DESPITE losing the first game of a double header against lowly Fox & Hounds 2-1 - Steve Dunne and Dave Denton both netting for the Foxes, and Gary Fowles hitting Swan's reply - a return to form in their second game enabled Swan to reach the finishing line and claim the Third Division title in their first season in the league.

Matthew Turner's goal was enough to secure the required victory.

The top game in the First Division saw Old Toll Bar meet Darwen Alexandra. In a hard-fought game, the failure of Alex's keeper Hanson to hold a free kick enabled Toll's skipper Gary Walsh to score from close range.

On the stroke of half time, a cross from the right caught the Toll Bar keeper Greenacre in no man's land and allowed John Smith to put Alex level.

The second half saw both teams going for the win, but a goal from Ryan Clanford gave victory to the Toll.

The other team in the title chase are King's Inn. They faced bottom club White Bull whose spirit has been a credit to themselves and to the league.

However, a hat trick from Kevin Reed, one from Warren Peake, and a brace from Mark King ended White Bull's valiant fight.

John Eastham's 16th goal of the season settled the Station v Jubilee clash.

In Division Two Dexter Paints took the chance to close the gap at the top by beating Foresters 6-1. Nigel Golden, Chris Bentley, plus two each from Lee Casey and the evergreen Dennis Tate were too much for the Foresters, for whom Andy Ewen notched a consolation goal. Chris Walsh, Howard Best and Kal Hafeji provided the goals for Lammack with Matt Carlin replying for Darwen St Peter's.

A brilliant diving save by Witton keeper Spike Walsh, from a twice-taken penalty, helped his team to a share of the points against the Moorings. Two goals from Moorings' Ian Roscoe were cancelled out by goals from Mick Wissett and Ian Whittaker. Veteran Bert Shaw was Witton Inn's outstanding player. Walmsley FC suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat by second from bottom Sign & Poster. Good goals from Jason Brown and Adam Cottam gave Sean Riley in the Walmsley goal no chance.

A typical end of season game saw Longshaw share the points in a 0-0 draw with King Edward.

Uncle Jack's extended their unbeaten run to six games and kept on course for promotion to Division Two by defeating the luckless James Street. A Michael Ashton treble, plus two from Andy Preston and a Bernard Cullen goal, were too much for James Street, who had Dave Reed and Paul Taylor on target.

In the double header between Marriotts Accountants and Malt & Hops, the points were shared in the first game following a 0-0 draw. But goals from Graham Gornall (two) and Chris Walsh in the reverse fixture kept up Malt & Hops charge for promotion.

Results - Division One: Darwen Alex 1, Old Toll Bar 2; Jubilee 1, Station 1; White Bull 0, King's Inn 6.

Division Two: Dexter Paints 6, Foresters 1; Lammack 3, Darwen St Peter's 1; Witton Inn 2, The Moorings 2.

Division Three: Fox & Hounds 2, Swan 1; James Street 2, Uncle Jack's 6; King Edward 0, Longshaw 0; Malt & Hops 0, Marriotts Acc 0; Marriotts Acc 0, Malt & Hops 3; Swan 1, Fox & Hounds 0; Walmsley FC 0, Sign & Poster 2.

Fixtures tonight - Division Two: Witton Inn v West End (Pleasington, kick off 6pm).

Sunday, April 25 - Blue and White Rosebowl semi-final replay: Station v Darwen Alex.

Division One: Old Toll Bar v Jubilee. Division Two: Darwen St Peter's v Aqueduct; Dexter Paints v Witton Inn; Stanley Arms v West End; The Moorings v Servicemaster.

Division Three (kick off 10am): James Street v Longshaw; Sign & Poster v Marriotts Acc; Staney Racing v King Edward; Swan v Walmsley. Kick off 11.15am: Longshaw v Fox & Hounds; Malt & Hops v King Edward; Marriotts Acc v Uncle Jack's; Sign & Poster v James Street; Walmsley v Swan.

All matches at Pleasington, 10.30am kick off unless otherwise stated.

Leading goalscorers - Division One: Mark King (King's Inn) 17, John Eastham (Station) 16, Jimmy Rasul (Jubilee) 15, Craig Foulds (Old Toll Bar) 13.

Division Two: Steve Mullen (Servicemaster) 29, Lee Casey (Dexter Paints) 19, Graham Coates (Servicemaster) 11, Keith Seddon (Darwen St Peter's) 11.

Division Three: Gary Walsh (Walmsley FC) 20, Jason Brown (Sign & Poster) 17, Matthew Turner (Swan) 15, Sean Ryan (Walmsley FC) 15, Neil Fox (Marriotts) 14.

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