FIRST Division leaders King's Inn kept their hopes of retaining the title alive by extending their lead at the top of the table to nine points following a five-goal win against Station.

Neil Cook and Kevin Reed each scored two with Mark King completing the scoring.

Second-placed New Gardeners lost ground as they drew 3-3 against Old Toll Bar. Paul Hulme, Craig Shorrock and David Berry scored for the Darwen side with Old Toll Bar's replies coming from veteran Gary Walsh and Craig Foulds (two). Fourth placed Bee Hive defeated a Sell on Site team whose season is starting to crumble after a bright start. Bee Hive's goals came from Craig Barnes (two) and Jason Sheard.

White Bull stay firmly rooted to the bottom as they went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of Darwen Alexandra whose goals came from Carl Farnworth (two), Michael Atkinson, Paul Heys, Denny Khan and an own goal. Lord Raglan gained a precious point in their fight against relegation as they drew with Jubilee. Norman Willcox, Lee Hodgson and Steve Newton were on target for Lord Raglan, while Jubilee's replies came from John Taylor, Dean King and Jimmy Rasul. In the Second Division Dexter Paints drew level on points with Servicemaster as they easily beat bottom team Stanley Arms with Lee Casey leading the way with a hat trick. Lee Taylor, Stuart Hopkinson and Mick Baron completed the scoring. Servicemaster, the winners of the February Lower Audley Tyres team of the month were held 0-0 by the improving Witton Inn.

Lammack move back into the promotion battle as a single goal scored by Dave Shaw gave them the three points against the Moorings. Darwen St Peter's eased their relegation worries with victory over Forresters. Keith Seddon (two), Mark Aspden (pen) and Tommy Hindle were the Saints marksmen while the Foresters replies came from John Murphy, Steven McDermott and Chris Rolfe. A John Thompson goal was enough to give West End all three points against Aqueduct. The Division Three promotion battle hots up with four teams on 25 points, just five points behind leaders Swan who went down to only their second defeat of the season as a Steve Errey goal gave Stanley Racing a surprise win.

Longshaw beat Walmsley and join them as one of the four clubs equal on 25 points. The Longshaw goals were scored by Claude Thomas (three), Stuart Kendall, Terry Lamb and Martin Taylor with Walmsley's consolation goal being scored by Shaun Ryan. King Edward and Uncle Jack's drew one each. Lee Read scored for the Guide team with Michael Ashton on target for Uncle Jacks. Lee Prescot added to the four goals scored by Steve Dunne as Fox and Hounds accounted for James Street whose solitary reply came from Dave Reed. Sign and Poster still remain firmly at the foot of the table as goals from Andy Townley and Neil Fox gave Marriotts Accountants the win.

Results - Division One: Station 0, Kings Inn 5; New Gardeners 3, Old Toll Bar 3; Bee Hive 3, Sell on Site 1; White Bull 0, Darwen Alexandra 6; Lord Raglan 3, Jubilee 3.

Division Two: Lammack 1, The Moorings 0; Darwen SP 4, Foresters 3; Stanley Arms 0, Dexter Paints 6; West End 1 Aqueduct 0; Witton Inn 0, Servicemaster 0.

Division Three: Swan 0, Stanley Racing 1; Longshaw 6; Walmsley 1, King Edward 1, Uncle Jacks 1; Fox & Hounds 5, James St 1; Marriotts Accountants 2, Sign & Poster 0.

Fixtures for Sunday (all matches at Pleasington unless otherwise stated) - Division One: Lord Raglan v Old Toll Bar; Sell on Site v Darwen Alex; Station v Bee Hive; White Bull v King's Inn.

Division Two: Darwen SP v The Moorings; Dexter Paints v Foresters; Stanley Arms v West End; Witton Inn v Lammack; Aqueduct v Servicemaster (Witton Park).

Division Three: James St v Marriotts Accts; Longshaw v Fox & Hounds; Sign & Poster v Malt & Hops; Stanley Racing v Swan; Walmsley v Uncle Jack's (Pleckgate).

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