Stanley and District Sunday League

STANLEY FC have retained the title with style in what turned out to be something of a special week for them. First of all they became the first side from the league to reach the final of the North West Durham Charity Cup then clinched the championship in a ten goal thriller against Pelton Fell Club. Pelton Fell had kept their title dreams alive with a hard-earned 4-3 midweek win over Stanley RAFA setting up the perfect showdown with Stanley FC.

Despite goals from Stephen Burdis (2) and Chris Lowes they were not enough for the RAFA, with the Fell taking the points with doubles from Derek Willis and Frank Tiffen.

Against the Fell, Mark Patterson was in devastating form in front of goal in what turned out to be two outstanding games for him.

Patterson struck four goals and David Turner the other two in the league decider while the hard-working Fell hit back to no avail with two goals from Daniel Bankhead and others from Frank Tiffen and Stephen Mulholland.

There was a dramatic ending to the Richardson Cup Final when Felling Mulberry played South Moor Sports.

A shock looked on the cards when the Mulberry raced into a 2-0 lead and had another disallowed before going into a 3-1 lead before the Sports scored twice to take it into extra time. The issue was still unresolved after the two extra periods which the Moor eventually won 6-5 to take the trophy.

Consett Sunday League

TWO wins from their final four matches will guarantee Lanchseter Social Club promotion to the First Division.

Goals from leading scorer Lee McVittie and John Jackson saw Lanchester to a 2-0 win at Burton House and at the same time open up a seven points lead at the top of the table. Tantobie were without a game, but remain two points clear of Chopwell in second position after the village side recorded a 4-1 win at the Steel Club. It ended all square in the derby battle of the Central Clubs with Oxhill and Stanley sharing eight goals.

Andrew Taylor scored twice for Annfield Plain Demi in their odd goal in five win at the Peacock Inn.

In the top flight, Stanley Towneley Arms are edging closer to their first ever title though they were given a worrying time before claiming the points at Blackhill Comrades.

It looked all over at the break as the Towneley built up an apparent match winning 3-0 lead with goals from Garry Messer, Alan College and gary Clark. But, the Comrades saw it differently and hit back through Paul Clark and Craig Morgan to leave the Stanley outfit hanging on for their 3-2 win.

Leadgate Golden Lion are three points adrift of the Towneley but have also played one game more. They do remain in touch however after winning 2-1 to overtake Stateside with goals from Daniel Craggs and Chris Soulsby with Paul Jobes on the mark for Stateside.

AK Leisure also won 2-1 when goals from Mark Tilney and Marc Eccles saw them to victory over Lintz who hit back through Gary Johnson while Annfield Plain Cricket Club beat the Bute Arms by a similar 2-1 margin. A double from Steve Jones and a Gavin Courtney goal helped Blackhall Mill to a 3-2 win at struggling Highwayman.

Burton House are one point clear at the top of Division Three from the Plainsman after winning 2-0 at home to Freemasons with goals from Craig Foster and Craig Gill while the Plainsman accounted for the Prince of Wales 3-1.

Dipton Bird Inn got back to winning ways when beating Delves 4-2 while a David Rainbow double saw the Duke of Wellington beat the Board Inn 2-1. David Bewick scored twice for for Scotch Arms in a 4-2 win over Hat & Feather who hit back with a James Hellings double while the Poacher and Smelters shared six goals.