Blue Star shine to secure the title
CRAWCROOK Albion clinched promotion from Division One thanks to a 3-2 midweek win at Teams Club.
Liam Barker, Harry Mitchell and Sam Hodgson scored the all-important goals for Albion.
Highwayman won 4-1 at home to Nursery House. There was a brace from Gary Archbold, added to by strikes from Steven Cain and Andrew Peacock. Craig Young replied for Nursery House.
Blue Star were away to Birtley RAOB last Thursday, their 2-0 win ensuring the Premier League title went to a finalgame decider. Connor Halpin and Mark Doninger scored the goals for Blue Star.
Friday night saw the final of the Bob Curry Cup – contested by Holmeside Hall and Fiddlers Three – go to extra time.
Kallum Broadhead opened the scoring for Holmeside after 20 minutes with a great free-kick.
That goal separated the teams until deep into stoppage time, when a header from Fiddlers’ Paul Donnelly levelled the score and sent the game into extra time.
Holmeside regained the lead via Dylan Howourth, then scored again through Nathan Bailey just before the break. Howourth scored his second just before the final whistle to see Holmeside secure their first ever piece of silverware with a 4-1 win.
The Premier Division title was decided in the final game, Belle Vue just needing a point but Blue Star requiring victory in order to snatch the title on goal difference. Blue Star started the brighter and took the lead on the 30-minute mark thanks to a well-taken volley from Anthony Falcon.
Scott Swanston then doubled the away side’s lead just before halftime, but Belle Vue came out fighting after the break and pulled one back when James Bowman tapped in at the far post after the keeper had parried a long-distance shot.
However, there were no more goals so Blue Star won 2-1 to complete the league and cup double.
At the bottom of the table, Winlaton West End won 3-0 away at Birtley RAOB to ensure they stayed up on goal difference. David Fitzpatrick was Winlaton’s hat-trick hero.
In Division One, Highwayman beat champions Fiddlers Three to finish in third place.
Two goals from Stephen Kane and one from Gary Archbold took the points for Highwayman, with Dean Kirtley replying for Fiddlers.