In midweek, Central finally secured the title, fittingly over in Cumbria, by beating hosts Carlisle City 3-2.

Their scorers on a momentous occasion were David Dormand, Ian Dunn and David Thompson with City replying in vain through Ollie Driver and Craig Wood.

And the Walker lads ended a triumphant league campaign with a record of remaining unbeaten at their Monkchester stronghold.

Last day visitors Alnwick Town were soundly beaten 4-0 as Central's regular marksman Dave Thompson completed a hat-trick and his colleague Ian Dunn was also on target.

Having claimed their second Northern Alliance title – their first success was in the 2000-01 campaign – Paul Bennett's side was aiming for more silverware this week.

At Grounsell Park, Heaton ,they were due to take on first division outfit Wallington in the Longhorn Hardware League Cup Final.

Last season's champions Harraby Catholic Club have missed out on achieving a repeat performance, having finished seven points short of Walker's total.

But they consoled themselves by lifting the Bosch Power Tools Challenge Cup at Prudhoe in midweek, finally overcoming Peterlee Town in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.

The Catholic Club left their title challenge just a little too late and extended an unbeaten run to 12 games when they brought the curtain down at home to Ashington Colliers.

The scorers in Harraby's 6-1 victory were Rob Bainbridge, James Tose, Gary Brown, Marc Shiel, Roy Holliday and Luke Wordsworth with Dave Brown replying for the Colliers.

Harraby may have just have done enough to claim the runners-up spot in the premier division just ahead of neighbours Gillford Park.

Gillford's chances took a hammering on Saturday when they suffered only their second defeat away from home.

Hosts Blyth Town claimed a 3-2 win with goals for Steve Walker, Danny Beresford and Aaron Hicken with both of the visitors' goals scored by Lee Otway.

Now, instead of only requiring to win their last game away to Carlisle City on Wednesday night to pip Harraby, Gillford Park need to claim victory by an eight-goal margin – an unlikely prospect!

Last Saturday, however, Carlisle did ship a few goals when they were beaten 6-3 by visitors Shankhouse.

They had Ian Cummersky, Craig Wood and Paul Gardiner on target, but Shankhouse continued their successful end-of-season surge with strikes by Kevin Gustard (2), Darren Naylor, Noel Hanlon, James Binney and Lee Gustard.

Peterlee Town, hoping to finish fourth ahead of Heddon, beat visitors Newcastle University 5-0 with goals by Paul Callan (2), Karl Lilley, David Howe and Michael Joseph.

And Heaton Stannington ended their campaign with an unbeaten league record at Grounsell Park.

Their last day visitors Ponteland United were beaten 2-1 with Heaton's first half goals claimed by Lawrence McKenna and Aaron Jewell. United's single late reply came from Richard Kent.

At the wrong end of the table both Northbank and Newcastle University have completed their fixtures and are filling the two lowest slots, although the Students collected six more points than their fellow-strugglers.

The fate of the two clubs now rests on management committee decisions regarding the make-up of the league's three divisions in the 2008-09 season.

If there is ratification of a proposal to have three groups with 17 teams in each then only one club may face the drop.

Gosforth Bohemian Garnett, set to finish in mid-table in the first division, enjoyed their time in the spotlight last Friday night.

In the final of the division's Combination Cup played at Haydon Bridge the Bohs turned the form book on its head by beating champions-elect Wark 4-3 in a thrilling encounter.

Wark were shocked early on and conceded three goals in the first half hour.

Danny Sherwood, Dan Corcoran and Craig Ewart all netted to put the Gosforth lads in a commanding position.

Just after Lee Telfer replied for Wark to make it 3-1 the second division leaders were reduced to ten men by the controversial sending off of Nicky Kerr.

But against the odds they rallied after the break.

Telfer scored his second and a further strike by his Wark colleague Marc Nixon put the game back in the balance.

But Ewart then bagged his second for Bohemians and they survived a nervous last ten minutes to get their hands on the trophy.

Wark, losers in this final and also in the Northumberland Senior Bowl final, can still afford a few smiles.

Already guaranteed promotion along with Murton, the Tyne Valley lads can become first division champions if they pick up only three more points from remaining games at home to Rutherford, away to Wallington and at home to Newcastle East End Railway.

Still clinging onto receding title hopes, Murton are guaranteed the runners-up spot, and after beating rivals Wark 3-0 in midweek with goals for Steve Turner (2) and Paul Harbisher they beat last weekend's hosts Penrith United 6-5 in a real nail-biter.

Penrith's scorers were Josh Hind (hat-trick) and Martyn Coleman (2) but Murton were saved by replies from Paul Wintrip (2), Martin Peace, Michael Walton, Andrew Upperton and Anthony Cook.

With both promotion places wrapped up, League Cup finalists Wallington are still battling it out with Rutherford for third place.

The Scots Gap outfit lost out 2-1 to midweek hosts Seaton Burn but bounced back to beat visitors Westerhope by the same margin thanks top strikes by John Angus and Ashley McAlpine.

Rutherford kicked off their week by winning 4-2 over at Penrith where teenagers Steve Tumelty (2), Sean Stewart and David Conroy supplied their goals.

But then they were beaten for the first time this season away from home, going down 2-1 at Stocksfield.

This time a goal by Steve Wood brought no reward and Stocksfield secured their sixth win in seven outings with strikes by Phil Murray and Wayne Stewart
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Hebburn Reyrolle are now doomed to finishing in the bottom two in the first division with Seaton Burn and Newcastle East End Railway trying to avoid a similar fate.

Burn's last game is at home to the Railway who also have impending travels to Penrith and Wark.

In a tremendous first season in the Northern Alliance, newcomers Killingworth YPC have become second division champions and can look forward to stepping up next term.

And Killy are likely to finish an impressive eight points ahead of Cullercoats who are also likely to be promoted.

To land the title Killingworth beat midweek visitors Jesmond 4-2 while rivals Cullercoats were losing 2-1 away to Amble United.

Kevin Westphal, Jorge Bollado, Paul Dunn and Chris Bowman scored the goals that sealed the championship against Jesmond.

Cullercoats have also had a fine season but ended it with two defeats, knowing that a promotion place had already been achieved.

On their visit to third-placed Amble United they had Rob Watson on target late on but had previously conceded goals to Ron Warwick and Darren Riddell for their hosts.

And Cullercoats lost out again, going down 4-2 in their final game away to Wallsend Town.

Keith Stuart, Stephen Cape, Paul McCutcheon and Steve Richardson shared Town's goals with Sean Smith and Craig Deighton replying for the Seasiders.

After their defeat by new champions Killingworth, Jesmond were beaten 5-3 at home by Whitley Bay Town, who had Femi Akinbolu scoring four of their goals.

But Jesmond have still enjoyed this campaign despite losing out in the promotion stakes.

They've lifted the division's Amateur Cup by beating Wallsend Town 3-1 in the final at Ponteland and have another important date in their diary.

On Wednesday, May 21, the Jesmond lads will be taking on premier division opponents Peterlee Town in the Pin Point Recruitment Northern Alliance Charity Cup Final.

The game is at Heaton Stannington's ground and will be kicking off at 6.45pm.

At the wrong end of the second division table, Tynemouth United have finished bottom with a meagre four points and 117 goals conceded.

And North Shields Athletic can only avoid finishing second-bottom if they win their last game at home to Westerhope.

Only then can they overtake Newcastle BT but North Shields were beaten 3-1 by visitors Wallsend Boys' Club last Saturday and have secured only one point from their last 14 league games.

Amble United will have missed the cut for promotion by only three points if they win their last game away to Wallsend Town who will be finishing in fourth spot.

In their penultimate game of an ultimately disappointing campaign Amble hammered visitors Hexham 7-1 thanks mainly to Ron Warwick whose hat-trick included two penalties.

United's other marksmen were Darren Riddell, Lee Harker, Steve Gibbard and Calvin Flanighan.

FIXTURES

Saturday, May 17 (11am)

Premier Division
Carlisle City v Ashington Colliers.

Division One
Penrith United v Chopwell Officials; Wallington v Murton; Division Two: Whitley Bay Town v Wallsend BC.

Monday, May 19 (6.30pm)

Premier Division
Blyth Town v Carlisle City (6.45pm); Heddon v Shankhouse.

Division One
Berwick United v Whitley Bay 'A'; Percy Main v Penrith United; Rutherford v Westerhope; Seaton Burn v N'cle EE Railway; Wallington v Wark.

Division Two
North Shields Athletic v Wideopen.

Tuesday, May 20 (6.45pm)
Pin Point Recruitment Northern Alliance Charity Cup Final: Jesmond v Peterlee Town (at Grounsell Park, Heaton).

Wednesday, May 21 (6.30pm)
Division One
Wark v Newcastle EE Railway.