Malton sit pretty in pole position

Goals from Phil Hill and Nicky Drew put the home side in the driving seat, and although Dunnington moved up a gear in the second half, Malton remained unmoved.

And all the hard work by the visitors was undone when Arron Wilford struck a well-worked third for Malton.

Pocklington have moved up into second spot - with games in hand - after they held off the challenge of rivals Bishopthorpe 3-0.

A thrilling end-to-end clash saw Pock' take the lead through Alan Goodrick, while Mike Murr netted number two direct from a corner.

Alan Craggs notched up the third, to make sure of the points.

At the other end of the table, New Earswick and Kartiers shared the spoils from their bottom of the division clash 1-1.

Earswick, with their first attack, took the lead after five minutes, striker Phil Hart snapping up his chance.

Both sides missed out on chances, before The Selbymen drew level when awarded a penalty, just before the half-time whistle. Simon Winstanley made no mistake.

In the latter stages both sides were fully committed but missed out on opportunities to find a winner - Kartiers had a golden opportunity when Pete Cannon shot was brilliantly saved by the New Earswick's 'keeper.

Huntington continued their winning ways with a 2-0 sound win over Nestl Rowntree at Mille Crux.

A good fast open match saw both teams attacking well and moving the ball with support.

The visitors went into the lead through Paul Downes' neat header off a corner.

Rowntree then came more into the game, creating goal scoring chances, but failing to make them count and Huntington doubled their lead, when Downes bagged his second just before half-time. In the second half, the home side searched for a gap in the Huntington defence, but with no luck. Defender Rob Whittaker was in fine form, along with the Noon brothers, Pat and Paul.

Crayke had a convincing 9-2 win over Riccall, with Mick Boslin in scintillating form up-front.

Boslin found the net five times, with Tim Jackson, Dan Copeland, Mark Hutchinson and Simon Wilson adding one apiece.

Riccall never gave up and continued to plug away, managing to pull back two well-taken goals through Andy Leech and Stuart Ross.

A nine-goal thriller saw Wigginton Grasshoppers just edge past home side Rufforth by the odd goal.

Rufforth were leading at the half-way stage after Phil Jones had bagged a couple, before Jamie Siddall narrowed the gap.

Tom Coats fired home an equaliser and then went on to bag his second and put the Grasshoppers in front.

Jones struck home his third for a well-earned hat-trick to level the score, but not to be outdone the visitors counter-attacked for Coates to net his third.

Mark Belleh hit all three goals for Division One table-toppers South Bank as they saw off the challenge of Civil Service for whom Will Dunnett netted once in reply.

Post Office maintained their title challenge and with a 3-0 win over Huby. Goals from Richard Dalby and James Bonarious put them in command in the first half and Alex Livey added the third in the second half.

Malton Bacon Factory are also in the promotion hunt and returned from their trip to St John's College with another three points.

Simon Collins opened the scoring for Malton but Rob Burton levelled for The Students.

Nigel Allen restored the Factory's lead and Carl Sawdon made it 3-1, but Burton gave the students hope when he netted a penalty.

However, Jamie Barker wrapped things up when he also converted a penalty.

Osbaldwick returned to winning ways with a 3-2 results at Thorpe United. Neil Price, Mark Triffitt and Neil Robertson were their target men.

Norwich Union got the better of Haxby 2-1, with both their goals coming from Matt Hilden.

Haxby enjoyed most of the possession but could not find the net until the 80th-minute when Des Drummond scored but The Insurance men held on to win.

The Hammerton versus Wigginton Black Horse game was postponed when the referee failed to appear.

Updated: 12:10 Monday, December 10, 2001