YOUNGSTER Tom Hoggard was the hero for Old Malton St Mary’s as they kept their title tilt on track in the York Minster Engineering League premier division.

The four contenders for the crown squared up on Saturday, with leaders Riccall United winning 5-2 at Tadcaster Magnets - who had keeper Jordan Tinker sent off as they lost on successive weekends for the first time this term - while champions Old Malton, hot in pursuit, edged third-placed Dunnington 2-1, with Hoggard getting both goals on his full debut.

Riccall lie three points clear of their Ryedale rivals but have played two games more.

Saints had a depleted side and a strong Dunnington outfit had plenty of possession but Saints’ back four and keeper Ben Gill were in top form.

Malt took the lead when skipper Robbie Baker saw his stunning 25-yard dipping volley tipped onto the bar only for the ball to strike the keeper’s arm on the way out and drop onto the line for Hoggard to prod home. Ten minutes later, following Josh Bown’s fine through ball, Hoggard’s good first touch took him away from his marker and he expertly finished to make it 2-0.

The second half started terribly for the champions as the ball was teed up for onrushing midfielder Jonny Andrews to fire in a deflected shot from 20 yards.

Old Malton, missing Steve Baxter’s hold-up play, struggled to keep possession, but Gill remained relatively untroubled, a good block from Callum Scott foiling the only real threat.

In fact Malt had the better chances with Tom Fenwick and Damon Cox being denied by the keeper.

At the other end of the table, Easingwold Town were relegated after an 8-0 defeat by Huntington.

Terrington Glory, lowly but hopefully clear of danger, lost 4-0 to York RI, Danny Cates (2), Liam Stilgoe and Mike MacKenzie the marksmen.

In division one, leaders F1 Racing took another step closer to the title with a 11-1 annihilation of Hamilton Panthers, Neil Yeowart hitting four.

Malton & Norton and Brooklyn continued their scrap for the second promotion spot as a Steve Twamley goal gave the former a 1-0 win over Total Sports while a Marcus Godsell hat-trick in the final quarter helped the latter to a 4-2 victory over St Clement’s.

Brooklyn had again been forced into changes due to unavailability and illness and the visitors settled the better of the two sides and took a deserved lead, only Karl Richardson preventing them making it two with a goal-saving bloke.

This lifted the hosts and they started to get on top but without mustering a clear-cut chance before half-time.

Brooklyn dominated possession after the break, pinning the visitors back. Chances came and went for the home side, who were denied by the keeper, the woodwork and goal-line clearances.

In a bid to find a way back into the game manager Matty Hood threw on debutant George Kirk and Andrew Philips, who started on the bench due to illness, and this changed the game as the pacy Phillips beat a defender and cut the ball back for Godsell to fire in the equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.

St Clement’s nearly retook the lead, being denied by keeper Andrew Slaughter’s smart low save, and Brooklyn immediately broke down the right as Steven Clay and Kirk worked well to set up Andrew Metcalfe to fire the ball across the keeper and in.

With 10 minutes left, a harmless-looking long ball from Slaughter evaded the visitors’ back four allowing Godsell to race clear and slot home.

St Clement’s pulled it back to 3-2 with five minuites to go, but Godsell had the last say, Metcalfe turning provider with a clever ball to allow him the chance to seal victory and cap his man-of-the-match show.

Kirkbymoorside moved ever closer to the division three title with a 4-0 win over high-riding rivals South Milford.

Jason Brown (2), Alex Strickland and Danny Butterworth got the goals, with Aaron Rivis man of the match.

Second-placed Civil Service lost 2-1 at Selby Olympia, giving a boost to promotion rivals Stamford Bridge, who were not in action.

In division four, Settrington beat Wheldrake 4-2 with goals by James Stone, Harry Thistleton and Edward Marwood (2). Ben Saltmer starred.

In reserve ‘B’, third-placed Stamford Bridge seconds beat Fulford reserves 7-0, Will Wood bagging four, Bobby Templeton two and Sam Wood one.

Substitute Joe Vaughan gave Poppleton a 1-0 win over Malton & Norton.