Sunderland Sunday League: Washington Arms on brink of title, with cup final to come on Monday

Whitburn Panthers (green) battle against The Grange last weekend. Picture by Tim Richardson

Arms moved within touching distance of the championship thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win away to Mill View CIU.

Garry McCartney scored twice to spark Arms, with Lewis McGeoch hitting their third. Scott Richardson and keeper David Middlemas stood out for Mill.

In midweek, Arms overwhelmed The Dolphin 8-1, with McCartney and Martin Thompson both striking hat-tricks.

David Brown and McGeoch also netted, with Kyle Hourigan replying. Rob Goldsmith starred for Dolly.

Arms are three points above second-top Washington Juniors Teal Farm, with a goal difference better by 21. They meet each other at Biddick School next Sunday to end the Fourth Division season.

First up, though, they have a big day on Monday, with the Billy Pemberton Memorial Cup final against Pennywell Comrades at Wearmouth CW (10.30am kick-off).

Teal Farm won 6-2 at The Dolphin last week, with four-goal Lee Cuthbertson leading the way. Star man Ryan More and Daniel Thompson also notched, with Ryan Chalk firing both consolations.

Keeper Stuart Carolan was outstanding for Dolphin.

The Grange mirrored their 14 goals against Whitburn Panthers the previous week, winning 14-3 away, though the hosts were ecstatic by managing three goals in reply.

Conor Wadey fire home twice for Panthers, backed by by a Brendon Crumbie strike.

But once again it was goals galore for the visitors as Martin Robson hit a hat-trick, backed by braces from Mark Atchison, Jake Holmes and Adam Glendenning.

Dean Lane, Paul Mitchell, Mark Wright and Mark Muldown also notched.

Andrew Pearson was Whitburn’s top performer.

Relegated AFC Wearside pulled off the shock of the season in Division Two with a very close 1-0 win over promotion hopefuls The Park.

Man of the match Jones hit the only goal of the game to earn second-bottom AFC only their fifth win of the season. They finish three points from safety,

Lewis Fairley stood out for The Park.

The Park regained winning ways on Tuesday, beating Myers 5-1 thanks to goals from Dan Pattison (2), Connor Gales and Fairley.

The Park, up to second place, face a do-or-die final league game away to Pennywell Comrades on March 20.

The sides are level on 37 points and Comrades must win to take the second promotion slot alongside champions Grange Park.