COLBURN TOWN are through to the final of North Riding Challenge Cup after last Saturday saw them win a dramatic tie at Staithes Athletic. The hosts from the Teesside League provided a tough examination of the Colburn cup credentials, but after a tight tie had ended goalless, it was the Wensleydale league side that went through, 3-1 on penalties; the third shoot-out they have won in this season's competition. Colburn will now face Boro Rangers in next month's final.

League leaders Catterick Garrison Football Centre have announced themselves as serious title challenges after a 2-0 home win over Unicorn FC. With three games in hand, Unicorn knew victory would put them in pole position but goals in either half from Jez Mortimer and Damian Hargreaves gave Catterick the points to keep them eight points clear at the top.

Defending champions Hawes United are second after a nervy 3-2 win at Richmond Buck Inn. First half goals from Matthew Dinsdale and Ashley Iveson looked to have set Hawes on the way to a comfortable victory but on the hour Ben Hook halved the Buck arrears. With ten minutes left, substitute Andrew Fagg restored the Hawes' two-goal advantage but Mickey White's late reply had the visitors holding on.

Richmond Mavericks Reserves' title bid is all but over after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Reeth. After a goalless first half the game really came to life with five goals in eleven second half minutes. Ten minutes after the restart, Steve Allison fired Reeth ahead, but Mickey Sartini and Phil Stirling quickly turned the match in the Mavericks' favour. Allison made it 2-2 but Stirling's second appeared to have earned the Richmond-based side all three points. However, with less than ten minutes on the clock, Jonathan Simpson popped up with the equaliser to leave the Mavs eleven points off the top.

Spennithorne and Harmby suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Bedale Town Reserves. Scott Greenway fired the hosts into an early lead but just before the break Matthew Allison brought Bedale level. There was very little to choose between the sides after that but on the hour substitute Scott Gutteridge scored what proved to be the winner to move Bedale closer to a top half finish in their first season in the league.

Carperby Rovers and Richmond Town Academy shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw. James Donaldson gave Richmond a 68th minute lead but just three minutes later, Paul Stephenson equalised and that was the way it finished.