WIGGINTON Grasshoppers have won the York Minster Engineering League premier division for the first time in their history after a 2-1 weekend victory over local rivals Huntington Rovers.

Grasshoppers, who finished second last season, were crowned champions with three games to play after second placed Dringhouses lost 1-0 at home to Dunnington.

Grasshoppers president and founder John Jeffery, who has devoted 35 years service to his club, was fittingly recognised by the league’s vice-chairman Bill Pearce as the shield was presented to captain Michael Clancy.

Third-placed Huntington had provided stern opposition for the Grasshoppers and the game started with both sides looking cagey.

After 16 minutes, a misunderstanding in the Rovers defence saw Joe Milner sliding the ball past his own goalkeeper Chris Barrett to give Grasshoppers the lead.

Jordan Holt then headed against the post six minutes later as Wigginton pressed for a second goal before Rovers began to gain the upper hand.

However, despite creating several opportunities, before the break, they failed to make them count.

The second period also saw Rovers getting out of the blocks quickly and in the 50th minute they were awarded a penalty. However, Chris Dyson’s spot-kick was saved by Grasshoppers goalkeeper Michael Clancy.

The home side were made to pay for their missed chances, 10 minutes later, when Jordan Holt flicked on a Neale Holmes’ and defender Jamie Green nodded in his ninth goal of the season to give Grasshoppers a 2-0 lead.

Huntington grabbed a lifeline in the 68th minute when Dyson raced onto a through ball and prodded the ball past Clancy from twelve yards to make it 2-1.

However, Grasshoppers hung on for the three points which secured the league title.

Second-placed Dringhouses went into their game at home to Dunnington knowing that anything but a victory would put them out of the title race.

Dunnington’s Marcos Garcia scored the only goal of the game, in the first half, to end their hopes of winning the title.

Now 14 points behind top spot, Dringhouses still lie in second in the table, two points ahead of Huntington whilst Dunnington have moved up to fifth.

The battle to avoid relegation, meanwhile, is still in full flow with Riccall United storming to a 5-0 win over already demoted Brooklyn for three points which pulled them out of the drop zone.

Aaron Raymond scored four of goals with Josh Lamming adding the fifth.

Copmanthorpe are the now the club in danger and dropped into the second relegation spot after losing 5-1 at home to F1 Racing.

Lee Bannister’s goal had given Copmanthorpe an early lead but Chris Dempsey then rattled off a hat-trick for the visitors and Alex Martin added a fourth as F1 took a 4-1 lead at the interval.

Only an outstanding display from the Copmanthorpe goalkeeper prevented F1 from running away with the contest but the visitors increased their advantage with Dempsey scored his 26th league goal of the season and fourth of the game.

Tadcaster Magnets and York Railway Institute, who could both still be dragged into the battle for survival, shared the points after a 2-2 draw.

Scott Collins and Matthew Howgate struck for the Magnets but their tally was equalled by a brace of goals from Ben Jones.

The points were also shared in the ‘Malton derby’ where Simon Reeves’ goal for Malton & Norton earned his side a 1-1 draw at home to fourth-placed Old Malton St Mary’s.

Harry Sheppeard’s late goal secured a point for Osbaldwick at home to Sporting Knavesmire. Alex Dale and Alistair Brown had scored earlier for Sporting with Myron Turbine also netting for Osbaldwick in the 2-2 draw.