NESTL Rowntree booked their place in York John Smith's Sunday Morning League Challenge Trophy final for the second successive season with a hard-fought semi-final victory at New Earswick.

Phil Hart gave Earswick the lead in the first half but Graham levelled in the second period and Kehoe put Rowntree ahead.

Earswick looked to have taken the game into added time, but Osborne had other ideas as he latched onto a wayward pass with only five minutes left to give Nestl Rowntree a 3-2 win.

Marcia will be Rowntree's opponents in the final after a goal in each half from Duncan Quick and Ian Kettlewell gave them a 2-0 semi-final victory over Derwent United.

In the Mecca Trophy, York Nomads were 2-0 up at Wigginton GH after only 15 minutes, Cruddas and Shaw scoring. Wigginton then took control but couldn't score until, with 17 minutes remaining, Budden beat two defenders and hit a left-foot shot to reduce the arrears.

Nomads were then reduced to ten men but David Thompson made it 3-1 and despite constant pressure Wigginton could pull only one back, Tom Coates neeting from the penalty spot.

Nomads will play the winners of the other semi-final between Bridge Colts and Opticare, who play this Sunday.

There were more twists and turns in the league as Nestl Rowntree continued their hectic schedule with midweek victories over Ainsty 3-1, Ward, Wain and Battersby scoring, and 3-2 over Severus, Wain netting a hat-trick.

Volunteers' title hopes took a blow when they lost 4-3 at home to Hounds, who still harbour faint hopes of the championship.

Severus bounced back from their midweek defeat with a 5-1 win over relegation-threatened Pack of Cards, Depa and Ducey netting two each.

Selby Olympia missed their chance to put daylight between them and Derwent United at the top of division two when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Blacksmith's Arms.

A hat-trick from Anthony Luck and two goals from Mark Triffitt capped an outstanding performance by Derwent Arms, who won 5-2 at Thorpe United, for whom Singleton scored twice.

A busy week in division three saw Wigginton Grasshoppers move clear at the top and they are now odds-on to take the title.

Two goals from the prolific John Alcock helped them to a 4-2 win at Bridge Colts, which was followed by a 1-1 draw in the derby with Haxby.

Wigginton missed two penalties against Haxby before Ben Coxan gave them the lead with five minutes left. Drummond equalised with only a minute remaining.

Bridge Colts followed their defeat by Wigginton GH with a 1-1 draw at Samson, Rank scoring.

Goals from Halliday and Broadbent gave Bishopthorpe a 2-0 win over York Nomads in midweek, but that was followed by a 7-1 drubbing by Samson.

Haxby goalkeeper Darren Pugh scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Hemingbroug.

Copmanthorpe and Beeswing are both relegated to division four, despite Copmanthorpe winning 3-2 at Beeswing thanks to goals from Gall, Pudsey and Johanson.

Opticare opened up a four-point lead at the top with a 12-0 demolition of Acomb Celtic, Bastock scoring four and Cross three.

This victory was made more significant by a surprise 3-2 defeat for Volunteer Reserves at Inland Revenue, whose Edwards scored a hat-trick. His first and third goals came with the last kick of the first and second half respectively.

Boy & Barrel conjured up a surprise victory, Dodgson scoring both goals in a 2-1 win at Burnholme. Wilberfoss held on to their faint hopes of avoiding the drop with a 2-1 win at St Clement's.

Heslington were crowned division five champions with a 3-0 win at Enterprise courtesy of goals from N Charlton, Watkinson and Moon.

Heworth lost 4-1 at Burton Stone, whose Dale Phillips scored a hat-trick, but then bounced back with a 9-2 win over King's Arms.

They will have to wait to see if that is good enough to earn them promotion as Hambleton can catch them after their 6-3 win over Burton Stone.

Andy White scored twice as Plough won 5-2 at Bootham Tavern. Paul Hughes also got two as Barlby won 3-1 at CPP.

Selby Olympia Reserves won division six without kicking a ball after Pickering LB resigned from the league and then Bay Horse (Tadcaster) suffered a surprise 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cross Keys.

Black Swan, the only other team who could catch them, were held to a 3-3 draw by F1 Racing on Thursday. Draw kings F1 Racing did it again last Sunday when, in a remarkable game at Cross Keys, four goals were scored in the last five minutes of a 5-5 draw.

Bradley and Peah netted two each as Black Swan beat Kingsway Riders 7-4, whose Rudy Dear hit a hat-trick.

Updated: 11:15 Friday, April 18, 2003