Saturday's football May 8

by MALCOLM PRATT
 
A  lone-goal  defeat  in  the  crunch match  at  Scarborough  Town  on  Saturday finally ended Ryhope CW's valiant bid to win the championship.
 
The  Wearsiders  led the table for several weeks but a hectic end to the  season recently began  to  take  its  toll and it is Scarborough  who  finish  in  pole position.
 
Martin  Swales' side, who have enjoyed their best season in more than 40  years, needed nothing short of victory to keep alive their faltering aspirations but an only goal 13 minutes from time set the home fans up for a celebration.
 
Ryhope  suffered  a  blow  in the 73rd minute when Richard Jordan  was  shown  a second yellow card and four minutes later, the deadlock was broken.
 
Dean  Craig  progressed to the by-line and his precision cross was fired  in  at the far post by regular marksman Josh Greening.
 
The  majority of fans in a bumper crowd of 425 went delirious but Ryhope  didn't give  up, however, their efforts failed to produce the two goals  necessary  for victory.
 
Ryhope  end  runners-up and if there is any consolation it is that  they  lifted the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup.
 
Scarborough,  who won the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup, have enjoyed a  phenomenal first season and will end at least five points in front of the Wearsiders.
 
With  137 goals they are by far and away the leading scorers and also boast  the meanest defence, having conceded only 28 times.
 
Jarrow signed off with a 4-1 victory over Annfield Plain at Perth Green courtesy of  goals  by  Peter Kane (2), Chris Lunn and Chris Quinn.  The  visitors'  only scorer was Dominic Elliott.
 
Until   a  week  ago,  Annfield  Plain  enjoyed  a  24-match  unbeaten  sequence stretching  back  to last September but they have lost their final three  games. Even so, they end a creditable sixth-from-top.
 
New  Marske,  who visit Easington Colliery on Friday May 21 in the Final of  the League Cup, also secured a top six rating with a 3-2 win at home to Windscale.
 
Stephen  Baker,  Jamie  Jackson  and Craig Gibbon were the  marksmen  with  Dean Rogers twice on target for the Cumbrians.
 
Despite  leading  at  one stage through Andrew Ross and  Phil  Ross,  Hartlepool ended  on  a  losing note as Gary George (2) and John Murphy  led  Cleator  Moor Celtic to victory.