Paul Bennett's side has recorded four draws and two wins in their last six outings, and shedding points at this critical stage has encouraged Central's major rivals Gillford Park.

Walker figured in another stalemate Saturday and drew 1-1 with Heddon at Bullocksteads.

John Campbell gave them the lead ten minutes into the second half, but with ten minutes to go Heddon hit back through Liam Heenan.

Last season's champions Harraby Catholic Club are still in second place and extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches, but they're running out of time.

In their penultimate fixture Harraby soundly beat visitors Shankhouse 4-1.

Leading 3-1 at the interval the Cumbrians had Rob Bainbridge, James Parker and Steve Archibald on target before Marc Shiel completed their tally in the 89th minute. Craig Johnson replied for Shankhouse and also missed from the penalty spot.

Leaders Walker Central need to win two of their three remaining games – home to Alnwick Town and Blyth Town and away to Carlisle City – to be sure of ending the championship challenge of Gillford Park in third spot.

And Gillford kept the pressure on by beating visitors Ashington Colliers 2-1 and ending a worrying lean spell.

Ashington's Mark Pattie cancelled out Graham Goulding's opener for the home side, but Lee Otway marked his return from suspension with Park's second half winner.

Blyth Town's home game against Carlisle City was called off due to waterlogging, leaving Blyth with six more matches to fit in before the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Heddon leapfrogged over Peterlee Town to claim fourth spot.

Peterlee suffered their third defeat on the trot, going down 5-2 away to Heaton Stannington.

Andrew Weeks completed his hat-trick for Heaton and their other scorers were Adam Donaghy and Aaron Jewell. The Newtowners' two replies both came from Karl Lilley.

And Heaton now only need to avoid defeat against Ponteland United to preserve a season-long unbeaten record at Grounsell Park.

Yesterday, Ponteland ran out 3-0 victors at home to Alnwick Town, who look destined to finish a disappointing season third from bottom in the premier division.

They were sunk at the Leisure Centre Ground by goals for United's Richard Kent, Kevin McGorie and Andrew Davidson.

With one game left to play Newcastle University can't avoid finishing just above Northbank in the basement.

And the Students were beaten 1-0 at home by Cramlington Town. After three successive draws Cramlington claimed victory with a strike by Andrew Millar right on half-time.

Meanwhile, Wednesday, May 14, sees the Longhorn Hardware League Cup Final being staged at Grounsell Park, Heaton.

Premier division front runners Walker Central face first division giant-killers Wallington in the game kicking off at 6.45pm.

Wark are closing in on the first division championship, and after 12 years they're contemplating a return to the premier division.

The Tyne Valley outfit need only four more points from four remaining matches to see off the challenge of their only title rivals, Murton.

Last weekend Wark stayed on course by beating Whitley Bay 'A' 4-2 at Hillheads, although their hosts probably had the better of most exchanges.

Paul Chow and Ian Lee were early scorers for Bay but after only 15 minutes they were 3-2 down.

Phil Thompson, Lee Telfer and Alistair Stobbs were Wark's marksmen and after the break Marc Nixon put their fourth goal away.

With five games still outstanding, second-placed Murton are a full 12 points behind current leaders Wark and promotion should be guaranteed if they pick up another five points.

They proved too strong for visitors Berwick United who were beaten 2-0 after conceding goals to Paul Harbisher and Stephen Turner.

In third place, Rutherford look as though they'll miss the promotion boat yet again.

The Gateshead lads have been tremendous on their travels this term but home form has let them down badly.

Once again they were below par entertaining fourth-placed Wallington, who beat their hosts 2-0. Ben Fenwick and David Featherstone netted for the winners who could yet leapfrog Rutherford into third spot.

Westerhope have climbed steadily in the closing weeks of the season and were 1-0 victors at home to Percy Main, who haven't enjoyed this campaign.

Percy Main's recent poor run of away form continued as the Villagers slumped to their seventh defeat from their last eight on their travels.

There were half chances at both ends early on with Westerhope keeper David Smith denying Wyn Fremlin and his opposite number Dan Richardson in the Main goal superbly tipped Kris Whillis's drive onto the post.

Kevin Smith went close on two occasions for Westerhope but Percy Main pressed after the interval without getting any reward.

And Westerhope claimed the game's only goal in the second half. Andrew Shaw was put through by Mark Rutherford and he had time to pick his spot.

Stocksfield recorded the weekend's most emphatic win and hammered visitors Red Row Welfare 6-0 in the latter's last game of the season.

The winners' goals were supplied by Thomas Coulter (2), Bruce Vause, Scott Johnson, Wayne Stewart and Alistair Hennessey.

Seaton Burn on the first division's bottom rung could stave off relegation by winning their last three games, and a 0-0 draw at home to Gosforth Bohemian Garnett was encouraging.

The other teams in the basement 'mix' are Hebburn Reyrolle, who have completed their fixtures, and Newcastle East End Railway.

And the Railwaymen were 1-0 victors at home to Penrith United thanks to Michael Rush's vital strike.

On Friday Gosforth Bohemian Garnett take on champions-elect Wark in the Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup Final. Kicking off at 6.45pm the game is at Low Hall Park at Haydon Bridge.

With two games each still to play, Killingworth YPC and Cullercoats are still battling it out for the second division crown.

Cullercoats were lying idle last weekend and are only two points behind their rivals after Killingworth only managed a 1-1 draw away to lowly Willington Quay Saints.

Kevin Grahamslaw fired Killy into a half hour lead which they held until the 83rd minute. At that point the Saints were awarded a penalty and Mark Henderson stepped up to equalise from the spot.

Killingworth now need to win both of their remaining matches – at home to Jesmond and away to Whitley Bay Town – to see off the Cullercoats challenge.

Their rivals are due to bring the curtain down with tricky visits to Amble United and Wallsend Town.

Amble United seem to have done enough to finish in third place ahead of Jesmond and United were 4-3 winners at home to Whitley Bay Town.

All of Amble's goals were scored in the opening half by Lee Harker, Ron Warwick, Darren Riddell and Matt Travis.

Femi Akinbolu's two replies for Town included a penalty and a third goal claimed by James Mitchinson wasn't quite enough for the visitors.

Shields United are aiming for a respectable top five finish and furthered their prospects by winning 3-2 away to Wallsend Town who are currently five points above them.

Steve Gallagher and Craig Harrison were the Wallsend scorers but the Shieldsmen came out on top with replies from Carl Kennedy (2) and Phil Elund.

Jesmond were surprisingly beaten 4-1 by hosts Wideopen and Newcastle BT ended their campaign with a rare victory.

A second half strike by Charlie Dingwall was enough to beat visitors Hexham.

Tynemouth have finished their first season in the second division on the bottom rung with a meagre four points, and Newcastle BT could end up second from bottom if fellow-strugglers North Shields Athletic gather one more point from their last games at home to Wallsend Boys' Club and Wideopen.

Fixtures
Friday, May 9 (6.30pm)

Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup Final: Gosforth Bohemian Garnett v Wark (6.45pm at Low Hall Park, Haydon Bridge).

Saturday, May 10 (2.30pm)

Premier Division: Blyth Town v Gillford Park; Carlisle City v Shankhouse; Harraby Catholic v Ashington Colliers; Heaton Stannington v Ponteland United; Peterlee Town v Newcastle University; Walker Central v Alnwick Town.

Division One: Penrith United v Murton; Wallington v Westerhope; Whitley Bay 'A' v Seaton Burn.

Division Two: Amble United v Hexham; Jesmond v Whitley Bay Town; North Shields Athletic v Wallsend BC; Shields United v Wideopen; Wallsend Town v Cullercoats.

Monday, May 12 (6.30pm)

Premier Division: Ashington Colliers v Heddon; Blyth Town v Alnwick Town.

Division One: Westerhope v Penrith United.

Division Two: Amble v Jesmond; Whitley Bay Town v Killingworth YPC.
Wednesday, May 14 (6.30pm).

Premier Division: Blyth Town v Ponteland United; Carlisle City v Gillford Park; Heddon v Alnwick Town; Peterlee Town v Shankhouse.

Division One: Berwick United v Whitley Bay 'A'; Penrith United v Newcastle EE Railway; Percy Main v Gosforth B Garnett; Stocksfield v Murton; Wark v Rutherford.

Division Two: Amble v Whitley Bay Town; Wallsend Town v Amble United; Wideopen v Shields United.

Longhorn Hardware League Cup Final: Walker Central v Wallington (6.45pm at Grounsell Park, Heaton).