THE Division One title race was blown wide open in Diviafter the top two teams met at the weekend.

League leaders Turton entertained second place The Sportsman who got off to a great start with goals from Gordon Walker and Gary O'Hagan.

A Phil Donlon goal gave Turton some hope just before half time and after the break, a cracking 30 yard drive from Tony Philbin brought the scores level. Turton thought they had done enough to share the points, but it was not to be as Roy Naylor scored on the break to take all three points. The Sportsman took over at the top of the table on goal difference as Turton were relegated to second.

Chasing hard in third place are Cross Keys, who had a cracking game with Dobbies A that ended in a 4-4 draw. Never behind from the start, thanks to a Steve Brown hat-trick, the Cross Keys could not hold on for all three points as a brace from Phil Hutchinson and one from Taz Tobin got Dobbies back in the game and eventually a late Cavanaugh own goal meant the points were shared.

Elton Vale remain fourth after a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Garswood United, thanks to a Julian Ferrier goal, but with Elton Vale and the Cross Keys having games in hand on the front two, its going to be a tight finish to the league.

De La Salle kept up the charge to challenge for honours after beating Dobbies C 4-0, thanks to a hat-trick from man of the match Mike Platt, but the best of the day was a thundering drive from the edge of the box by Guy McAvoy to complete the rout. With games in hand and only five points separating the top five teams, De La Salle are in a strong position to lift the title.

Belle Vue moved away from the relegation zone and tagged on to the coat tails of the leaders after beating bottom team Eaton Athletic 3-1 with goals from Paul Crook, Alvin Hibbert and the evergreen Tony Whitley and again, with games in hand they are not completely out of it yet.

In Division Two early pacesetters Daten AFC seem to have gone off the boil as they lost for the second time in the last three games.

Playing away to a resurgent Dobbies B, they struggled with the skill of Joey Jarrett up front, who managed to put four past Daten's keeper in a 5-2 thrashing. Although Daten improved in the second half, the result was never in doubt and the result means they hold on to the top spot, but the pack are closing with plenty of games in hand. Dobbies B move up a place to fifth spot and are not completely out of it, but their poor early season form may come back to haunt them.

Newmarket moved up to third place, two points off the top, after beating ICO Pal 4-1 at home with Dave Rathbone coming off the bench to score two goals. They swap places with ICO Pal and, with games in hand over the top two, are still favourites for the title.

Park Wanderers moved up a place to sixth spot after a great 5-2 win at home to the Plough. Two goals each for Barry Byrom and Ste Philburn secured the points which move the Park away from the relegation zone to mid-table security and they now look forward to the quarter final replay of the Divisional Cup next week.

The top two clashed in Division Three and leaders Walkden Wrecks showed why they are top of the tree with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Bowling Green.

Two goals from Froggett and one from Morris moved Walkden seven points clear at the top are long odds-on to take the title, although the Bowling Green still have a game in hand.

Real Victoria moved into third place after a great 4-0 win over Breightmet United with the pick of the goals from Tim Cheetham and a stunning volley from Malc Nothard. Tthe title seems a long way away, but promotion is a distinct possibility.

The Fir Tree and Ainsworth B moved up a place after an entertaining 3-3 draw, but mid-table security is all both teams can look forward to at the moment.