OLD Malton St Mary’s have endured a mixed week - losing the North Riding County FA Saturday County Cup final but then winning their York FA Saturday Senior Cup semi-final only to see results go against them in the York Minster Engineering League premier title race.

Saints lost 4-2 last Wednesday night to Thirsk Falcons in the county final played at Pickering Town’s Mill Lane ground, after having Dean Nuttall sent off.

Danny Fogg got both Saints goals in a man-of-the-match performance.

He put them ahead inside six minutes but Ryan McKendry equalised after 32 minutes and after half-time Thirsk began to get more control of the game.

Captain Dave Young gave the Falcons the lead with a 71st-minute penalty and, although Fogg levelled seven minutes later from a corner, McKendry quickly bagged his second of the night and a fine goal by Shaun Hudson two minutes from time sparked wild jubilation in the Thirsk ranks.

Saints can still earn FA cup glory, though, after reaching the York Saturday Senior Cup final with a 3-1 win at Hemingbrough United on Saturday.

Old Malton now face Dunnington in the final.

The premier division title race, meanwhile, is now a straight shoot-out between Saints and Riccall United after the latter won 3-1 at in-form Dringhouses thanks to a hat-trick from Gary Collier.

The Ryedale side are now eight points behind the leaders but have six games left compared to Riccall’s three, with one of those games in hand taking place this Saturday as they travel to sixth-placed Huntington Rovers while Riccall are on cup duty.