Stanley Sunday League

SUCCESSIVE defeats have all but ended Chester Garden Farm's title quest with Stanley FC now firmly in the driving seat.

It started badly for the Farm as they lost out to title rivals Stanley by a massive six goals and then shipped another five against Pelton Fell Club.

Doubles from Mark Drake and Kraig Wilkinson put Stanley in cruise control against the Farm and other goals followed from Martin Pritchard and Ian Watson as they romped to a 6-0 win before Stanley then followed up with another 6-0 success over Pelton Crown.

It got worse when the Garden Farm played neighbouirs Pelton Fell in another top of the table clash, but were struggling from the off when they lost their keeper through injury.

Andrew Robson scored a consolation for the Farm as Pelton Fell took the points with goals from Ricky Stanton (2), Daniel Bankhead, Michel Barton and Steven Mulholland scoring for Pelton Fell.

This result means Pelton Fell must win there last remaining five games to clinch the title and one of those games is against current champions and league leaders Stanley FC.

The Fell's cause had not been helped during the week when they shared the spoils and eight goals in a derby clash with Pelton Crown.

Work commitments saw the Fell play throughout with just ten men and score through Paul McCardle, Derek Willis, Daniel Bankhead and an own goal while the Crown's goals were from Del Swift, David Cooper, John Sexton and Paul Weatherburn.

The Fell were action again as they looked to clear their fixture back log and again had selection problems due to a shortage of players.

Even so against South Moor Sports they enjoyed a 7-4 win with the star of the show Frank Tiffin who hit four goals, there were two more from Bankhead and another for William Burrell.

Chris Youll hit all four of the Moor goals and in the process became the first player this season to score a hat-trick or more against them.

A 4-1 win for Felling Mulberry over Stanley RAFA at last saw them move out of bottom two. Defender Andy Case (2), Gary Harkness and Mark Stevenson were also on the mark for the Mulberry with the RAFA replying through David Maughan.

The Mulberry enjoyed the winning habit so much that they followed up with a 4-2 win over Grange Villa, with doubles from Case and Harkness (2) - this latest two goals taking defender Case's tally to eight in his last five matches. Villa's goals were from Gary Lee and Chris Greathead..

South Moor Sports played local rivals Stanley Masons Arms and won 6-1. Carl Gray (2), Michael Gray, Chris Youll, and David Craig getting the goals with Ty Swan replying.

Sunday is the the final of the Richardson Cup between Felling Mulberry and South Moor Sports at South Moor (10.30am).