FOOTBALL

Stanley Royal need only one more point to retain the League Championship after making it 15 wins in a row over Pelton Fell to maintain their 100 per cent record.

David Turner scored another two goals in the 5-2 win along with Kraig Wilkinson, Brian Nelson and Kelvin Armstrong with the Fell hitting back through Derek Willis and Norman Proud.

The Royal now know who they will be meeting in the final of the League Challenge Cup, a situation that sees them as the red-hot favourites to complete the double.

They will come up against second placed Grange Villa who beat off South Moor Sports by a 2-0 margin.

The Villa took the lead a minute before half time through a Jon Haley penalty before Eugene Morgan then confirmed the Villa's place.

In the Group A of the Richardson Cup, Felling Mulberry confirmed their final place for the second year running with a 5-2 win at home to Washington Oasis.

Gary Harkness scored twice, there was a penalty from Ian Pine along with efforts from Lee Wilkinson and Paul Wilkinson while the Oasis responded with a Ross Fryer double.

In the Group B derby encounter at Low Fell, the Jolly Miller were not so happy when they were beaten 4-1 by Gateshead Black Bull for whom Ronnie Keilty scored twice along with Anthony Brewis and Chris McGee with Steve Crocker replying.

* The League's three cup finals will all be played at South Moor Cricket Club. The Richardson Cup will be staged on Friday, April 30. The Bev Haggett Final takes place on Friday, May 7 and then on Friday, May 14 it's the Challenge Cup Final between Grange Villa and Stanley Royal. All three finals will kick-off at 6.30pm.

P W D F A Pts

Stanley Royal 15 15 0 116 9 45

Grange Villa WMC 16 11 3 61 37 36

*Pelton Fell WMC 17 12 1 68 37 34

South Moor Sports 17 10 3 59 37 33

Pelton Crown Inn 17 6 4 36 42 22

Felling Mulberry 18 6 2 41 63 20

Low Fell Jolly Miller 17 4 3 49 66 15

Gateshead Black Bull 16 4 1 26 69 13

Stanley Masons Arms SC 15 3 3 29 75 12

Washington Oasis 13 2 5 38 61 11

*Stanley RAFA 16 3 2 27 54 8

*Denotes three points adjustment

Consett Sunday League

IT was top Mark's for Leadgate Golden Lion as they won their second piece of silverware for the season with the promise of more to follow.

Following their Harkness Cup Final win over Stateside, the two sides were paired together again, this time in the final of the Stanley Aged Miners Cup.

And once again it was the Golden Lion who took the honours with Mark Turner inspiring them to a 5-2 win with a first half hat-trick.

The Lion led 3-1 at the break and added to their tally with a couple of John Dettmar goals while Stateside responded through Chris Elliott and Thomas Bushby.

The bad news for Stateside is that another final beckons between the two old foes after the Golden Lion hit Blackhill Comrades for six in the semi-final of the Consett Charity Cup.

Leading 3-0 it looked plain sailing for the Lion until a couple of Lee Innes goals fired the Blackhill outfit right back into contention. However the Lion got their act together and Turner scored yet another two goals along with Gareth Slavin, Daniel Craggs, Chris Soulsby and a first for the club from Dean Lishman.

Stateside recovered from their final nightmare to reach the last four of the North West Durham Charity Cup by beating Gateshead League side Storemont Main 7-2 with Ben Mannings and Paul Jobes both scoring twice.

Second Division leaders Burton House suffered successive defeats when a Graham Gill failed to save them from an odd goal in five set back at Shaftoes for whom Stephen Hird scored twice and Chris Hamilton hit the winner.

Peter Hanratty scored twice for Third Division leaders Burgoynnes in a 3-1 win at the Duke of Wellington while Daniel Watson notched a hat-trick as Hamsteels saw off Cronniwell 5-2.