by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW  anticipated a difficult game at Cleator Moor Celtic on Saturday  but
three  goals  in  the  opening 26 minutes proved too big  an  obstacle  for  the
Cumbrians, whose title hopes have all but ended.
 
The Wearsiders though, continue their quest for honours and the race now appears
to be between Martin Swales' side and Scarborough Town.
 
Martin  Metcalfe  was first to strike on 20 minutes and two minutes  later  John
Butler converted a penalty.
 
Worse  was  to follow for the home side as Butler headed in his second goal  and
although  Lee  Dunn reduced the deficit before the interval, Ryhope  were  never
seriously stretched.
 
They  are  now  12  points  ahead  of Scarborough  who  were  on  cup  duty  but
the Seasiders have five games in hand on Ryhope.
 
Teesside  Athletic are third but they appear to have too much to do after losing
to  Easington  Colliery,  for whom captain Chris Pearson scored  the  only  goal
mid-way through the second period.
 
Following a heavy defeat in their previous game, Ashbrooke Belford House bounced
back to form easily seeing off the challenge from Guisborough Town HC with goals
from Michael Charlton (2), and Martin Deacon.
 
Silksworth  held their own in the first half at Annfield Plain but conceded four
times  in  the  second 45 minutes. Aaron Robertson and  Stephen  Kirkbride  each
bagged a brace of goals.
 
Jarrow  staged  a second half rally at home to Wolviston who were coasting  the
game  at  the  interval  after  Paul Ambrose and Guy  Whatmore  (2)  had  beaten
goalkeeper Tony Orr.
 
A  minute  into  the  second  period,  however,  Christie  Elliott  reduced  the
three-goals  arrears  and after Peter Kane also struck, Elliott grabbed  a  late
equaliser.
 
Willington  remain  bottom after losing by the odd goal in three to  Hartlepool,
who  are  two  places above them. Carl Winspear and Kyle  McDermott  netted  for
Pools with Callum Heeney on target in the last couple of minutes.
 
Coxhoe  Athletic are second from the basement. Michael Owens and Stephen  Oakley
were  the  marksmen  against  Windscale for whom Andrew Hurley  and  Dan  Gullen
replied.
 
Michael Alexander was Boldon CA's only scorer at Kirkbymoorside who won courtesy
of Darren Collier (pen) and Ryan Rivis.
 
Scarborough  Town  romped into the final of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup  when
they  hit  New Marske for six. Mark Barber, Georgie Rose, Josh  Greening  (pen),
Nathan  Cook,  Wayne  Brooksby  and Matthew Parry  all  beat  goalkeeper  Justin
Hutchinson.  The home side's only reply came from Richie Playforth.