HENLEYS Athletic will face Sportsmans FC in the final of the League Challenge Cup next month after they beat Broughton and Kirby Hibs 1-0 in last week’s semi-final.

Mark Hemingway scored the only goal of a closely fought contest midway through the first half.

Sportsmans moved three points clear at the top of DivisionOne witha7-3home success againstbottomsideTithe Bar. Sam Grainger scored twice in the opening 20 minutes to set the Sporties on their way, while Scott McNichol and Andy Ramsbottom ended the match as a contest before the break.

Ramsbottom added his second soon after the restart before Alex Caisley and McNichol completed the scoring in the closing stages. John Bell, with a brace, and Chris Williams replied for Tithe, who now look certain to return to Division Two.

StokesleySC, who were facing relegation just a few weeks ago, are now unbeaten ineight games following a 7-1 victory over struggling Croft FC. Callum Cuthbert, a brace from Lee Donachie and a strike from Michael James sealed the points before the break, while Anthony Snook struck twice in the second half before Cuthbert completed the scoring. Mark Flood grabbed the Croft consolation.

Northallerton WMC moved level on points with Appleton Wiske at the top of Division Two with a 2-1 win at Streetlam Farmers. In a game spoiled by the strong wind, the Workies led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Wayne Thompson and a Ross Hodgsonpenalty.But withthe wind in their favour in the second half, the Farmers pulled a goal back with a long range effort from Robin Gibson, and they then came close to grabbing a point when a late Ryan Pelling strike was tippedaroundthepostby Workies keeper Paul Hardy.

Cowtons would have taken over at the top with a win over Brompton-on-Swale, but despite a good start which saw Tom Armstrong give them an early lead,they went down to a 5-3 defeat. Martin Spink, Sam Hollins and Ali Logan turned the match in Brompton’s favour before the break, and while Mark Sims andBen Hook both scored for Cowtons either side of the interval, it was Brompton who triumphed thanks to goals from Chris Pickersgill and Ali Logan. Brompton are now three points off the top, although they have played more games than all the teams above them.

Osmotherley FC are a point further adrift after a 4-3 win at Knayton. Ron Wake gave the hosts an early lead but Ossie left with allthree points thanks to a hat-trick from Craig Melrose and a strike from Lee Holtby. Chris Cowton and John Henry were both on target for Knayton.

Osmotherley Rangers kept their Division Three promotion hopes alive with a 5-3 victory over Scorpion Cup finalists Golden Lion, Romanby. Rich Thompson hit a first half hat-trick while Jason Honeyman was also on target to end the match as a contest before the break. Steve Wood and Joe Langthorne both scored for the Lion in the secondhalfbutThompsonadded his fourth to seal the points.

Rangers are now three points behind third-placed Lion with three games in hand.

Goals from NathanWakling and Dave Scanlon were not enough to give Brompton FC all three points against visitors Station Hotel, who left with a 2-2 draw.

Jolly Minister won 1-0 at County Arms, thanks to a first- half effort from Sam Bird, while Farmers Arms, Scorton won 2-1 at Masons Arms, with Scott Wallace and Lewis Burgess on target.