The race for the championship between Stokesley SC, Wolviston and Birtley Town goes on unabated.

Birtley won both their mid-week matches and their rivals also collected maximum points from the one game they each played.

Birtley started with a 2-1 victory against New Marske in one of three games played on Monday night. After falling behind, they equalised through Stephen Martin and Paul Terrell struck the crucial winning goal.

Birtley visited Cleadon SC in Wednesday's programme and again went into arrears as Mark Johnson put Cleadon in front after just five minutes. Terrell levelled and a brace of goals from Michael Pitt earned Birtley another three important points.

Wolviston improved their goals difference when they put five past Ryhope CW who failed to reply. Andy Steele scored twice, including one penalty and others on target were John Symon, Simon Colligan and David Dowd who took a penalty after Steele had been substituted.

Stokesley SC were involved in a difficult game with Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road but in the event, they won fairly comfortably despite the 2-1 scoreline.

Jonathan Newton broke the deadlock on the hour and 15 minutes later Jonathan Smith made it two. The game was in the last minute when Gary Hornsby netted for RA.

Stokesley lead the table with 62 points from 27 matches. Wolviston have played the same number of games and have 58 points while Birtley, with three games in hand on both their rivals, are seven points adrift of the leaders and three behind Wolviston.

In the bottom half of the table, Redcar Town secured two mid-week victories. Lee Bytheway scored both goals in a 2-1 victory at Annfield Plain for whom Kevin Dixon replied and the Seasiders repeated the scoreline at the expense of Barnard Castle Glaxo. Bytheway and Gary Piper netted on this occasion.

Barnard Castle suffered another narrow defeat when they hosted Cleadon SC who won with an only goal from Chris Bailey.

Annfield Plain and North Shields were involved in a goal-less draw and Harton and Westoe were hard-pressed before winning 1-0 at Ferryhill Athletic when Jason Jones was the scorer.

The three leading contestants for the championship are all in action tomorrow.

Stokesley SC face a tough challenge at home to North Shields, Wolviston go to New Marske while Birtley Town visit bottom-of-the-table Ferryhill Athletic.

On Monday, the first of the league's three domestic cup finals will be staged when Darlington RA play North Shields in the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup at Brinkburn Road, kick-off 11 am.

RA are involved in all three cups. They will play Wolviston in the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup Final on May Day and if they are successful against North Shields in the semi final, will make it a hat-trick of final appearances lining up against Birtley Town in the League Cup.