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.
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