TITLE RACE CONTINUES

The race for the Division One title continues for another round of matches thanks to wins for both Bishop Auckland and Shildon.

A JJ Bartliff hat-trick helped Bishops to a 4-1 win at Carlisle City, while an Andrei Ardelean brace secured a 2-0 win for the Railwaymen at Birtley Town.

Those two results mean that Shildon need to win their remaining game to have any chance of the title, while Bishops need just a point from their last three games to be crowned champions.  They play at play at Northallerton Town and Newcastle Benfield respectively tomorrow night.

One of those two will be consigned to the promotion play-offs.  Already in one of the four play-off places are West Auckland who won 4-1 at Whitley Bay, including a three-goal haul for Josh Scott, and Heaton Stannington who got the point they needed at Guisborough Town in a goalless draw.  The Priorymen are one of three teams fighting for the remaining place that guarantees them a play-off spot – they’re joined in the three-way scrap by Birtley Town and Boro Rangers who kept themselves in the frame with a 3-1 win against Crook Town.

At the other end of the table, Tow Law all but secured their Division One status with a 2-0 win over bottom club Sunderland RCA who would need to win their last three games and for Tow Law to lose their final fixture to avoid relegation.

In Division Two, Newcastle Blue Star and Easington Colliery are guaranteed a play-off place. Blue Star were denied a win at division champions Blyth Town thanks to a 92nd minute goal by Dan Wilson while Easington won 2-1 at Ryton & Crawcrook Albion.

The other two play-off places are still up for grabs and five teams are still in with a shout:  Yarm & Eaglescliffe, Chester-le-Street Town, Billingham Synthonia, Bedlington Terriers and Horden CW.  Horden have completed their fixtures, Terriers still have five games to play, Synners have one game left (and they would need other teams to lose their games), while Chester-le-Street and Yarm have two.

Over the weekend, two teams scored eight – Chester-le-Street United over Washington  and Synners at Brandon United.  There were hat-tricks for United’s Kobe Bewicke on Friday night, Synners’ Matty Wilshaw and Carl Williams for Redcar Town, including two penalties.