Shipowners Cup up for grabs in final

The Wearside League season finally finishes tomorrow, with the TWR Shipowners Charity Cup Final (2pm).

Richmond Town host Cumbrians Cleator Moor Celtic at their Earls Orchard ground in the shadow of Richmond Castle – and hope for a big Bank Holiday weekend crowd.

Richmond official Chris Lax said: “This is Richmond’s biggest game in four years in the Wearside League and to win it would take the edge off not getting Northern League status, but we are in for a tough game against the league’s form team.”

The North Yorkshire side have centre-half Simon Pinkney, forward Colin Anderson and winger Chris Pattison fit, but top scorer Scott Ryan is a major doubt with a hamstring tear and 16-year old goalkeeper Mark Walker is pushing regular Karl Latcham for a start, after a superb last-game display at Jarrow.

Cleator Moor have won 22 games out of 24 in 2017, rising to finish third in the table, above long-time promotion chasers Richmond, in fourth.

Manager Dene White said: “This year has been another tough but fully committed season for us.

“We had a lot to do and the players more than did that, and finished the league in third position, the second time we have done that in my five years with the first team.

“The players have had a couple of weeks to rest up and we have prepared well.”