Mandale take champ crown

Thornaby Mandale 5 v 2 B&H Kings Head

With Ennis Square, winning at Middlesbrough St Mary's College and Mandale beating second place B&H Kings Head, Thornaby Mandale have taken the championship with five games remaining, a fine achievement indeed. Kings Head came into this game on the back of a great second half performance against Ennis Square in midweek. The Guisborough based team still in with a shout for the championship needed to win this game. Kings Head started the stronger and a goal came when Lee Johnson fired across the Mandale goal and it was Gary Round to score with a simple tap in. Steve Lambert had a chance to equalise when he found himself one on one with the keeper only to shoot wide. Thornaby Mandale equaliser came from a corner, Steve Lambert delivering an accurate ball into the box with David Poole climbing to head the ball into the back of the net. Kings Head took the lead for a second time when a corner was cleared by the Mandale defence, Paul Mitchell knocking the rebound back into the danger area and Gary Round who picked up the ball slotted it past the helpless Gary Poole. Kings Head were the stronger team in the first half and could have increased the lead with a number of chances, however the half time score remained at 1-2.

The second half started evenly until a dismissal left Kings Head with ten men. Thornaby Mandale stepped up a gear and took the initiative Steve Lambert scoring the equaliser.

The game was stopped for 12 minutes due to the Mandale Manager needing treatment on the side line, the referee and teams agreed to play on and it was Mandale who were the more positive following the restart. Mandale took a 3-2 lead when Ged Hartley beat the offside trap taking the ball through the Kings Head defence and beating the Kings Head Keeper.

Shortly after Bradley Murray made it, 4-2 and late in the game a free kick was awarded to Mandale with Steve Baker picking up a short lay back to hit a great shot giving Rob Hornbrook no chance.

M'bro St Mary's College 2 v 3 Ennis Square SC

Ennis Square came into this game following a hard game in midweek where they led Kings Head 4-1 at half time only to lose the margin eventually drawing the game 4-4. St Mary's playing for runners up honours were looking for a win.

The game was spoiled by a strong cross wind but it was St Mary's who took control. Two goals from player/manager Eddie Johnson, both goals were well supported by Wally Kaid who played the ball down the left hand side on both occasions and delivered inch perfect crosses with Johnson heading one and tapping the other in to give St Mary's a 2-0 half time advantage.

In the second half with wind advantage, Ennis Square started to claw their way back into the game. Ennis Square's first goal came from Jon Kirk. The equaliser came when Stephen Lee Gent hit the ball first time giving Peter Mellon in the St Mary's goal no chance. Ennis took the lead and all three points when the in form Jon Kirk hit a great strike from a 30 yard free kick.

Thornaby Village 3 v 2 Woodmans Arms

With Both teams due to play each other in the Cliff Wells Trophy Final there was plenty to play for.

Woodmans Arms had suffered a 2-1 defeat to Stockton Elementis in midweek and were eager to get back to their recent winning run. Thornaby Village with no midweek games were also looking to get back to winning ways following a draw and a loss.

The game was no spectacle due mainly to a heavy crosswind. Woodmans Arms started the brighter when Jeff Maloney was played in on the edge of the box, Maloney lobbed the keeper to make it 1-0.

Against the run of play Village equalised following a long clearance out of defence, the ball bounced high over the Woodmans defence and Paul Walsh stepped in to put the ball past the helpless keeper.

Village then started to control the play, a resultant corner was delivered into the six yard area Woodman's keeper Graeme Sharpe making an attempt to punch the ball didn't get contact and the ball fell to Gary Padgett who tapped home.

Woodmans Arms came out stronger in the second half and increased the pressure but some good counter attacking play by Village saw them increase their lead when Paul Walsh got behind the Woodmans full back taking the ball into the box and around the keeper to calmly slot the ball goalward.

With five minutes, remaining Jeff Maloney brought Woodmans back into the game with a well-worked goal with Steve Sherrington floating a great ball into the danger area for Ian Rodgers to knock on and Maloney taking his chance

South Bank U SC 8 v 1 NS Bulls Head

NS Bulls Head suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at Mannion Park. With South Bank taking a 3-0 lead at half time two goals came from Dave Larkin as he claimed a deflection for the first and from a penalty sending the keeper the wrong way for his second. South Banks third goal came from Peter Truscott following a great cross from Terry McClauchlin who has recently returned to the side.

The second half South Bank piled on the pressure and Peter Truscott scored his second following good work from Paul Venis and in the 70th minute Graham Cousins calmly slotted a ball past the Bulls Head keeper. Gary Naylor made it 6-0 before Bulls Head scored a late consolation goal by Andy Hopwood.

Naylor on his hat-trick scored two late goals to make the final score 8-1.

Stockton Elementis Utd 0 v 6 Middlesbrough Post Office

Elementis might have been in a confident mood following good form shown in midweek. Post Office with League Cup Final places to play for started assertively and some good work through Ian Pinchbeck who worked the line to send in a perfect cross for Ian Mills to score at a second attempt. Ian Mills turned provider for the second goal when he beat two men and knocked a through ball for John Leach to score.

The second half followed the same pattern of play as Michael Youll was fouled in the penalty area.

The resultant penalty was well taken by Paul Davies and he then got his second following some good work from John Cramer. There was some great link up play between John Cramer, Scott Heslop and John Leach who put Ian Pinchbeck through to score. Scott Heslop got his name on the score sheet to make the final score 6-0.

Redcar Coke Ov. 1 v 1 Stokesley SC

Redcar Coke Ovens are becoming the Leagues draw specialists following two draws in midweek. Stokesley maintained the pressure throughout this game but were 1-0 down at half time. One of only a few attacking moves for Cokies resulted in a corner, from the corner Lee Foreman hooked the ball over the top of his head to score.

Stokesley kept the momentum going in the second half with Stuart Miller pushing up play from defence. Stokesley's Lawrence Ndlouv had some driving runs at goal but to no avail. Sean Beatson was doing a first-rate job in defence for Coke Ovens.

However the equaliser came for Stokesley with ten minutes remaining when a well driven ball into the Cokies goal area was knocked out landing at Michael Bulmers feet, Michael Bulmer hit the ball hard and low taking a slight deflection to score a well earned goal.

* The Stokesley and District League is looking for two new teams to join next season to bring its membership up to a full constitution of 18 clubs. Junior clubs wishing to step up into senior football are welcome. Contact the League Secretary on (01642) 596979.