OLD Malton St Mary’s kicked off the defence of their York Minster Engineering league title by thrashing Huntington Rovers 5-1.

In the first round of fixtures in the division, the champions opened the scoring through braces from Marcus Godsell and Steve Baxter before Dean Nuttall rounded off their scoring. Jack Overton claimed the consolation for the visitors.

Wigginton Grasshoppers also bagged five goals in their 5-2 win over a new-look Tadcaster Magnets side.

The Magnets were quickly ahead through Charlie Marshall’s effort, but soon found themselves two goals behind as Wigginton responded with goals from Jake Duckworth, Jordan Holt and Neale Holmes.

Mike Byram extended the ‘Hoppers lead to 4-1 before Marshall reduced the deficit with his second, though a Holmes drive restored the three-goal cushion.

Dringhouses recorded a dominant 4-0 victory over F1 Racing, with George Brown firing home two goals on his debut for the club.

Liam Robertson and Dave Watson were also on the scoresheet for the victors.

Dunnington sealed a 2-0 success against Copmanthorpe -

The honours were even at Kirkbymoorside as newly promoted Easingwold Town battled to a 2-2 draw.

Joshua Berry netted twice for the Kirkbymoorside while Joe Crosby and Jake Eilbeck hit the target for Easingwold.

It was also a point apiece at Hemingbrough United where Gary Lumley’s opener for Thorpe United was cancelled out by Matt Ward’s effort.

There were six goals shared out as Church Fenton fought to a 3-3 draw with Sporting Knavesmire.

Daniel Cornish bagged a double and Crew Elliot also scored for Church Fenton while George Wilson, Ciaran Blondrage and Andrew Simpson struck for the away side.

Meanwhile in the second round of fixtures, Dringhouses moved a couple of points clear at the top of the table after completing a 6-1 rout over Poppleton United.

Reg Miah was the sole scorer for Poppleton while George Brown (2), James Green, Jamie Barkway, Cameron Mulhearn and Dave Watson propelled Dringhouses to victory.

Easingwold Town defeated Church Fenton by the same scoreline thanks to efforts from Richie Deighton, Andrew Metcalfe, Josh Cryer, JP Turbine and Tom Rushworth (2).

Thorpe United also won 6-1 over Sporting Knavesmire. Paul Moran hit a hat-trick for Thorpe with Michael Braithwaite, Steve Lyon and Luke Crowther also finding the target for the home side.

The game between the division’s previous two champions didn’t disappoint with Wigginton Grasshoppers and Old Malton St Mary’s battling out a 3-3 draw.

Matt Tiplady gave Wiggy the lead after ten minutes only to see Marcus Godsell hit two in the next quarter of an hour to reverse the advantage.

Jamie Willstrop then levelled matters but Damon Cox restored Malton’s lead five minutes before half-time. A Gary Newton strike on the hour mark ensured that both sides collected a point.

F1 Racing led Copmanthorpe 3-1 at the break with goals from Dan Hickey (2) and Jonah Tomlin Kent. Copmanthorpe started the 2nd half brightly and pulled the match level.

F1 missed chances to go ahead but Copmanthorpe capitalised to take the lead for the first time. Despite F1 pressure in an attempt to respond it was Copmanthorpe who sealed the match with a breakaway goal in the dying seconds.

Ben Jones (3), Liam Stilgoe and Lee Atkinson struck the Cop goals.

James Edmond netted for Huntington in their 1-1 draw with Hemingbrough United. Kirkbymoorside took Dunnington’s scalp, putting four past the Common Road side without reply.