no mistake from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick and round off an excellent performance.

Dunnington moved up to fourth in the table after edging visitors Poppleton 3-2.

Tom Anderson, Josh Cryer and Dan Barrett all found the net for the home side with Nathan Kamara and Ben Brannigan replying for Poppy.

A goalless first half at Church Fenton saw the home side's attacks constantly frustrated by a resilient Sporting Knavesmire defence. They finally did break through in the second period, only for Shane Tomlinson to equalise in style, chesting the ball down before beating his man and slotting home. The 1-1 draw was not enough to lift Knavesmire out of the drop zone, however.

In division one, James Barrett scored a double and Paul Moran also struck as Thorpe United bagged a 3-2 win over Rawcliffe, for whom Henry Wharton and Niall Smallwood netted.

The win sees Thorpe move nine points clear of Kirkbymoorside at the top, though the second and third-placed teams enjoy a significant number of games in hand.

Cliffe came back from 2-0 down at home to Easingwold to record a 5-2 success. Callum Petch, Jamie England, Isaac Leach and Andy Addison scored in open play, with Darren Jackson adding their fifth from the penalty spot.

Graham Hutchinson made the scoresheet for Tockwith but they suffered a shock 3-1 reversal at home to lowly Brooklyn.