HAMILTON Panthers were crowned champions of the Leeper Hare York & District Football League premier division after a 3-2 victory at Poppleton.

Poppleton needed only one more win to secure their top flight status and kept the rampant Panthers at bay until five minutes into the second half when Craig McShane broke the deadlock.

Jon Beech restored parity within five minutes and then put Poppleton in front from the penalty spot.

However, Liam Stilgoe’s eighth goal of the season brought Panthers level and Mike McKenzie made it 3-2 five minutes from time to secure the title.

Old Malton, the only side that could have prevented Panthers from taking the title, were beaten at home for the first time in 13 matches.

They never looked like extending their home run as they went down 3-1 to Haxby United.

The visitors went ahead through Terry Taylor after 12 minutes.

Paul Scaling brought the Ryedale side level before the break, but Haxby dominated the second period as Ashley Hill restored their lead and Taylor grabbed his second.

Tockwith’s three-year stay in the premier division was terminated when they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Wigginton.

James Good gave Tockwith an interval lead, but Dave Thompson salvaged a point for the visitors with the last kick of the game.

Bottom of the table Tate & Lyle registered their first win in ten matches as they beat Wilberfoss 3-1. Paul Tatten, Craig Pickles and Ian Huddlestone shared the goals.

John Heads hit a late consolation goal for ’Foss.

Copmanthorpe recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in a year as they beat Dunnington 3-1 and moved out of the relegation zone.

Terry Hibbert’s opening goal for Cop was cancelled out by Ian Burgess, but Andrew Manns added a second and Matty Bastock completed the scoring.

Dringhouses took a 2-0 lead against York St John through Alex Dewhurst and Mark Bellah, but the students rallied and won 3-2.

Malton & Norton lost 3-1 at Kartiers.

Louis Blackwell (2) and Glen Littlewood were on target for the hosts, with Jamie Hopwood replying for Malton.

Newly-crowned division one champions Riccall United suffered their first defeat in 23 games as they lost 2-0 at promotion-chasing Tadcaster. Tom Deighton and Sam Farthing were the goalscorers.

Thorpe United hit Bishopthorpe for six to enhance their promotion hopes.

Adam Garner, Shane Singleton (2), Matty Emett, Shaun Pickles and Simon O’Brien shared the Thorpe goals. Tom Green converted a penalty for Bish.

Amotherby were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Easingwold.

Nick Thorn’s tenth goal of the season put Easingwold in front, but Simon Wall levelled with a penalty.

Norwich Union’s 2-1 home defeat to Rufforth condemned them to division two football next season.

Post Office have opened up a four-point lead at the top of division two after they won 5-1 at Osbaldwick.

A win in their final game will guarantee promotion after goals from Richard Walton, Dave Herdsman (2), Richard Winterburn and Jamie Robinson against Osbaldwick.

Nick Lawrie scored for the hosts.

Second-placed Hemingbrough had to rely on an Adi Wood equaliser ten minutes from time to take a point from their home encounter with Fulford.

Earlier, Danny Smith had given the home side the lead, but his goal was cancelled out by an own goal and a Jack Nicholas strike.

Heworth are still in contention for promotion after a 5-4 home win over Huby. Scott Dixon and David Adams shared the Huby goals, with the home goals coming from a Tom Quinn hat-trick, Chris Smith and a late winner by Stephen Tait.

Rawcliffe lost at home for the first time this season, going down 4-1 to White Horse. Rawcliffe led by an Anthony Evans goal at the interval, but the Church Fenton side responded with second half goals from Rob McQuarry, John Marsh and Lenny Mason (2).

St Clement’s won 3-1 against Heslington and scored all their goals in the first ten minutes through Chris McCluskie, Simon Kehoe and Scott Nicholas.

Selby RSSC needed a late winner from Ian Blythan at Stillington to maintain their chase of division three leaders Terrington Glory.

Paul Holmes had given Stillington the lead, but two goals from Rob Friar swung the game in the Selby side’s favour. Holmes equalised for the hosts before Blythan struck his late winner.

Bishop Wilton moved out of the re-election zone for the first time since November as they won 5-2 at Wheldrake. They trailed to an early brace from Martin Lobb, but they rallied with goals from Tom Sefton, Grant Theaker and a Kierran Young hat-trick.

Spencer Pearson hit the first four goals for Selby Olympia in a 5-2 home win over Civil Service. Jim Holroyd added a fifth, with Mark Lund and Gareth Innes replying.