Consett Sunday League: Stateside have suddenly turned from champions elect to a side fighting to hold on to top position.

Crushed 4-1 by Blackhill Comrades during the week, Stateside were then held 2-2 at home by lowly Highwayman and have now picked up just one point from their last nine.

Indeed Annfield Plain Cricket Club are breathing down their necks and if Towneley Arms win their two outstanding fixtures the Stanley side will move to within one point of the leaders.

And the indications are that Towneley Arms are firing on all cylinders after recording a 4-1 win over the Comrades with goals from Ivan Moxon, Paul Willary, Gary Clark and Glenn Ferry.

Michael Seed and Darren Watson managed the Stateside goals that were cancelled out by Darren Curry and Gavin Rowell.

Scott Thompson notched a hat-trick in a big 10-1 Station Ex Juniors win at the Bute Arms while AK Leisure accounted for Golden Lion 2-0.

Lee McVittie was once again in devastating form for Lanchester Social with all the goals in a 4-0 rout of Steel Club to keep them on course for the title.

Philip Wilson scored the only goal in a Peacock win over Steel Club while in a shock, lowly Black Horse hit Consett Top Club for six with Martin McKinney scoring twice.

Division Three leaders Plainsman got back on the winning trail when a Carl Gerry hat-trick sent them to a 6-0 win over Swalwell Poacher.

Stephen Bridge scored twice as second top Burton House went nap against Prince of Wales.

Ricky Eland scored a hat-trick as Freemasons won 6-5 at Scotch Arms for whom Peter Morton also scored a treble.

Stanley and District Sunday League

Mark Drake was in devastating form for Stanley FC as they claimed their place in the final of the League Challenge Cup.

In a one-sided encounter with a young South Moor Sports, Drake struck four times in a runaway 7-1 win.

The win ensured Stanley of a second final of the season - they will meet Pelton Fell WMC in the Bev Haggett Cup Final - and keeps them on course for a treble.

In the League Cup Final, Stanley will meet Chester Garden Farm at Annfield Plain on Sunday, May 11 (10.30am) and these two are the main rivals for the league title.

The Fell booked their Bev Haggett Cup Final place after outclassing Stanley RAFA 6-1 to set up a Sunday, May 4 showdown with Stanley FC at Annfield Plain (10.30am). The Fell's goals came from hat-trick man Alan Cuthbertson, a double from Ricky Stanton and Derek Willis with the RAFA replying through Richard Elliott.

In the Richardson Cup, Group B, Felling Mulberry beat Low Fell Jolly Miller by the odd goal in three to take them nearer the final.

The Mulberry scored through Andy Case and Mark Stevenson with Michael Jenkins replying for the Jolly Miller.

This group now depends on the result of the Mulberry's match against Pelton Crown on Sunday to decide who goes into the final.

The final of this competition is to be played on Sunday, April 27 at South Moor Sports (10.30am).