ROCKETMEN FALL BACK TO EARTH

Shuttle crashed out of the title race on Sunday after failing to beat CBMI at Hummersknott. Goals from Nicholson, Slade and Wright for CBMI were cancelled out by Wilkinson, Wilson and Clarke’s efforts to give a 3-3 draw. The result means the Rocketmen now can't catch Haugthon Grey Horse in the race for the Championship. If RFC fail to deliver victory against Argos/DHL this week then the Haughton will be confirmed Champions. Elsewhere in Divison one, an own goal and a Danny Davidson strike ensured a rare win for Brinkburn Lions against Argos/DHL. The win means, unless The Lions fail to get a result of any kind against Shuttle on Sunday and CBMI win by an unlikely 17 goal margin in their final game, the Deneside team will avoid the wooden spoon for the first time in a few years.

Meanwhile, the battle for the Division 2 title continues to heat up and a bumper crowd packed into the park at Middleton to watch a thrilling encounter bewteen contenders, Havelock Arms and The Deacon. In an full blooded affair that was keenly fought from the first whistle, the home side struck the first blow when Adi Weston nipped in to score, but the visitors drew level from a Lewis Henry spot kick after Chris Hope was clumsily upended. It was soon 1-2 when Chris Hope cleverly fed Michael Barnett who gleefully headed home.  The Havvy looked to strike back, but found stand-in stopper Lee Johnson was in no mood to let them past and it stayed that way at the break. Following the re-start the action continued at a pace and the home team leveled with a spot-kick of their own which also led to them gaining a numerical advantage as The Deacon were reduced to 10 players. With the visitors deffence busy re-grouping and contesting a free-kick, some quick thinking from Weston opened the door for the pacey debutant Thompson to get his shot away only for Tom Neill to use his hand to block it. Mike Andrews, who had his hands full all morning, was given no choice but to give Neil his marching orders and Weston casually slotted home his second. Despite going down to 10-men the Branksome boys didn't crumble and perhaps should have took the lead again, only for some wayward finishing and the fine form of Sam Pybus to keep them out. The Havvy also had chances but Johnson, who was playing his first game in over a year, again stood firm for the visitors. With the clock ticking it seemed both sides were going to be made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal,  until with 7 mins left to go the Havvy were awarded another spot kick when Weston was adjudged to have been impeded. The leading goalscorer stepped up to complete his hat-trick. However, the late drama wasn’t over and with only a minute of normal time to go, Simmons broke down the left, slotted the ball to El-Kayet who in turn played in Huscroft who was then brought down in the box. Huscroft kept his nerve to smash home the penalty and make it 3-3. The Deacon's manager Archie Brown said a point was probably a fair result, 'It was a good, physical game and I thought the lads were outstanding considering they had to play the majority of the second half with only 10 men'. Goodfellas finally played their first game of 2012 but they will want to forget it as they were turned over 1-5 by Grants at Moore Lane. Goals from Pete Dawson, Chris Hall, Jonathan Pearson and a brace from winger Adam Wilson ensured the visitors returned to the top of Division 2. Emruys Sheldon got Goodfellas consoulation. Meanwhile, Harrowgate Hill stay in the hunt after a comfortable 6-2 win over Railway Institue at Rothmans. 7pts now separate the top four, but with some of those teams still play each other, whilst Slaters and Goodfellas play catch up there's likely more twist and turns to come before the champion is crowned. At the other end of the table ACE Cars got their first points since October after they gave Croft six of the best at the Riverside. Croft could only reply with a solitary goal and the 1-6 win means ACE Cars overtake RI into 7th.

ONE FOOT OVER THE FINISH LINE FOR HAUGHTON GREY HORSE

Haughton have one hand on the First Division Trophy after beating RFC 0-3. 6 points clear of nearest rivals Shuttle with only two left to play, Ronnie Coleman’s side are odds on to continue their strangle-like grip on the the DSIL top-tier. However, despite the fact the Championship could be confirmed if Shuttle fail to beat CBMI on Sunday, Coleman refuses to crack open the champagne just yet, ‘We still need another point, so until that happens we’ll save the celebrations, but I’m really proud of the lads so far’. Rolling Mill Allstars survived a second half fightback to take all 3pts in their home game against Argos/DHL. A depleted visiting squad meant they could only start with 10-men and Allstars took full advantage when a Richardson brace and a Darren Thompson strike gave them a 3-0 half time lead. However, reinforcements arrived for Argos when Martin ‘Mario’ Scott came out of retirement to give the visitors hope, but despite Darren Kokes also scoring they couldn’t find an equalizer and the game finished 3-2. In the remaining Division 1 tie, Hole in the Wall finished their season with a win against lowly Brinkburn Lions at Spring filed. In typically unpredictable style, The Wall conceded four goals but a couple from Nathan Wall and one each from the evergreen Tony Moorcroft combined with those from Adam Flynn, Carl Elliott and David James secured a 6-4 win.  

The Deacon jumped into the driving seat in the close-as-you-like race for the Division 2 title after overwhelming Railway Institute on North Park. With Carmel unplayable, the game was moved to Whossoe Road, but on a heavy surface both teams struggled to adapt. However, the ‘home’ side broke the deadlock when Stu Cottam netted from close range and further goals from Fred Huscroft & Mitchell Brown gave them a 3-0 half time lead. Cottam and Brown double their tally after the break whilst Abdul El-Khayat capped a solid debut performance with a 20-yard strike. Lewis Henry also curled home a corner as a dominant Deacon made it 7-0 before RI grabbed a late consolation. Meanwhile, it was a goals galore in the games between Harrowgate Hill versus Grants and Havelock Arms against Slaters. Goals from Turner, Ward, Weston and 2 from Harland for The Hill were matched by those from Dixon, Hall, Russell and Pearson (2) for Grants as the two teams canceled each out in their high scoring draw. Whilst a second half horror show from Slaters contributed to their downfall against The Havvy. Mohammed, Thorne and Rimmer scored to match their hosts 3 goals to leave it finally poised at the interval, but Slaters were given 6 of the best in the second half as home side took control. Kemp, Howden, substitute Brown and two each for Sanderson, leading scorer Adi Weston and Man of the Match Dean Irvine meant a 9-3 win for the Middleton lads who move up to 3^rd place. In the basement battle at the riverside Croft beat Park Utd 3-0 to ensure the visitors will finish bottom in their maiden campaign. New signing Jamie Graham had a debut to remember after his brace, whilst a scorcher from Paul Tweddle secured the win. Croft’s Jo Simpson said Shaun Maddison deserved a special mention, ‘Shaun played a brilliant energetic game and, despite Jamie’s debut goals, was deservedly Man of the Match’. Finally, Goodfellas and ACE Cars were left frustrated as their game was postponed due to a no-show from the match official.

NO POINTS FOR PARK AGAIN A THORNE IN THEIR SIDE

The weather was again the main winner on Sunday but a great Dave Thorne hat-trick, a brace from Isam Mohammed and debut goal from Rob Davies ensured Slaters hit Park United for 6 on the 3g pitch at Hummersknott. In the only game to take place, Slaters put some daylight between themselves and the bottom four. The win keeps them in with a shout of promotion, but James Gilby's side will need to hit top gear for the remainder of the season. However, it’s a different story for Park United who, despite having a decent sized squad including plenty of experience and always well supported, have sadly struggled in their maiden campaign and only have two more bites of the cherry to stop them finishing pointless. This week they face second bottom Croft, who just edged it 3-4 in the reverse fixture at the Riverside, so it'll be a nervy seat-of-your-pants affair for Park’s traveling fans. Elsewhere in Division 2, Goodfellas will look to re-start their promotion push as they play first game of 2012 away to ACE Cars at Tommy Crooks. Harrowgate Hill meet Grants Gym at Rothmans and with both teams battling for the top, it's sure to be one to watch. Meanwhile Havelock Arms, who could include prodigal son Adi Weston who has re-signed from Harrowgate, face fellow promotion hopeful’s Slaters at Middleton-St-George. Finally The Deacon will hope to derail RI's good run of form at Carmel. In Division 1, the clash of day takes place at the Rugby Club where RFC take on Haughton. Should Grey Horse win, Ronnie Coleman's side will virtually seal the title and in the process become only the second side in the League's history to win a hat-trick of titles. CBMI could move off the bottom of the table for the first time since September but it will be no easy task to overcome Hole in the Wall. Finally at the Education Village, Allstars will hope to send Argos/DHL packing as they bid to cement a credible 3rd place finish in their first season in the top flight.