THE race for the Player of the Year Award could not have been closer as several players contest an exciting climax after closely fought competition.

During the last few weeks, six players have jostled for top position, but with just one fixture remaining, the title is between St Annes captain Terry Wood and long-time leader Brian Tomlinson.

Both players need to win this weekend but since Brian trails by one point, he cannot afford to lose his match with Stacksteads star Louis Stevenson.

Dave Darley on 16 points and Barry Sutton on 15 have chased the leaders, and along with Lostock team-mate Dave Barnish have been a force to be reckoned with all season.

Mick Lee has played well in number one slot for Witton, and team-mate Colin Campbell has had another good season also on 14 points. Alex captain Vincent O'Donnell has come through with a strong late run. Previous champion Simon Haworth has given himself an outside chance of overhauling long-time team leader Brian Haworth .

The club award at Ighten Mount is still in the melting pot between Steve Crossley and Ken Topham.

Leaderboard: Terry Wood (St Annes) 19 points, 70 total; Brian Tomlinson (Alexandra) 18, 56; Louis Stevenson (Stacksteads) 18, 45; Dave Darley (Lostock) 16, 36; Dave Worthington (St Annes) 15, 58; Barry Sutton (Lostock) 15, 39; Mick Lee (Witton) 14, 54; Tom Fishwick (Lostock) 14, 45; Colin Campbell (Witton) 14, 18; Alan Cottam (Alexandra) 14, 7; Vincent O'Donnell (Alexandra) 13, 30; Dave Barnish (Lostock) 13, 21; Peter Wilding (Frenchwood) 13, 5; Frank Herbert (Stacksteads) 13, 4; Don Yeadon (St Annes) 12, 23; Brian Haworth (Sunnybank) 12, 14; Geoff Alderson (Stacksteads) 12, 6; Peter Slinger (Witton) 11, 58; Steve Crossley (Ighten Mount) 11, 49; Mick Nelson (Frenchwood) 11, 36; Steve Edwards (Frenchwood) 19, 39; Ken Topham (Ighten Mount) 10, 29; Simon Haworth (Sunnybank) 10, 29.

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