SPORTSMANS FC kept alive their Division One title hopes last Sunday with a 5-2 victory at struggling Travaux FC.

Steve Butterworth scored twice while Aaron Ramsbottom, Edd Craven and a trademark free kick from Scott McNichol were enough to move the Sporties to within seven points of leaders Northallerton Police with a game in hand.

Robert Thompsons are now three points off the top having played three games more after all but relegating Northallerton WMC with a 7-1 success. A first-half brace from Stu Rose put Thompson’s in control while Chris Moores, Gareth Barber and Rose again, to complete his hat-trick, sealed the points. Mikey Stevens did pull one back or the Workies after the restart but Kyle Coetzee and Rose again completed the rout. The Workies now need to win at least four of their final five matches to have any hope of avoiding the drop.

Blue Star’s title hopes are over after a hat-trick from Andrew Murphy saw them slip to a 3-0 defeat at Stokesley SC.

Elsewhere, Kildale won the local derby at Broughton Hibs 3-2. Jamie Atkinson gave Kildale a narrow half-time advantage, and while Paul Storey struck twice after the break for the Hibs, Joe Marsay and Alex Grainge gave Kildale local bragging rights. After spending much of the season at opposite ends of the table, just three points now separate the neighbours.

The Division Two title race looks like going down to the wire as all four challengers won again last weekend.

Brompton-on-Swale are still top after a nervy 2-0 home win over relegated Streetlam Farmers – two second-half goals from defender Robert Atkinson finally giving Brompton the points.

West Tanfield are up to second after a 4-2 success against Golden Lion, Romanby. Martin Mason and Rafal Kochanski put Tanfield in control before the break, while Kochanski completed his hat-trick in the second half. The Lion roared late on with headed goals from Gareth Sargent and David Proud but Tanfield held on to remain five points off the top with a game in hand.

Three Coopers are still in the hunt after a late 2-1 victory at Osmotherley Rangers.

Danny Dale gave Coopers a 1-0 lead at the break but it appeared as though the points would be shared when Andy Ranson equalised 20 minutes from time. However, with just four minutes remaining, Johnny Reyner popped up with what could prove to be a vital winner for Coopers. They are now eight points off the top with three games in hand.

Catterick Village are one point behind Coopers but have played one game less, after thrashing Topcliffe 5-0. Early goals from Rob Lister (2) and Josh Wooff put Village in control while Adam Hodgkinson and Michael Ingram completed the scoring in closing stages.

In Division Three, Bar One kept their faint title hopes alive with an 8-0 thrashing of a Northern Dons side who look set to finish the season without a point. It took Bar 44 minutes to finally break the deadlock with a goal from Dean Hill and that opened the floodgates.

Ben Wood struck four times in the second half while Hill added a second before Lee Manamley and Tom Simpson completed the rout. Brompton FC will win the title, however, if they beat The Standard this weekend.

Farmers Arms, Scorton, clinched the third promotion place without even having to play after the only two sides that could have caught them, Knayton and The Standard, drew 1-1. A win for either side would have made them favourites to clinch third place and The Standard looked in control when Alistair Mair gave them the lead ten minutes into the second half. But Rob Dale equalised 20 minutes later and neither side could fashion a winner so Farmers Arms, who completed their fixtures the previous week, will finish third.