LEEPER Hare York and District Football League premier division leaders Thorpe United maintained their impressive early season form as they beat visitors Wigginton Grasshoppers 2-1.

But they had to come from a goal behind and were then grateful to a somewhat controversial late penalty before they took all the points.

The visitors opened the scoring midway through the first half through their proflic scorer Ben Coates - the fifth consecutive game he's found the back of the net.

Adam Gardner levelled for the hosts before Dean Woods converted his second penalty in as many games just two minutes from time to snatch the points for Thorpe.

The sides meet again in three weeks in the first round of the League Cup.

Another marksman finding the net regularly is Old Malton's Heath Brown, who was on target for the fourth game on the trot when he opened the scoring at home to Bishopthorpe.

With only his second touch of the game substitute Paul Boyes completed a 2-0 win for the Malton side.

T & L did the double over Dunnington last season but they left it late before securing a 4-1 win on Saturday. Chris Harkin scored both T & L's first half goals as they went into the interval 2-1 in front.

They had to wait until the 88th minute before Dave Reasbeck made it 3-1 and an own goal completed the misery for Dunnington. Three own goals are the top goal scorers for T & L to-date.

Malton Bacon Factory felt that they should have taken all three points after their visit to Pocklington.

Darryll Craggs put the Malton side into the lead in the second half only after they had spurned a hatful of chances. Pocklington collected successive 1-1 home draws courtesy of an own goal.

It may have been a below par performance from league champions Dringhouses but they still managed to register their first away win of the season as they beat Kartiers 1-0.

Alex Dewhurst, timing his run into the box to perfection from an equally well delivered free-kick, headed into the top corner.

Updated: 12:37 Monday, September 13, 2004