SPORTSMANS FC suffered North Riding County Cup heartache last Sunday as their bid to reach the final ended with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Trafalgar FC. Having lost in the final last year, Sportsmans were hoping to go one better this time but the visitors from Scarborough proved too strong on the day.

In the league, Northallerton Police stepped up their bid to retain the Division One title with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Brougton Hibs. The match remained goalless for more than an hour until Sam Vernalls finally made the breakthrough. But it was not until the third minute of stoppage time, when Vernalls converted a penalty, that the Police were assured of the points they needed to move to within eight points of leaders Robert Thompsons with three games in hand.

Henleys Athletic are out of the title race after being held to a 3-3 draw at Stokesley SC. Needing a win to keep their faint hopes alive, Lee Shardha and Tom Keegan looked to have set Henleys on the way, but a Callum Cuthbert brace either side of the break brought the hosts level. In the 89th minute Keegan looked to have won it but Matty Brown forced a stoppage time leveller to leave Henleys seven points off the top with just two games left.

Brompton Juniors remain three seven points clear at the top of Division Two after a 3-1 home win over Cowtons. Rob Brennan, Tom Simpson and Sammy Dawson scored the all-important goals, while Gerry Metcalfe grabbed the Cowtons consolation.

Stokesley Wanderers remain second with four games in hand, after thrashing Topcliffe, 6-1. Most of the action happened in an eventful first half as an Elliott Hollis penalty gave Wanderers an early advantage which they doubled through a James Harrison header. James Yeend's volley made it 3-0 before Topcliffe pulled a goal back. But before the break Hollis and John Dowd sealed the points, while twenty minutes from time, Gareth Davies completed the scoring.

Knayton will face Thirsk Town in the final of the Scorion Cup next month after a controversial 4-1 semi final win against Standard FC. In the first half, Nick Cressey and Matt Fishburn looked to have put Knayton in control but on the hour, Salas Bird fired Standard right back into it. With fifteen minutes left, Standard thought they had equalised when the ball appeared to have crossed the line but the referee did not award a goal and in the final three minutes, Cressey and Fishburn sealed Knayton's place in the final.

Thirsk Town kept alive their title hopes with a narrow 1-0 win at Workies. Needing to win their last four matches to pip Knayton to the title, it took a 55th minute goal from Daniel George to give them a vital victory.

County Arms enjoyed a fine 5-2 home win over Masham. Andrew Osgood's early strike for County was equalised by Olly Anderson, but just before the break, Lee Larkin restored the hosts lead. On the hour, Anderson made it 2-2 but in the final twenty minutes, Chris Foster, Jordan Wallace and Larkin again sealed the points.

Jolly Minister beat ten-man Vale of York, 3-2. Ryan Wilbot gave the Ministermen an early lead but the ten men drew level through John Beales. Early in the second half, Jordan Salt finished off a fine ball from Matty Carrick but Vale hit back again with a wonderful free kick from Martin Beales. However, with time running out, Joe Trousdale headed home a corner from Salt to finally win it for the Minister, for whom Martin McPhee took the man of the match honours.