OSBALDWICK showed their credentials as title challengers in the York Minster Engineering Football League premier division by beating F1 Racing on Saturday.

F1 had jumped up to third place the previous weekend after a dramatic 4-3 comeback win over Malton & Norton, but Osso saw them off 2-0 to replace them in third place in the standings.

Right-back Harry Sheppeard, with a cracker from outside the box, and substitute Isaac Clark got the goals, while defender Ben Burdett was man of the match as his side kept a clean sheet.

In the only other premier division match to take place on Saturday, Huntington Rovers bounced back to winning form and back into the title race with a 4-0 success over Hemingbrough United.

Regular marksman Chris Dyson bagged another hat-trick in a man-of-the-match performance, with Jon James also on target.

Old Malton St Mary's, bumper 10-3 Christmas winners over Hemingbrough United in their last outing, remain top of the table at the turn of the year, one point ahead of reigning champions Wigginton Grasshoppers.

Osbaldwick are six points further adrift in third, with Huntington a point behind in fourth, with games in hand on the teams above them.

In the only other YMEL game to take place on Saturday, Cliffe pipped Tockwith 1-0 in a mid-table division one encounter.

Henry Swires was the man of the match for a Tockwith side who now meet Scarborough & District League outfit Itis Itis Rovers in the North Riding County FA Challenge Cup on Saturday.

There is a full programme of YMEL fixtures this weekend, meanwhile, as the season gets back into full swing following the festive period.

l HOLDERS Old Malton St Mary’s have been drawn away to Teesside League outfit Nunthorpe Athletic in the quarter-finals of the North Riding County FA Saturday County Cup.

There is also an all-York Minster Engineering League clash between Copmanthorpe and F1 Racing. The ties are to be played on Saturday, January 13, kick off 2pm.

The full draw is: Boro Rangers v Richmond Town, Nunthorpe Athletic v Old Malton St Mary’s, Copmanthorpe v FI Racing, Richmond Buck Inn v Thornaby Dubliners.