UNICORN FC were crowned champions for the first time after an 8-1 victory at Carperby Rovers on Wednesday of last week. The title was wrapped up before the break as two goals apiece from Danny Allen and Luke Dent made it 4-0, while Allen added two more in the second half to take his tally for the season to 37. Kiefer Bottomley grabbed a consolation for Rovers on the hour but it was Unicorn’s night as Gary Nicholson and Dale Middleton put the gloss on their success.

With the title in the bag it was no surprise that Unicorn ended their league campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Richmond Buck Inn last Saturday – only their second loss of the season. Jamie King headed the Buck in front from a Paul Ramsay corner inside 15 minutes but Gareth Barber brought the champions level soon after with a 25-yard free kick.However,the Buck won it with a spectacular 30 yard overhead kick from Andy D’arcy.

Colburn Town will take the runners-up spot after ending their season with a 12-1 win over bottom side Gayle FC. Stu Murray scored six times while Jamie Dempster, Ashley McInerney, David Mutch, Tom Sweeney, Si McGuiness and an own goal completed the rout.

Lewis Moore scored the Gayle consolation in the second half.

Last season’s champions Richmond Town Academy might well have won the title again had they started the season as they are finishing it. A 9-0 midweek win at Gayle FC was followed up with a 6-1 home win over Askrigg United last Saturday to make it 11 games without defeat.

Jonathon Kellett opened the scoring at Gayle, while James Muirhead, Josh Wooff and Sam Vernon soon put the game beyond the hosts. Woof added a second before Ben Holmes, James Casey and Richy Curruthers completed the scoring.

It was a similar story against Askrigg as Casey, Muirhead, Holmes and Wooff were all on target before the break. James Donaldson and Craig Soulsby then sealed the points in the second half. Medals Shield winners Richmond face league champions Unicorn in the final of the Dales Cup tomorrow.

The match takes place at Ferrand Park, Hamby, at 5pm.

Richmond Mavericks Reserves are ending the season with a whimper – losing 2-0 at Hawes United in midweek before crashing 5-3 at home to Catterick Rovers three days later. Steve Calvert and Scott Guy scored for Hawes in a tight match on Wednesday of last week, while a brace from Dave Andrews and an own goal from Liam Hall gave Mavericks a 3-2 lead at Catterick last Saturday. However, two goals apiece from Luke McCormack and AbdulieTunkara and one from Craig Smith gave Rovers the points.

Hawes United were then held to a 0-0 draw by visitors Spennithorne and Hamby last Saturday, before finding their shooting to win 6-4 at Reethon Monday night. Steve Moffitt, Steve Calvert and Andrew Fagg made it 3-0 at the break but John Williams pulled a goal back for the hosts early in the second half. However, Brett Calvert and a brace from Martyn Allen made it 6-1 before Hawes took their foot off the gas in the closing stages.

Williams added two more to complete his hat-trick while Mike Snowden was also on target to make the final score 6-4.

Reeth had earlier met Redmire United twice in three days and honours finished even with one win apiece.

Reeth won 2-1 at Redmire on Wednesday of last week thanks to goals from Andrew Calvert and Steve Fleming, while Redmire gained revenge last Saturday as a goal from Phil Sharpe gave them a 1-0 success.

The final game of the week saw Spennithorne and Harmby draw 1-1 with Carperby Rovers on Monday evening.

Liam Reeves gave Spenny a half time advantage but Rovers equalised midway through the second half and it finished 1-1