Premier division leaders Huntington Rovers suffered a bitter blow to their championship pretensions dealt by York Sugar on a day of comebacks.

The Sugarmen twice trailed to the table-toppers, but not only did they counter with goals from brothers Pat and Joe Gaughan, they also had the audacity to grab a winner with a late penalty.

Rovers were on the attack from the first whistle and gained a rapid reward in the fourth minute when Paul Noon netted close in.

Parity was restored through Pat Gaughan before John Barker fired the leaders ahead for a second time. It was their last bout of supremacy.

The hosts levelled through Joe Gaughan, and then Mick Gibson proved the coollest player on the pitch smashing a spot-kick past Rovers' goalkeeper Ian Milner for a fine victory.

If Huntington were caught on the hop, that was nothing compared to second-placed Crayke, whose defensive generosity bordered on the Christmas conversion of a certain Ebeneezer Srooge.

Crayke were four goals to the good in the opening 35 minutes against visiting Old Malton - Simon Wilson and Mark Hutchinson twice on target.

But then came an Old Malton avalanche.

The visitors ran in no less than six unanswered second-half strikes to top the tree in the ten-goal thriller. Neil Wilford smacked a brace of penalties to add to goals from Paul Boyes, Micky Drew, Mike Henderson and Simon Cook.

Bishopthorpe were much too powerful for visiting Wigginton Grasshoppers, registering a 4-1 triumph graced by two stunning 30-yard screamers from Spencer Martin.

Also on target were 'Diddy' Allinson and Chris Smith, with Wigginton's reply from Dave Crudass.

An even more emphatic win was posted by Dunnington.

But though they downed Kartiers 7-1, it was not until the final 15 minutes that the visitors truly buckled.

A home lead given by Rich Carr and Andy Rose was halved by Kartiers' Mark Lucas before the late flourish in which the points were sealed with efforts from Matt Skelton (2), Chris Burgess, Simon Wood and substitute Mike Walker.

In division one Thorpe United consolidated third position with a hard-fought win at Wigginton Black Horse.

The home side had the better of the opening stages, Thorpe's goal leading a charmed life.

After they had a goal disallowed for pushing Black Horse went in front when Shaun Moulds intercepted a low cross from the left to fire the ball home.

Two minutes later Thorpe were level, Alan Ward rifling in a rebound from a ferocious Ryan Watson shot that cannoned off the crossbar.

A missed penalty from Jamie Seal proved decisive. Instead of leading 2-1 at the interval Black Horse found themselves ceding a 70th-minute winner from Thorpe's Mel Joblin.

Malton Bacon Factory returned to winning ways after a lean spell, toppling hosts Riccall United 5-3.

In a see-sawing first-half Riccall's Alan Jackson and goalkeeper mark Sanderson, with a penalty, were on target with Lee Dunning and Simon Collins replying.

Kevin Kozicki put Riccall ahead again soon after the break, but Collins netted his second and then Jamie Hopwood netted twice for the Factory ranks to wrap up the win.

Neil Price scored twice for Osbaldwick to register a 2-0 half-time lead at home to Nestl-Rowntree. But hopes of a home success were dashed as the Trees response with three second-half goals for a maximum away-day.

In-form outfit South Bank are in fifth place just one place below the Nestl outfit after a 2-1 conquest of Civil Service.

Simon Kehoe opened Bank's account, doubled early in the second-half through Dave hyde. a Richard Wells strike on 80 minutes set up a frantic finale, but the homesters held out.

Copmanthorpe spoilt Stamford Bridge's hopes of topping division two over Christmas as they triumphed 3-0 with goals from Graham Butcher, Ashley Burnett and Mike Heels.

The win moved Cop' into third place, two points adrift of Hammerton, who did not play.

Heslington slipped to their third defeat as Chris Seager and John Dutton scored two goals apiece for visitors Norton, topping replies from Stewart Dickinson, Danny Walters and Matt Birkitt.

Poppleton pocketed their first point of the season courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Easingwold.

Micky Raper broke the deadlock with a goal for the hosts before Dan Reavill poached a precious leveller just before half-time.