RISHTON move two points clear at the top of the Colborne Trophies Premier Division, following their home win against still pointless Alexandra Hotel as Griffin Celtic drop two places following their defeat at the hands of Old Toll Bar.

Ewood Amateurs won again and despite having played fewer games than their rivals, are now in second place. Old Toll Bar are in third place, level on points with Ewood who have the better goal difference.

Bee Hive's excellent win against St Mary's College Old Boys lifts them up two places in the Hi-Tech Replacement Windows Second Division. Anchor Hotel came close to dropping their first point of the season, the game between them and Blackburn Utd was a dour affair and Anchor left it until the dying minutes of the game before scoring the only goal of the game.

Langho are close on their heels, just three points behind with a game in hand. Langho, playing close rivals New Gardeners, emphasised just what an improved side they are this season with this important win. St Matthew's are another side looking much stronger this season, their latest win moves them up to fourth place. At the lower end of the league table, Whitehall Con visited Clarence FC coming away with both points in the bag. They are still in bottom place, but they now have something to build on.

Darwen Subs are piling on the pressure in the Third Division recording their seventh win on the trot, they now have a four-point lead over second placed Railway Hotel Darwen and also have a game in hand. Railway slipped further back after being held to a draw by Athletico Mellor. Bangor Old Boys in third place were the side defeated by Darwen Subs. Brinscall could have moved closer to the leaders, but were defeated by lowly Blue Star who recorded their first win of the season. Lord Raglan moved into the lead in the Neales Waste Management Fourth Division on goal difference over Hordens, who had a free week. Lord Raglan once again featured in a high-scoring game defeating Preston New Road 8-4.

Forests Arms put nine past Blackburn Olympic Res and Grimshaw Park scored nine without reply from Rishton C. This is certainly the division to watch for goals. St Matthew's Reserves emulated their senior side by winning 7-1 against Pleasington C, this win moving them into fifth place.

Tomorrow evening, Ewood Amateurs play Whitbread Samlesbury in the North West Inter League Alliance Champions Cup Final at the Anchor Ground, Darwen (kick off 7.45pm).

Strong rumours are being circulated that Blackburn Combination have cancelled their league programme for November 13 when England play Scotland. This is not so. Fixtures will be played as normal, although some teams, where possible, are making arrangements for early kick offs.

Results - Colborne Trophies Premier Division: Bee Hive 5, St Mary's College OB 1; Griffin Celtic 0, Old Toll Bar 1; Manxman 4, West End CYC 2; Railway Hotel 2, Ewood Amateurs 5; Rishton 5, Alexandra Hotel 0.

Hi-Tech Replacement Windows Second Division: Blackburn Utd 0, Anchor Hotel 1; Clarence FC 2, Whitehall Top Con 4; Marleys Wine Bar 1, St Matthew's 7; New Gardeners 0, Langho FC 4; Pleasington 2, Rishton Res 1.

Division Three: Alex Hotel Res 2, Blackburn Olympic 2; Bangor Old Boys 1, Darwen Subs 5; Blackburn YMCA 5, Pleasington Res 1; Blue Star 4, Brinscall 2; Railway Hotel Darwen 2, Athletico Mellor 2; Worth Avenue 2, Crown Berger Res 1. Neales Waste Management Fourth Division: Centurions B 5, Brinscall Res 1; Forests Arms 9, Blackburn Olympic Res 3; Lord Raglan 8, Preston New Road 4; Rishton C 0, Grimshaw Park 9; St Matthew's Res 7, Pleasington C 1.

Fixtures for Saturday (kick off 2.15pm) - Blackburn Sports Council Challenge Trophy (second round): Griffin Celtic v Rishton Res (P1); St Mary's COB v Manxman; Railway Hotel (Darwen) v Rishton (P3); Witton Albion v New Gardeners; Athletico Mellor v Anchor Hotel (P4); Whitehall Top Con v Bee Hive (P5); Bangor Old Boys v Forests Arms (P6). All these games will be played 45 minutes each with with extra time and penalties if required.

Rearranged league games: Crown Berger Res v Brinscall; Worth Ave v Darwen Subs (P7); Brinscall Res v Blackburn Olympic Res.

Northern Cup comp second round: Pleasington v Southport Trinity (P2); Ivy Hotel v MPG Landscapes Radcliffe (P8); Langho v Spartax.

LFA Hollands Amateur Shield second round: Elton Fold Bury v Ewood Amateurs; Daten v Alexandra Hotel.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.