BUCK Inn Broncos finally saw their fading title hopes brought to an end after they lost 3-2 at fellow challengers Colburn Town last Saturday.

In a real six-pointer both sides knew that whoever lost would be out of the title race so it was no surprise that the match was played at a frantic pace as goals from Phil Stirling and Lewis Wilkinson for the Broncos were cancelled out by Stuart Murray and Tom Keegan for Colburn.

But with time running out, it was the hosts who grabbed the points when Ashley McInerney kept his cool to slot home from the penalty spot to keep them seven points off the top with a game in hand.

Defending champions Bowes maintained their place at the summit with a comfortable 7-0 win at struggling Askrigg United.

Andrew Close, Rory Edwards, Andrew Smith and Mark Thompson gave the visitors an unassailable advantage, while Close, Thompson and a penalty by top scorer Wayne Thwaites then completed the rout in the second half.

Richmond Town Academy remain two points adrift in second place after they came from behind to win 4-1 at home to Redmire United. Tom Osborn gave the visitors an early lead after good work from his brother Sean, but the Academy fought back with a brace by Josh Patterson and further goals by Rory Atkinson and Richard Bastow.

However, having played five games more then Bowes and six more then Colburn, their chances of winning the league look remote, although they could still finish as runners-up for the second year in a row.

Buck Inn Old Boys slipped to a second successive defeat after Richmond Mavericks A left Kneeton Park with a fine 4-0 win.

A strike by Louis Potter was all that separated the sides at the break, but once the Mavs had doubled their advantage on the hour, through Adam Hillary, there was only going to be one winner. Late goals from Dave Muir and Scott Fenney then sealed the points.

Reeth are in fine recent form and they hit the goal trail with a 16-2 success at bottom side Hawes B in a match refereed by 17-year-old Joe Vernon. An own goal gave Reeth the perfect start, while Steve Bainbridge struck four times before the break along with a brace from James Keyes and a strike from John Williams.

Hawes briefly rallied with goals by young Matt Guy and Ben Coates, but the visitors were far from finished and Bainbridge went on to take his personal tally to six after the break, while Keyes and Williams both completed their hat-tricks before late goals from Craig Swainston, Andy Calvert and veteran Steve Porter rounded off the scoring.

Spennithorne and Harmby are also in good from and they enjoyed a 4-0 win in a match switched to Carperby Rovers.

Lee Davison was in the right place to tap home after a shot by Scott Greenway had been parried by the Rovers keeper to give Spenni an early lead, and he then repeated the trick before the break .

Craig Marwood headed home a corner from Ian Clarkson to make it 3-0 on the hour before Davison completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot 15 minutes from time to seal the points.

The match between Leyburn United and Unicorn FC was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.