The season's fixture backlog grew last weekend with the entire program falling foul of the weather and with two of the games being North Riding Cup ties, the knock on effect meant some rescheduling of February's fixtures.

Thornaby Mandale have lead the league since August and with a healthy five point advantage and games in hand, they look a good bet for the title although King's Head will be hoping to close the gap particularly if Mandale 's involvement in three cup competitions puts pressure on the league leaders towards the end of the season.

Due to play Staithes in the quarter finals of the North Riding Cup, the Thornaby side have also booked themselves an Arthur Read Shield semi-final spot as well as a League Cup Semi-Final against South Bank United.

Kings Head looked to be giving Mandale a run for their money but defeats against the league leader and Coulby Newham as well as the two points dropped in their 5-5 epic with Coulby dented their ambition somewhat.

At the other end of the table, the Black Horse's goals against column continues to grow but so does the admiration of many other sides in the league for the way that they continue to keep going despite often facing an uphill struggle in most games.

The one shining moment for the club so far was their 4-3 Durham Minor Cup win against Murton Queen Victoria, hopefully something that they can repeat before the end of the season.

North Skelton have struggled to get the consistency that would get them away from the lower regions of the league but their recent 'derby' victory over neighbours Bull's Head must surely give them some inspiration for the remainder of the season.

Another side to under perform this year are Woodmans Arms who continue to give top sides a close un for their money but nearly always end up on the losing side all be it by a narrow margin.

The highlight so far for the Woodies has got to be their North Riding Cup run that now sees them lining up against Ennis Square for a place in the semi-final.

The four ex-Stockton League sides that joined this season have all aquitted

themselves well with Mandale and the Mary's Old Boys toping the table while Thornaby Village and Stockton Elementis have both produced some fine performances.

Three of the four ex-Stockton sides are involved in the Leven Bridge Engineering sponsored Arthur Reed Shield semi-finals.

The draw, made by Leven Bridge managing director Peter Sharpe paired Thornaby Mandale and Stockton Elementis to play each for the right to meet the winners of the other semi final between St. Mary's College Old Boys and King's Head at the King George V ground in Guisborough.

In the League Cup, South Bank United take on Mandale while St. Mary's College Old Boys and Middlesbrough Post Office will be battling it out for a place in the final.

The minor trophies see the Woodman's Arms taking on Thornaby Village in the semi final of the Wilf Leader Trophy with South Bank United and North Skelton facing each other in the second semi.

Saturday's postponement of the Stokesley, Bull's Head quarter final of the Cliff Wells Trophy means that the Village will have to wait to see who they will be up against in the semi-final at the end of the month.

Redcar Coke Ovens or the Woodman's Arms will provide the opposition in this year's Well's Trophy Final.

The race for the leagues leading goalscorer is turning into one of the closest competitions for some years.

Redcar Coke Ovens Anthony Gregory leads the field with 17 goals, just one more than Mandale's Andrew Dyson who has netted 16 goals so far this season.

Next come a trio of Coulby Newham players with Mark Sowerby and Mark Salvati on 14 and Richard May joining Middlesbrough Post Offices Jason Leach and Stephen Lambert from Thornaby Mandale on 13.