Although it appears the race for the championship is now confined to a trio of clubs, several sides are still involved in the three domestic cup competitions which are at advanced stages.

Second-top Birtley Town and third-placed Stokesley SC are still interested in all three. Birtley have home advantage over leaders North Shields in the semi final of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup while near neighbours Gateshead Reserves are visitors in the Quarter Final of the League Cup.

Birtley visit Jarrow in the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup Quarter Final and although manager Dave Smith claims his team has a lot to do to retain the title, he is optimistic of winning some silverware.

"Although we are level on points with North Shields they have a much superior goals difference and two games in hand on us. In addition, Stokesley are well placed since they are nine points adrift of ourselves having played four fewer matches.

"I reckon that one of us will end in pole position but even if we miss out on the title, I am reasonably confident that we will succeed in one or more of the cups," enthused Smith who has done a remarkable job after losing ten of last season's championship-winning side.

Stokesley have a Quarter Final Sunderland Shipowners' Cup tie to settle with Whitehaven and the winners will visit Windscale. In the League Cup, they are at home to Annfield Plain and in the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup, take the short trip to Wolviston.

"We are well placed on all four fronts and have also reached the final of the North Riding County Cup. I will be bitterly disappointed if we don't win something," said stalwart secretary Peter Grainge.

North Shields, beaten only once in 23 league matches during which they have conceded just 17 goals, have strangely lost in two League Cup games and also made their exit from the Northumberland Senior Bowl.

Their one remaining cup tie is against arch rivals Birtley Town in the last four of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup.

"Obviously, we are disappointed with our cup form but the championship is our first aim since we really want to move up into the Albany Northern League," declared Robins' secretary David Thompson.

Several other sides are still involved in the three domestic cups making for an interesting end to the season.

At the bottom of the table, Ferryhill Athletic's ambition is to avoid the wooden spoon and they are clearly in with a chance since they are just a couple of points adrift of second-from-basement Washington Nissan UK, who have played two more games.

"Our goals difference is much superior as we have leaked 77 goals compared to their 109 and this statistic is worth a point so I am very hopeful of moving off the bottom," declared manager Mark Fanning.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Wearside League (2pm): Cleadon SC v Washington Nissan UK, Ryhope CW v Ferryhill Athletic, Harton and Westoe v Annfield Plain.

Monkwearmouth Charity Cup quarter-finals (1.30pm): Boldon CA v Darlington RA, Gateshead Reserves v Whitehaven, Jarrow v Birtley, Wolviston v Stokesley SC.

Cumbria County Cup: Windscale v Netherhall.