WIGGINTON Grasshoppers secured their highest finish in the York Minster Engineering Football League premier division for nearly 20 years as a 9-2 victory at Poppleton United guaranteed third place.

Eddy Clapham slotted home within 30 seconds of the start.

Harry McMillan then smashed a volley against the underside of the bar three minutes later, and Matt Tiplady saw his shot cannon off a post, but the score remained at 1-0 until ten minutes before the break.

In the 35th minute, Tiplady added a second for Hoppers before Jamie Willstrop sold the Poppleton defenders a dummy and hit a rasping shot into the corner. A towering header from Alex Janes brought Poppleton back into the game.

Clapham then restored Wigginton’s three-goal cushion with a curling strike from 18 yards before Willstrop added a fifth minutes later. Both players went on to complete hat-tricks before George Riley made it 7-2 with just over ten minutes remaining.

There was a first ever premier division goal for Wiggy manager Graham Ireton, on as a late substitute, whose looping left-footed cross found its way over the Poppleton keeper and into the net.

Tiplady completed his brace to round off a 9-2 triumph.

There was another first at Church Fenton White Horse where skipper James Jollands hit his first goal of the season to cap a 6-3 victory over Harrison Signs.

Jollands’ goal added to four strikes from man of the match Jonah Beecher and a John Langrick effort. Signs’ goals came from Neil Richardson, Rob Hutton and Warren Lowe.

Tadcaster Magnets went into a deserved half-time lead at Huntington through Philip Smith, but could not capitalise as the home side came back to record a 2-1 win.

Gary Newton saw his penalty saved shortly after the break, but atoned with a well taken goal to level the scores minutes later.

Rovers rang the changes and brought Neale Holmes into the game and the midfielder soon took control of the middle of the park, scoring the decisive goal with 20 minutes remaining.

In division one, Total Sports gained a 2-2 draw with Pocklington Town thanks to strikes from Dan Horsley and Peter Tasker. They are now three points from safety.

Heslington ran out 5-1 winners over St Clement’s to go three points ahead of Total Sports, who have a game in hand.

Should Total Sports win their final match against York St John University, relegation will be determined by the head-to-head records of the three teams that will finish on 20 points.

Hemingbrough turned over promoted Brooklyn, gaining a 4-2 home victory.