At the start of last weekend, the King's Head were 180 minutes away from achieving a Stokesley League treble.

By Monday night they had added the League Cup to their Arthur Reed Shield but their league title bid was on hold following a 2-2 draw against St. Mary's College in their final league outing.

This result means the King's Head Head will meet Middlesbrough Post Office in a league play off at Great Ayton tonight at 6.30pm.

League Cup Final

King's Head 1 St. Mary's College 0

The King's Head lifted the League Cup following a closely fought game against St. Mary's College just two days after the sides had met in their final league encounter.

Both defences dominated the game with the St. Mary's rearguard holding firm throughout most of the first half and the King's Head defence showing their metal particularly late on in the game when they came under increasing pressure from the College.

Wally Kaid went close for the College in the opening minutes of the game but chances were at premium while team mates Andy Evans and Dave Aspery also created good openings.

Centre back Dave Smith headed just wide for the King's Head on the half hour mark but the deadlock was finally broken on the stroke of half time when Mike Jones headed over the St. Mary's keeper following a free kick.

The second half saw defences continue to take the upper hand with the College's Steve Hinds and Andrew Brothwood holding firm while Steve Smith turned in an man of the match performance as he marshalled the King's Head rearguard.

Chances once again were few and far between but Steve Keenan was unlucky not to take the game to extra time when his goal bound strike came back off the crossbar.

At the presentation in Stokesley Sports Club after the game, Mr. Dennis Cope of Hathaway and Cope presented the League Cup to King's Head skipper Neil Hodgson while referee Paul McIntyre and his assistants Stan Davison and John Smith received their mementoes of the final.

Receiving his award for Stokesley League Player of the Year was Coulby Newham's Paul Kirby who collected fifteen nominations from opposition sides during the season.

Cliff Wells Final

Thornaby Mandale 3 Bull's Head 0

Thornaby Mandale collected the Cliff Wells Trophy following their three nil win over a battling Bull's Head side who contested this game to the final whistle.

After Mark Williams had seen his 20 yard effort palmed wide, Andrew Dyson gave Mandale the lead on 15 minutes when he tapped in following a good build up.

Both sides created chances with Simon Nelson shooting wide on the half hour and Bradley Murray heading narrowly wide for Mandale.

Two incidents either side of half time turned the game in Mandale's favour.

Nelson went desperately close for the Bulls when his cross was turned onto the upright just seconds before the break and man of the match Dyson rattled home a 20 yard free kick shortly after the restart.

A third goal from Steve Lambert ten minutes later put the result beyond doubt but Bulls battled hard and were unlucky not to get at least one goal to their credit.

John Briggs refereed the final being ably assisted by Peter Plummer and Colin Hill.

League

St Mary's College OB 2 Kings Head 2

With the King's Head needing a win to secure the title before this game, things looked distinctly ominous shortly after half time when they trailed two nil.

The game kicked off in glorious weather conditions and from the off, the St. Mary's back four were put under pressure by the King's Head who went all out for the opening goal.

The College defence stood firm however and despite failing to put their own passing game together they took the lead with 15 minutes of the first half remaining when a cross from Andrew Brothwood sailed over the King's Head keeper.

The second half was only ten minutes old when St Mary's increased their lead when Dave Aspery won the ball in midfield and ran at the heart of the Kings Head defence.

He skipped past a lunging tackle and scored with a shot across the stranded keeper.

With several interested Middlesbrough PO players watching on, the Kings Head to their credit never give up and were rewarded for their efforts when they pulled a goal back through Paul Parkes.

Needing a point from the game to avoid the title going to Middlesbrough Post Office, the Kings Head equaliser came when a free kick was well saved by College keeper Thomas Straker but the loose ball broke to Paul Round Senior was on hand to tap the ball home.

North Skelton Village 4 Linx Hemlington 4

Village produced one of the comebacks of the season after they found themselves trailing by three goals to nil at the interval.

Lee Preston pulled a goal back with a well struck volley before Alan Cummings reduced the deficit still further when his shot on the turn ended up in the back of the net.

An angled shot from Craig Harris brought North Skelton back on level terms and Dominique Takarski fired them into the lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Hopes of an improbable win were shattered however when Linx pulled another goal out of the bag with just two minutes to go.

Thornaby Village 7 Ennis Square 5

The goals were also flying in at Thornaby where Ennis took the lead after a mistake from Gary Padgett allowed Ennis Square centre forward to nip in and shoot into corner.

Ennis to doubled their lead following another defensive slip but just before half time, Village pulled one back through Paul Rae. Straight from kick off , David Murray caught the Ennis keeper unaware and minutes later, Rae put Thornaby ahead for the first time in the game when he got on the end of cross from Dean Melville.

Ennis then equalised before Jeff Belt restored the Villages advantage when he went through one on one with the keeper.

The game continued to see saw with Ennis Square scoring twice more but the Village taking the points with goals from Belt, Melville and a third strike from Rae to complete a well taken hat trick.

British Steel Sports 1 South Bank United 13

Not to be out done in the goalscoring stakes, South Bank United hit 13 in their demolition of British Steel Sports.

Goals from Anthony Gregory, Gary Naylor and John Lodge helped United to a three one lead at half time but after the break they ran riot with Lodge and Gregory both completing hat-tricks.

Peter Renton scored twice while Graham Watson, Graham Cousins, Mark Phillips and David Martin all chipped in with a goal apiece.

Woodmans Arms 6 NS Bulls Head 1

Darren Breckon ran through from his own half to give the Woodmans a 20 minute lead but by half time, the Bulls Head had drawn level.

The Woodies upped the pace in the second half and ran out easy winners with keeper Ian Rodgers coming out of goal to get his name on the scoresheet.

Graham Selby turned and volleyed home to make his contribution while Mark Jones and Steve Sherrington (2) completed the goal scorers.

* The Stokesley League is looking to strengthen the league next year and vacancies do exist for sides that might be considering joining the league.

Contact secretary Martin Scollay (01642 596979) for details.

results: Saturday: North Skelton Village 4 Linx Hemlington 4; Thornaby Village 7 Ennis Square 5; Woodmans Arms 6 NS Bulls Head FC 1; St Mary's College OB 2 Kings Head 2; British Steel Sports 1 South Bank United 13.

League Cup Final: King's Head 1 St. Mary's College 0.

Cliff Wells Final: Thornaby Mandale 3 Bull's Head 0.

Midweek results: North Skelton Village 2 British Steel Sports 2; Coulby Newham 1 Thornaby Village 2; Ennis Square 5 North Skelton Village 0.