Rufforth United and Bishopthorpe both climbed away from the relegation zone of the Leeper Hare York and District Football League premier division with much-needed victories.

Rufforth grabbed three points at Wigginton Black Horse when Phil Jones scored the only goal of the game just after the hour mark.

Bishopthorpe, meanwhile, came from behind to beat Kartiers, leaving the visitors second bottom of the table.

Kartiers had taken the lead in the 20th minute but Stuart Wilson got the home side back on level terms in the last minute of the first half and Greg FitzMaurice snatched victory for the Bishops with a goal five minutes from time.

Phil Hill struck twice in the first ten minutes for Old Malton at Copmanthorpe but the hosts were level by half time thanks to a Richard Oxley strike and on own goal. Terry Hibbert netted Copmanthorpe's third in the second half but Hill rounded off his hat-trick and the points were shared.

Division one leaders Hamilton Panthers hammered ten past bottom club Civil Service and extended their lead at the top as second-placed South Bank - despite scoring six themselves - took only a point at Crayke.

Paul King netted a hat-trick inside five minutes as the Panthers enjoyed an easy 10-1 victory at Civil Service. He finished with four goals but top scorer was James Tose with five. Simon Marshall netted the tenth in the last minute, Joe Michelli having scored the consolation.

South Bank were leading 5-2 at one point at Crayke but the home side battled back superbly with goals from Andy Metcalfe Jnr, Andy Metcalfe Snr and Simon Wilson, and the scoring finally finished at six apiece.

New Earswick recorded their first win of the season with a 2-1 result at Stamford Bridge, Nick Long scoring for the home side.

Hemingbrough suffered a shock division three defeat at Sheriff Hutton with Shane Marshall netting the winner with ten minutes remaining.

Norton put five past Wheldrake without reply. Chris Hodgson (2), Chris Seager (2), and Danny Brockless were their marksmen.

Dringhouses went back to the top of reserve 'A' with a 4-1 home win over Malton Bacon Factory.

Goals came from Jim McMurray, Wayne Carter, Shane Laverack and an own goal, with Lee Stead replying for The Factory.

Barry Shepherdson scored twice, one from the penalty spot, as Barmby Moor drew at unbeaten Huntington Rovers.

The penalty was the only goal of the first half but Rovers levelled through Mark Ellis on 70 minutes.

Barmby Moor hit the woodwork four times before Shepherdson's second with 12 minutes remaining looked to have decided the game, but two minutes later John Colley equalised again for Huntington.

Craig Theaker was the hero with a last-minute leveller as a shock in reserve 'B' saw bottom club Poppleton share the spoils with second-placed Wigginton Black Horse.

Theaker had opened the scoring to put Poppleton into the lead but Black Horse equalised through Jason Evans before the break and they then netted two in five minutes from Evans and Tom Beatty to take the lead. The points looked to be theirs but Pop came back and Theaker headed home a last minute corner to square the match.

Both games in reserve 'C' went to the home sides.

Hemingbrough saw goals from Tom Caldwell, Mark Livesey, Richard Ireland and Lee Young give them a 4-1 win over Moor Lane, while Riccall won 2-0 against White Horse with goals from Gareth Roughley and Gareth Roberts.

Reserve 'D' pacesetters Tockwith dropped their first points of the season in a 3-3 draw at Stillington. Stephen Dziurzynski and Martin Cook (2) scored for the home side.

Second-placed Norwich Union were unable to capitalise fully as they drew 1-1 at home to Amotherby courtesy of Nick Henshaw's goal.

Railway Institute won by the odd goal in five at Fulford, United's goals coming from Chris Ling and Steve Dunn.

LNER Builders enjoyed a seven-goal romp at Huby. A Steve Crosby hat-trick and goals by his brother, Paul, and Tudor Carrington gave them a 5-0 half-time lead. Lee Jackson came on as a second-half substitute and added two more within two minutes of coming on.

Several Leeper Hare York and District League teams were in York FA Cup action this weekend. Reports will be published later in the week. Results are on Page 21.

Updated: 12:15 Monday, December 01, 2003