REIGNING champions Bowes look set to lift the title for a second successive year after two wins last week sent them to the top of the table.

They thrashed bottom side Hawes B 11-1 last Saturday and followed up with a 4-0 home win over Buck Inn Old Boys on Monday evening to leap to the top.

Goals from Scott Walker, Andrew Close and Wayne Thwaites inside the opening quarter of an hour all but ended the match against Hawes B as a contest.

Walker then quickly added his second, while a cross from Matthew Harrison was turned home by a shell-shocked Hawes defender with the match still less then half an hour old.

Jason Tobbell, Close and Harrison all added to the score before the break, while Stephen Calvert grabbed a consolation for Hawes right on the stroke of half-time.

Bowes continued to dominate in the second half and added further goals through a Mark Thompson brace and another strike from Tobbell.

On Monday, Max Applegarth gave the home side the lead after 20 minutes, but it was a brace from Rory Edwards within five minutes of the restart which sealed the points.

Wayne Thwaites completed the scoring 20 minutes from time with his 39th goal of the season.

Bowes need just one point from tomorrow's match with Redmire United to be crowned champions again as they have a far superior goal difference.

Middleham Town saw their fading title hopes finally brought to an end after they were held to a 3-3 draw at Reeth last Saturday.

Adam Gray gave Middleham an early lead, but Stephen Porter brought the home side level just before the break with his first goal of the season.

Lee Fawcett then put Middleham ahead again 20 minutes from time, but Stephen Bainbridge brought Reeth back on terms five minutes later following a free kick from Martin Calvert.

Glynn Barnard then looked to have won it for the visitors with a penalty ten minutes from time, but Adam Lovitt hit a 30- yard screamer for Reeth to mean the points were shared.

Reeth then beat Redmire United 3-2 at home on Monday evening. A goal from Stephen Bainbridge gave them a halftime lead, but Stuart Gall brought Redmire level soon after the restart.

Bainbridge then went on to complete his hat-trick, which included a well-taken spot kick, to mean Stuart Dent's fine late strike was no more than a consolation for the visitors.

Leyburn United remain fourth after a 3-1 win at Hawes B in a match also played on Monday evening.

Ollie Anderson gave Leyburn an early lead, but top scorer Stephen Calvert deservedly brought Hawes level before the break. The home side had chances to win it in the second half, but a goal from Carl Handley and a second from Anderson gave Leyburn all three points to leave Hawes still without a win in the league this season.

Richmond Town Academy look set for a top five finish in their first season in the league after a 4-1 win at Redmire United last Saturday.

First-half strikes from top scorer Michael Birdsall and Brad Simons put the Academy in control, although the home side felt they should have had a penalty when Lee Gall was pulled back in the area with the score at 1-0.

Stuart Gall headed them back into it on the hour, but the Academy finished on top and Birdsall took his tally for the season to 22 before a late own goal completed the scoring.

Redmire United had beaten Spennithorne 2-0 at home the previous Wednesday evening when Stuart Gall and Adam Melbourne scored in the first half.

Richmond Mavericks A increased their unbeaten run to ten matches with a hard-fought 2-0 home win over Buck Inn Old Boys, also on Wednesday of last week. Goals in each half from Jonathan Black and Tom Stanwix sealed the points for the Mavericks.

But the Mavericks then suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Carperby Rovers last Saturday.

Stanwix found the target again to give the visitors an early lead, but a neat brace from top scorer John Pickard turned the match in Rovers' favour before the break.

Askrigg United looked set for only their third win of the season when they led 2-0 at halftime at Buck Inn Old Boys last Saturday before finally losing 3- 2.

An early brace from John Hodgson put Askrigg in control and they worked hard to preserve their lead, but Ricky Butler fired the Old Boys back into it from close range within five minutes of the restart with his fourth goal of the season.

James Conway then brought the home side level three minutes later with a neat finish from the edge of the area and Butler saw an effort come back off the crossbar.

But it was not until 15 minutes from time that substitute Anthony McGeough headed the winner