HUNTINGTON Rovers defeated defending champions Riccall United 3-1 to cement their place at the top of the York Minster Engineering League premier division over the festive period.

After a goalless first half, the opening five minutes of the second period saw the four goals that ended the contest.

Straight after the restart, the home side won a corner that George Middleton sent directly into the opposition goal to give Huntington the advantage. Two minutes later, Middleton became the supplier - launching a pinpoint cross onto the head of Chris Dyson, who powered the ball into the net to double Rovers’ lead.

Wayne Brook scored instantaneously for Riccall only for James Edmond to put the finishing touches on a good team move to secure the points for the hosts.

Wigginton remain in second after surviving a heart stopper of a match with Osbaldwick.

It looked plain sailing for the home side as they dominated early possession and moved into a 1-0 lead after eight minutes when Luke Roberts converted a penalty following a foul on Matt Tiplady.

Less than three minutes later, however, Sam Thompson latched onto a loose ball and fired a low shot past Michael Clancy in the Wigginton goal to level the scores.

A quality left-footed volley from Chris Bilton then made it 2-1 to Osbaldwick at the break as the away side started to turn the screw.

Bilton then added a second from distance after the interval before Eddy Clapham’s first touch set up Jamie Willstrop to score and reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Moments later, Bilton had his hat-trick - getting a second bite of the cherry to blast home after his initial effort was saved.

‘Hoppers then pulled it back to 4-3 when Clapham headed in a Neale Holmes corner and levelled the scores with a precision strike from Tiplady. The home side moved in front after Clapham struck again to make it 5-4 only to see Dave Fisher equalise following a defensive mix up in the Wigginton back line.

Willstrop then breezed past two players to score his 18th of the season and put the hosts back into the lead before Jordan Holt hit a thunderbolt from 20 yards that rattled in off the underside of the crossbar.

The scoring was not yet complete, though, with the on-fire Bilton hitting his fourth from the half-way line. But it was too little too late with Wiggy hanging on for a 7-6 success.

Dunnington are just three points off the top of the table in third, with a game in hand, after a decisive 5-1 success at York RI.

Tom Richards struck twice for the visitors with Jimmy Willmoth, Ben Small and Josh Hutchinson also firing home in the win. Leigh Dutton hit his 13th league goal of the season in reply.

Fourth placed F1 Racing went down 4-2 at Dringhouses - only the second time in three years that the side has suffered consecutive defeats.

Danny Penrose and Alex Martin were on target for F1 while Dave Watson, Elliot Frodsham (2) and Joe Rawcliffe got the all-important goals for ‘Houses.

Copmanthorpe suffered a heavy defeat at home to Old Malton, the Ryedale side posting ten goals without reply. Malton continue to stalk the leaders from sixth place and can go clear at the top, should they win their five games in hand.

James Barratt swept home following a fine flowing move after just 28 seconds as Church Fenton White Horse took the advantage against Harrison Signs.

Mark Benton fired in a bullet-header after half an hour to restore parity but Lee Stretton’s second half acrobatic bicycle kick won the game for Fenton as they moved up to eighth in the table.