Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League: With most teams still having a third of a season's worth of games still to play, there are still a lot of points to play for.

Last weekend's results however could well have been a defining moment with regard to this year's league title with Thornaby Mandale strengthening their title bid with a 1-0 win over Ennis Square while both of their main challengers suffered defeats.

Ennis Sq. 0 v 1 Thornaby Mandale

A repeat of the recent North Riding Cup semi-final between these two sides produced a very close encounter with just a solitary goal separating the sides. Ennis started well creating some good openings but they went in at the break a goal down following a headed goal at the far post five minutes before half time. The second half again saw Ennis strikers Stephen Lee Gent and Wayne Gent going close on a number of occasions and on 75 minutes the home side thought that they had equalised when Jonathan Kirk's shot had the keeper falling back across the goal line. Ennis Square's belief that the ball had crossed the line was however turned down by the referee and although Ennis continued to press, they could not find a way through the Mandale rearguard.

Woodman's A. 1 v 0 B&H King's Head

Needing the points to keep in touch with the top of the table, the King's Head put the home side under considerable pressure from the start but the Woodman's weathered the storm and on 20 minutes, they took the lead through Steve Marshall. A free kick on the edge of the area was taken by Micky Greenup was mishandled by the King's Head keeper and the resulting scramble ended with Marshall firing home from six yards out. The visitors continued to pile forward for the equaliser and ten minutes from half time were awarded a penalty. Woodman's man of the match Craig Leach pulled off a fine save however to maintain his side's slender lead. With the Woodman's by now reduced to ten men, it seemed only a matter of time before the King's Head found their scoring boots, but some sterling defensive work together with a string of outstanding saves by Leach kept them at bay till the final whistle.

The Gren. 2 v 0 St. Mary's Coll. OB

Grenadier took the lead on 30 minutes when Paul Stephenson chested the ball down and turned before firing home. The College, despite needing the services of substitute keeper Peter Mellon, were giving as good as they got and but for another fine goalkeeping performance from Craig Leach might well have found themselves on level terms. Ten minutes from time however, Leach fed Stephenson whose run down the wing ended with Paul Cockburn firing home.

Stockton Elementis 3 v 4 Bull's Head

Elementis were ahead twice during the first half yet still trailed at the break thanks to a spirited Bull's come back. Although Mark Allinson's 20 yard strike was cancelled out by Sean Marthews minutes later, Chris Tyson restored the lead for Elementis with a thundering drive from the edge of the area. Richard Bailes brought the Bulls back on terms making no mistake from the penalty spot and they took the lead for the first time in the game when a speculative forty yard effort from Bailes caught the Elementis keeper off balance and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Despite being reduced to ten men, Bulls increased their lead early in the second half when Simon Nelson got his name on the score sheet and although Steve Darbyshire's goal twenty minute from time produced a tight finish.

Redcar Coke Ov. 14 v 1 Black Horse

Anthony Gregory added six goals to his already impressive tally for the season as the Cokies inflicted yet another heavy defeat on the Black Horse. With Graham Watson getting a first half hat trick, Coke Ovens were rarely troubled, only conceding a solitary goal in the opening forty five minutes. Winger Stewart Watson played his part to earn a man of the match award. Despite failing to get his name on the score sheet, he was very much involved in setting up several of the Coke Ovens goals that included two from Ged Blair, as well as strikes from Tony Scarth, Lee Foreman and Sean Beatson.

South Bank Utd 4 v 0 North Skelton

Following a very even opening 15 minutes, United had the chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty following a handball. Peter Truscott failed with his attempted conversion but he made amends minutes later when Peter Renton laid on the simplest of chances for Truscott to convert. Man of the match Gary Naylor added a second on the hour mark when his quickly taken free kick caught the North Skelton defence off guard and the home side got the cushion of a third goal when Truscott scored a again. Two minutes from time, John Webster killed the game off with a powerful shot from 20 yards out.

Stokesley 0 v 1 Middlesbrough PO

The winning goal came 60 minutes into the game following a sequence of corners to the Post Office. Michael Youll headed goalward only for the ball to be headed off the line. The ball fell to Paul McGlade whose shot resulted in a penalty award for a hand ball by a Stokesley defender. Paul Davies made no mistake with his spot kick.

With Adibola turning in a man of the match performance for Stokesley they tried everything take some reward for their efforts but PO stuck to their task to take the three points.

Thornaby Vill. 3 v 2 Coulby Newham

Despite taking an early lead, the Village needed to come from behind with two late goals before securing victory. Midway through the first half, Dean Melville squared the ball back for unmarked Geoff Belt to score from close in but two goals in the space of six minutes from Coulby's Richard May had the Village trailing at half time.

Twenty minutes from time, a headed clearance was returned with interest by Melville to bring the Village back on level terms, and with just minutes remaining, Melville was on hand to fire home the winner after being set up by Belt.

P W D L F A GD Pts

Thornaby Mandale 16 15 1 0 75 15 60 46

St Mary's Coll OB 20 14 2 4 69 16 53 44

B+H Kings Head 18 14 1 3 73 23 50 43

M'bro' Post Office 21 9 5 7 54 40 14 32

The Grenadier FC 20 10 1 9 48 40 8 31

Redcar Coke Ovens 15 10 0 5 60 31 29 30

Thornaby Village 22 8 6 8 54 49 5 30

Coulby Newham 21 8 5 8 72 52 20 29

South Bank United SC 17 9 0 8 65 59 6 27

Bull's Head 15 8 3 4 40 36 4 27

Ennis Square 19 6 6 7 38 46 -8 24

Stokesley SC 20 5 3 12 43 57 -14 18

North Skelton FC 18 5 2 11 34 69 -35 17

Woodman's Arms 20 4 3 13 30 45 -15 15

Stockton Elementis 17 4 2 11 41 55 -14 14

Black Horse 19 0 0 19 16 179 -163 0