It could turn out to be a memorable bank holiday weekend for Barnard Castle FC.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Barnard Castle Reserves will be confirmed as North Riding League Division Two champions if they win at Yarm & Eaglescliffe U21.
Then, on Monday, the club’s first team will be aiming to finish an excellent season on a high by winning the Alan Hood Charity Cup final.
The game takes place against South Moor at Tens Field at 1pm. The club are hoping for a bumper turnout on the day and entry costs £5 with free entry for those qualifying for concessions.
Barnard Castle manager John Close said: “South Moor will turn up with a really strong squad and it will be feisty affair, I can guarantee that because we haven’t played them yet when it hasn’t been competitive and close-fought.”
Barney will warm up for their cup final with a home game against Premier Division champions Seaton Carew tomorrow (2pm).
Regardless of the outcome, the club are guaranteed a fifth-place finish in the Premier Division, which is an outstanding achievement in their first top flight season.
Victory in the cup on Monday coupled with promotion for the Reserves would be a huge achievement.
Wearside League
Premier Division
- Easington Lane 1 Barnard Castle 5
Barney had the last word when they came up against an ultra-competitive Easington Lane team.
The home side spent much of the match verbally haranguing the match officials but had no answer to Barnard Castle on the day.
The visitors took the lead inside the opening five minutes when Tai Saunders rounded the keeper to score but Easington Lane hit back against the run of play when Robbie Bird netted on the counterattack.
Barney missed several good chances and it was 1-1 at half-time. However, after the break, the visitors cut loose.
Harvey Rudd slotted a shot past the keeper to make it 2-1 then added his second and Barney’s third with a header from a corner.
Saunders made it 4-1 with a tap-in and new signing Noah Ellis marked his debut for the club with a goal to make it 5-1.
- Barnard Castle 3 Windscale 0
Barney are clearly determined to finish their Premier Division campaign on a high.
Against a strong Windscale outfit on Wednesday evening they put in an impressively efficient display.
Goals from Leo Buckle, Tom Merryweather and Tai Saunders earned the hosts a well-deserved win that keeps them in the mix for a top four finish.
North Riding League
Division Two
- Seaton Carew Reserves 3 Barnard Castle Reserves 4
Barney Reserves edged a seven-goal thriller to put themselves in prime position to win the Division Two title.
The visitors were leading 2-0 through a Harrison Saunders brace before Seaton hit back just before half-time through Leon Griffiths.
Nouradine Mahamat restored Barney’s two-goal advantage on the hour mark.
Then, as the game reached the final ten minutes, a flurry of goals made for a dramatic climax with Saunders completing his hat-trick while Griffiths and Thomas Sweeney netted for Seaton.
Darlington Sunday Invitation League
Division One
- Staindrop Wheatsheaf 4 Stanhope Town Sports & Social Club 6
Wheatsheaf scored four goals but still ended up on the losing side at the weekend.
Stanhope raced into a 3-0 lead through Isaac Emerson, Aydan Bowers and Sam Green before Harrison Saunders pulled one back.
Nathan Bell made it 4-1 and Green scored a fifth for Stanhope with Jonny Robinson grabbing Staindrop’s second.
Emerson made it 6-2 before Oliver Ross and Saunders scored two more for Wheatsheaf.
Meanwhile, Staindrop Wheatsheaf will play Division Two promotion hopefuls Darlington Skerne Park in the Alan Rusk Shield final at Shildon FC on Sunday, May 17 (10.30). Entry is £2.
League Cup semi-final
- Middleton Wanderers 6 Bishop Auckland Bay Horse Blues 1
Middleton can look forward to a League Cup final against Division One leaders Darlington Grey Horse at Shildon FC on Sunday, May 10, after winning their semi-final by a five-goal margin.
Special praise went to Aiden Clark after the game.
Manager Scott Denton said: “Every lad on the pitch was superb and Aiden Clark fully deserves some credit.
He had their full-back in knots from the start and bagged himself a hat-trick as we ran out 6-1 winners and progress to the final.”
