ROBERT Thompsons saw their hopes of a North Riding Challenge Cup final appearance dashed last Sunday as they were beaten 3-2 by Thornaby Jolly Farmers in a keenly contested semi-final.

After a tight, goalless first half, Thornaby grabbed the lead ten minutes into the second half, but Thompsons were level almost immediately when Gareth Barber fired home from 40 yards. However, Thornaby scored twice more to take control, although Chris Moores set up a grandstand finale fifteen minutes from time with a shot from a tight angle. But despite throwing everything forward in the closing stages, Thompsons were unable to fashion an equaliser and it was Thornaby that made it through to the final.

Sportsmans FC are back in the Division One title race after a 4-1 win at Kildale. First-half goals from Aaron Ramsbottom and Sam Grainger put the Sporties in control, and while an own goal from Nathan Pratt reduced the Kildale deficit soon after the restart, Ramsbottom and Alex Caisley completed the victory in the closing stages. Sportsmans are now seven points off the top with a game in hand.

Broughton Hibs are going in the opposite direction as their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Blue Star saw them drop to fourth, also seven points off the top but having played four games more.

Northallerton WMC remain in relegation trouble after they were held to a 1-1 by Stokesley SC. Callum Cuthbert gave Stokesley a first-half lead but Wayne Thompson grabbed a stoppage time leveller to give the Workies a share of the spoils, although they remain nine points from safety.

Three Coopers reached the final of the Bob Seymour Trophy with a thrilling 5-3 win over West Tanfield. A tight first half appeared to be ending goalless when Michael Thomas put Coopers in front in the 42nd minute, and their path to the final appeared to sealed when Johnny Rayner and Danny Dale made it 3-0 by the hour. A penalty from Karol Ratajcak gave Tanfield hope but Jack Reynard quickly made it 4-1, before a second penalty, this time converted by Rafal Kochanski, kept Tanfield in touch. But the comeback was over when Dale added his second eight minutes from time, meaning Martin Mason’s late effort was no more than a consolation. Coopers will face Catterick Village in the final at the Calvert Stadium, Northallerton, on April 10.

AFC Beckside are new leaders of Division Two after a 2-1 home win over Osmotherley FC. A tight match was decided by two goals in seven second half minutes from James Parkinson. Lee Holtby scored a late Ossie consolation.

Brompton-on-Swale are up to second following a 3-1 victory at Topcliffe. Brompton sealed the points before the break thanks to a brace from Ali Logan and a strike from Lee Wasden, while Luke Burnett scored the Topcliffe consolation in the second half.

Ainderby SC are up to fourth after a 7-1 thrashing of Cowtons.

Jordan Owen and Sam Logan set Ainderby on their way but Mark Sims put Cowtons back into it right on the stroke of half time. However, Danny Owen and Will Stevenson sealed the points before a brace from Kyle O’Gorman and a second from Logan completed the scoring.

Osmotherley Rangers kept their survival hopes alive with a 4-1 win over bottom side Streetlam Farmers. A goal from Jay Hibbins was all that separated the sides at the break but a second half hattrick from Rich Thompson sealed an important three points for Rangers.

Golden Lion, Romanby, remain in trouble after they were beaten 8-3 by Catterick Village. Josh Wooff, Adam Hodgkinson and Rob Lister put Village in control inside half an hour but Craig Chandler pulled one back for the Lion just before the break. Any hope of a comeback looked over when a quick-fire brace from Danny Allen made it 5-1 but Ollie Anderson struck twice of his own to bring the Lion back to within two goals.

However, late strikes from Gav Rudd, Tommy Smith and a penalty from Carl Lathum sealed the points for Village.

Brompton FC moved a step closer to the Division Three title with a 7-0 victory over Masham. Ryan Wilson, Stuart Dunn, James Horsfield, Dan Caisley, Liam Jackson, Adam Wilson and Steve Pratt were all on target to keep the leaders eight points clear at the top.

Bar One will be looking to pounce on any Brompton slipup as they kept up their challenge with a 4-0 win over Masons Arms. Nathan Wakeling scored in each half while an own goal and a second half effort from Paul Humphrey’s completed the scoring.

The Standard could sneak into the final promotion place as they moved into the top four with a 4-0 victory over Vale of York.

Bart Schofield opened the scoring after half an hour while Phil Sharpe missed a penalty just before the break.

But Sharpe did find the target from further out soon after the restart while late goals from Phil Wrightson and Matt Hutchinson completed the scoring.

GLR Romanby put a dent in the Knayton promotion challenge as goals from Matthew Mitchell and Kris Frost gave them a 2-0 away victory, while Jolly Minister ended a run of four defeats in a row by beating County Arms 2-0 – Lee Elsworth and Jordan Porter getting the goals.