With Malton Bacon Factory having won the Leeper Hare York and District League division one title the attention has turned to the contenders for runners-up position and Thorpe United put themselves into the driving seat with a 5-1 home win over Haxby Town.

Gavin Clamp opened the Thorpe scoring and although Haxby pulled one back before half time, Clamp went on to get a hat-trick and further goals were added by Mel Joblin and Alan Ward.

This sets up Thorpe for their final game at Osbaldwick tonight. A win will almost ensure them second spot, but defeat could see them finish fourth.

Third-placed South Bank let two crucial points slip at home to Norwich Union.

An own goal and two from Dave Hyde saw South Bank three up and coasting by the interval.

The Insurance men staged a remarkable comeback in the second half. Goals from Phil McCardle, Steve Arksey (2) and Matt Hilton put them 4-3 up before Graham Bootland salvaged a point for South Bank with a penalty five minutes before the final whistle.

South Bank's final game is against Osbaldwick on the last Saturday of the season.

Civil Service won the vital relegation battle at Hammerton.

A hat-trick by Joe Michelli inside the first half hour set them on their way before Alistair Ramsay scored from the penalty spot five minutes before the break to bring the home side back into contention.

Ramsay scored his second after seventy minutes to set up a frantic finale in which Hammerton hit a post and had a shot cleared off the line in the closing minutes.

Civil Service hung on to the points which should just about see them safe from relegation.

Malton Bacon Factory won 3-0 at Post Office to end the postmen's promotion hopes, which had looked so bright until three weeks ago.

After a scoreless first half Malton Bcon Factory hit three goals in the space of five minutes through Simon Collins, Nigel Allen and Jamie Hopwood.

Updated: 12:14 Monday, April 15, 2002