THE Blackburn and District Football Combination were saddened to hear of the untimely death of their honorary vice president Michael Fox, who was also an active member of the executive committee.

All teams observed a minute's silence prior to kick off as a token of respect.

With the title of the Colborne Trophies Premier Division already having gone to Ewood Amateurs, the chase for second place is really hotting up.

Griffin Celtic, at present holding this position, had no game. Griffin seem to be favourites as their close rivals appear to be ruling themselves out. St Mary's College OB, at home to third-placed Manxman, lost 2-1 shortening their chance of catching Griffin, and Manxman despite this win, can only reach the number of points held at present by Griffin.

Griffin and Manxman meet each other on Tuesday night at Pleasington, this will leave Griffin one game to play against Ewood. Fourth-placed Netlon also lost their chance of catching Griffin when they could only draw against Crown Berger. The point gained by Crown was badly needed in their fight against relegation.

The only other team from those facing the drop to play on Saturday were Rishton, who lost at home to Ewood Amateurs. Railway Hotel, leading the way in the Hi-Tech Replacement Windows Fourth Division, failed to heed the warning of last week and their hopes of the title were derailed on their journey to Haslingden to meet Clarence and they are left to pick up the pieces following a 5-1 defeat.

Their hopes are not totally destroyed so long as they quickly get back on the tracks. This result has lifted Clarence into third place behind St Matthew's who had a 1-0 win over Pleasington.

Centurions can still mount a serious challenge with plenty of games in hand and Witton Albion are not yet ready to concede. Blackburn YMCA and Bangor Old Boys both lost again and seemed doomed to Division Three. Anchor Hotel still keep their two-point lead over New Gardeners in the Third Division, but the Gardeners have two games in hand. The two vital places in this division will go to these two as no other team has enough games left to catch them up.

In the Neales Waste Management Division, Shaws of Darwen are still on course to finish the season without dropping a point after their latest win over Grimshaw Park.

Crown Berger Res, still chasing the leaders, hoping for a late slip, dropped a vital point after only drawing with Railway Hotel Darwen.

This leaves the Hotel side eight points behind Crown with five games left. Brinscall hold on to fourth place after drawing with St Matthew's Res.

Evening games start tonight (Tuesday, kick-offs 6pm). Results - Premier Division: Rishton 0, Ewood Amateurs 5; Alexandra Hotel 1, West End CYC 1; Netlon 1, Crown Berger 1; St Mary's COB 1, Manxman 2.

Division Two: Clarence 5, Railway Hotel 1; Langho 3, Blackburn YMCA 2; Blackburn Utd 1, Rishton Res 1; Bangor Old Boys 0, Witton Albion 1; St Matthew's 1, Pleasington 0.

Division Three: Pleasington Res 0, Athletico Mellor 1; Blackburn Olympic 5, Cupal 2; Worth Avenue 0, New Gardeners 4; Blackburn YM Res 1, Anchor Hotel 10.

Division Four: Crown Berger Res 2, Railway Hotel Darwen 2; Centurions B 1, Pleasington C 4; Grimshaw Park 0, Shaws of Darwen 3; Brinscall 1, St Matthew's Res 1.

Fixtures for Tuesday, March 30 - Premier Division: West End CYC v Netlon (P7); Crown Wall v Ewood Amateurs (P8); Manxman v Griffin Celtic (P9); Old Toll Bar v St Mary's COB (P11); Crown Berger v Rishton (P6). Division Two: Blackburn YMCA v Centurions; Langho v Ivy Hotel; Bangor Old Boys v Rishton Res (P12); Pleasington v Witton Albion (P10).

Division Three: Pleasington Res v Worth Ave (P1); Blue Star v Cupal (P2); New Gardeners v Blackburn Olympic (P5); Athletico Mellor v Anchor Hotel (P4).

Division Four: Grimshaw Park v Printers; Rishton C v Centurions B; Shaws of Darwen v Railway Hotel Darwen (P3); Crown Berger Res v St Matthew's Res.

Saturday - Premier Division: Rishton v St Mary's COB; Crown Berger v West End CYC (P11); Ewood Amateurs v Griffin Celtic (P3); Old Toll Bar v Manxman (P5).

Division Two: Centurions v Rishton Res; Clarence FC v Blackburn Utd; Blackburn YMCA v Witton Albion; Langho v Pleasington.

Division Three: Anchor Hotel v Cupal (P6); Worth Ave v Blue Star (P7); Alexandra Hotel Res v Darwen Subs (P2); Pleasington Res v New Gards (P9).

Division Four: Rishton C v Railway Hotel Darwen; Grimshaw Park v Pleasington C; Blackburn Olympic Res v Centurions B (P8); Brinscall v Crown Berger Res.

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