MIDWEEK games in the Blackburn and District Football Combination were a mixture of league and cup games, with some hopes raised and others dashed.

Last Tuesday evening saw the semi-finals of the Birtwistle and Eddleston Cups take place, plus Ewood Amateurs game against Crown Berger in the Birtwistle Cup.

The high wind played a major role in all the games, but Crown Berger failed to take advantage in the first half, although they had what looked a justified claim for a penalty turned down early. Ewood then went into a 2-0 lead with Crown scoring from a late penalty, but unfortunately could not score again.

The Cup holders Netlon met Griffin Celtic in the other game in this competition. Griffin were far the stronger team and won 2-0 to set up an Ewood v Griffin final which will be played on Thursday, April 22 at the Anchor, Darwen.

Centurions met Clarence in the semi-final of the Eddleston Cup. This was a hard-fought encounter with neither side willing to concede. Centurions won this game 4-3. In the other semi, Railway Hotel met Ivy Hotel. Eric Chapman in goal for Railway made a bad error to concede the first goal. Ivy then went on to score again and with 11 minutes left held a two-goal lead.

Railway, not to be outdone, pulled one back and then equalised with a hotly-disputed Jimmy Melia penalty. No further goals were scored in extra time and a penalty shoot-out decided the game. Ivy were first to miss one and Phil Mercer only had to score to win the game for Railway but he shot well wide. In a sudden death shoot-out, keeper Chapman stepped forward to score for Railway then went back into goal to save the next kick and win the game for his side. On Thursday night all eyes were on the battle taking place in the Second Division with at least five teams in with a chance of the title. Langho had a great win at Rishton, Centurions had a narrow but important win at home to Blackburn United with Witton Albion and St Matthew's sharing the points.

None of the games played in the Third Division had a bearing on the title race. This is between New Gardeners and Anchor with Gardeners favourites.

In the Fourth Division, Shaws of Darwen are making hard work of the final run-in by only drawing at home to Rishton C.

In the Cotton Cup second round replay New Gardeners defeated Blue Star 3-2 in what was an excellent game of football. On Saturday Ewood Amateurs completed their league season having dropped only one point during the season. They are now looking forward to completing another Cup and League double. Their 8-1 win over Whitehall Top Con puts the Darwen side in serious trouble at the foot of the table. One of the eight Ewood goals was scored by Keirnan Fox, the Ewood goalkeeper. Two of the teams chasing the title in the Second Division, Centurions and Langho met at Tower View with Centurions taking the points. The defeat is a serious blow to the hopes of Langho. Witton Albion had to be content with a draw against Clarence and St Matthew's took both points from their game with Pleasington.

In the Third Division, New Gardeners closed the gap on Anchor Hotel to just two points with Anchor still waiting to play their final game. Shaws of Darwen, 5-3 winners away to Brinscall, have clinched the title of the Fourth Division. Railway Hotel Darwen won 5-1 in their game with St Matthew's Res and still have an outside chance of pipping Crown Berger Res for second place. With just two weeks of the season remaining there is still an outside chance of completing the previously postponed Blackburn Sports Council Cup competition. Witton Albion and St Matthew's Res are to play their outstanding first round game this Thursday at Pleasington. This will leave just 16 teams in the competition. It is hoped to make an announcement early next week. Results (April 6) - Birtwistle Cup semi-finals: Netlon 0, Griffin Celtic 2; Ewood Amateurs 2, Crown Berger 1.

Eddleston Cup semi-finals: Centurions 4, Clarence 3; Railway Hotel 2, Ivy Hotel 2 (aet) - Railway Hotel won after penalty shoot-out went to sudden death.

April 8 - Colborne Trophies Premier Division: Old Toll Bar 1, Netlon 1; Whitehall Top Con 2, Manxman 3.

Hi-Tech Replacement Windows Second Division: Rishton Res 0, Langho 5; Centurions 2, Blackburn Utd 0; Witton Albion 1, St Matthew's 1; Blackburn YMCA 2, Ivy Hotel 0; Clarence 3, Pleasington 2.

Division Three: Cupal 2, Alexandra Hotel Res 4; Blackburn Olympic 2, Darwen Subs 4.

Neales Waste Management Fourth Division: Brinscall 4, Grimshaw Park 4; Shaws of Darwen 1, Rishton C 1; Pleasington C 0, Printers 5. Cotton Cup second round replay: New Gardeners 3, Blue Star 2.

April 10 - Premier Division: Rishton 3, Alexandra Hotel 2; Ewood Amateurs 8, Whitehall Top Con 1; Crown Berger 2, Old Toll Bar 2; Crown Wall 0, St Mary's College OB 1; Netlon 1, Manxman 5.

Hi Tech Replacement Windows Second Division: Centurions 3, Langho 1; Witton Albion 2, Clarence 1; Pleasington 1, St Matthew's 2.

Division Three: Blackburn YM Res 0, New Gardeners 5; Alex Hotel Res 4, Blue Star 3; Darwen Subs 3, Worth Ave 1; Cupal 4, Athletico Mellor 0.

Division Four: Rishton C 6, Pleasington C 2; Brinscall 3, Shaws of Darwen 5; Railway Hotel Darwen 5, St Matthew's Res 1; Grimshaw Park 5, Blackburn Olympic Res 5.

Fixtures for tonight - Premier Division: St Mary's College OB v Alexandra Hotel; Rishton v West End CYC.

Division Two: Witton Albion v Centurions (P6); Langho v Rishton Res.

Division Three: Blackburn YMCA Res v Blackburn Olympic; Anchor Hotel v Worth Ave (P1). Division Four: Blackburn Olympic Res v Printers (P2); Brinscall v Crown Berger Res; Centurions B v Grimshaw Park; Railway Hotel Darwen v Pleasington C (P3); St Matthew's Res v Rishton C (P5).

Thursday, April 15 (kick-off 6pm) - Cotton Cup semi-finals: New Gardeners v Athletico Mellor; Worth Ave v Pleasington Res.

Livesey Cup semi-finals: Shaws of Darwen v Grimshaw Park; Brinscall v Printers - both semi-finals to be played at Pleasington.

Blackburn Sports Council Cup first round: Witton Albion v St Matthew's Res (Pleasington).

Saturday - Premier Division: St Mary's College OB v Rishton; Crown Berger v Crown Wallcoverings (P11); Whitehall Top Con v West End CYC (P5); Alexandra Hotel v Old Toll Bar (P9).

Division Two: Rishton Res v Blackburn YMCA; Bangor Old Boys v Centurions (P2); Ivy Hotel v Witton Albion (P3); Langho v Blackburn Utd.

Division Three: Cupal v New Gardeners (P6); Alexandra Hotel Res v Blackburn Olympic (P10); Blackburn YM Res v Pleasington Res; Anchor Hotel v Worth Ave (P8).

Division Four: Crown Berger Res v Rishton C; Shaws of Darwen v Grimshaw Park (P1); Pleasington C v Brinscall (P4).

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