HOLDERS Old Malton St Mary’s began the defence of their North Riding FA County Cup with a remarkable come-from-behind victory against Grangetown Boys Club.

The York Minster Engineering League front-runners fell three down within 13 mad minutes against the Teesside League leaders.

But player-boss Darren Dunning brought himself off the bench and it proved a masterstroke as, matching Grangetown’s five-man midfield, they went on to win 4-3, holding on at the end despite being reduced to ten men late on.

Saints were level by half-time through Damon Cox, from Dunning’s inswinging free-kick, Tom Fenwick, from a Cox cross, and Fenwick again, after a defensive mistake.

The second-half winner came from man-of-the-match Cox as he rose to head home a Dunning corner.

Meanwhile, St Mary’s have signed goalkeeper Ben Gill from York League premier division neighbours Terrington Glory. Gill is a replacement for Toby Wells, who joined Northern Counties East League outfit Pickering Town last week.

Terrington bowed out of the North Riding FA County Cup with a 4-3 defeat at University of York.