PENNINGTON took the first trophy of the season by winning the BSF Over 35s Division One Cup final on Sunday.
Playing at Harper Green against Stand Athletic, the first hour was tense and tight but, after Gary O'Haighan nodded in Pennington's first, they moved up a gear.
Tony Carter scored a second and a great piece of individual skill from Antony Lavery secured a 3-0 win for Pennington in a game which was played with tremendous spirit by both sides.
Two hours later, Old Smithillians secured the Division Three Cup with a 1-0 win against DF Lostock. George Hart's goal settled the matter, although several missed chances could have cost them dearly.
The Newmarket secured a Division Two Cup final spot by beating Hayward Old Boys 2-1 in the semi and now meet Seven Stars in the final.
In the Division One league games, Colliers Rest moved out of the relegation spots by beating Cross Keys 3-1 at home and a late winner by Willows secured the points as they beat Dobbies B 2-1 away from home.
Breightmet United's run of good form continued with a great 3-1 away win at Turton.
Hare Athletic missed the chance to wrap up the Division Two title by losing 2-0 at home to Seven Stars.
But Horwich Town could not take advantage and only managed a 2-2 draw with Bolton Wyresdale, while a John Whittam hat-trick secured two valuable points for the Bay Mare Strollers.
With only three points separating the bottom four clubs, the relegation battle looks like it is going all the way to the wire.
Ainsworth Fossils moved top of their section by winning a tight game 3-2 against Rumworth/Hulton and Bottom Bulls Head stay in contention after beating Walkden AFC 3-1 away.
Dobbies C beat Westhoughton Wingates 2-0 and Urmston MC were 3-1 winners away at Founders Arms.
Again, only two points separate the top five teams, and the title race looks set to go to the last week.
With Old Smithillians one point adrift in second place, the league and cup double looks a distinct possibility.
Division One Cup Final: Stand Athletic 0 Pennington 3.
Division Three Cup Final: DF Lostock 0 Old Smithillians 1.
Division Two Cup Semi Final: Hayward Old Boys 1 Newmarket 2.
Division One: Colliers Rest 3 Cross Keys 1; Turton 1 Breightmet United 3; Dobbies B 1 Willows 2.
Division Two: Hare Athletic 0 Seven Stars 2; Daten AFC 0 Bay Mare Strollers 3; Horwich Town 2 Bolton Wyresdale 2.
Division Three: Ainsworth Fossils 3 Rumworth/Hulton 2; Walkden AFC 1 Bottom Bulls Head 3; Dobbies C 2 Westhoughton Wingates 0; Founders Arms 1 Urmston MC 3.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Df Pt
Dobbies A... 15 12 2 1 65 20 45 26
Pennington... 12 8 2 2 33 16 17 18
Stand Athletic... 11 7 3 1 33 9 24 17
Breightmet United... 14 7 2 5 36 29 7 16
Turton... 12 5 1 6 18 28 -10 11
Willows... 13 5 0 8 26 42 -16 10
Colliers Rest... 14 4 0 10 24 43 -19 8
Cross Keys... 14 3 1 10 19 42 -23 7
Dobbies B... 11 1 1 9 12 37 -25 3
DIVISION TWO
Hare Athletic... 14 11 0 3 52 21 31 22
Hayward O.B.... 12 8 1 3 33 25 8 17
Horwich Town... 12 5 3 4 31 21 10 13
Seven Stars... 11 4 4 3 27 26 1 12
Walkden Wrecks... 10 5 1 4 20 24 -4 11
Newmarket... 11 4 2 5 26 37 -11 10
Daten... 13 3 2 8 26 30 -4 8
Bolton Wyresdale... 13 3 2 8 21 41 -20 8
Bay Mare Strollers... 12 2 3 7 23 34 -11 7
DIVISION THREE
Ainsworth Fossils... 13 9 1 3 29 17 12 19
Old Smithillians... 13 8 2 3 36 21 15 18
Walkden AFC... 14 9 0 5 39 31 8 18
Bottom Bull... 14 7 3 4 26 19 7 17
Rumworth/Hult... 14 7 3 4 27 20 7 17
Dobbies C... 16 7 1 8 32 29 3 15
Urmston M.C.... 16 5 1 10 27 34 -7 11
West'ton Wingates... 15 4 2 9 32 41 -9 10
Founders Arms... 15 3 3 9 21 42 -21 9
DF Lostock... 10 2 2 6 15 30 -15 6
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