THE LIGHT at the end of a very long, dark tunnel for Craven & District Football League officials continues to flicker as uncertain weather and equally unreliable support from member clubs makes it difficult to bring a fraught season to some sort of satisfactory conclusion,(writes Tony Simpson).

With the onset of cricket and many players becoming jaded by a soccer season which has been totally disjointed, interest has waned a good deal in many quarters.

But with a number of important issues still to be decided on the league front, it is important that players and officials accept their responsibilities.

"Too many clubs are crying off from vital matches with feeble excuses when faced with opposition who have a chance of winning something," says league secretary Peter Marsden.

"This means that places may be resolved by the awarding of points, which, after so much effort has been put into reaching a fair conclusion, is not at all satisfactory."

Problems arose this week at the top of the Silentnight Premier Division when Colne Cricket Club's game at Skipton Bulldogs was called off because the Lancastrians have been banned by the Lancashire FA for failure to pay fines.

The Craven League were contacted at the end of last week and told that Colne CC were grounded until they paid the £76 owed in outstanding fines.

The club has now been given until tonight to pay up, on threat of penalty by the league.

The severity of that censure was being decided by an ad hoc committee meeting at Cowling last night, but expulsion from the Craven League is an obvious option that will have to be considered.

That could well mean that, since Colne have played the majority of their fixtures, points from their unplayed games will be awarded to the opposition.

The problem confronting the Colne players if the club do not come up with the money is that the onus falls to the players, with each player registered with the Craven League being responsible for his portion of the debt.

Meanwhile, on the credit side, the League Cup section of the programme has managed to reach a conclusion, starting last night with the Division Two final between Lothersdale Athletic and Skipton LMS Reserves at Cowling.

Tonight the spotlight switches to Craven FA matters, with the Slater Marchant Craven Challenge Cup final sees Ingleton defending the trophy when they entertain Barnoldswick Park Rovers at Settle United (6.30).

Tomorrow brings the semi-finals of the Northern Plant Hire Challenge Trophy, which could well result in a final between Cross Hills and Skipton Bulldogs.

Cross Hills entertain Clitheroe, while Bulldogs visit Carleton and the top two in the Silentnight Premier Division will start as favourites to progress.

Both sides have, of course, fallen victims to Oxenhope Recreation in the past fortnight and men from Bronteland will take on Clitheroe in the final of the Premier Division Cup at Skipton Town on Monday.

Tuesday brings a key Division Two game at Sandylands, where Bulldogs Reserves entertain Bronte Wanderers Reserves, while Wednesday evening the action moves to Cross Hills, who will stage the Division One final between Bronte Wanderers and Carleton.

Carleton Reserves, 2-0 semi-final conquerors of Cononley Sports Reserves, take on Waddington on Thursday in the Division Three final at Barnoldswick United to wrap up a hectic schedule of finals, all of which will kick off at 6.30. In the league, Thursday also features Cross Hills v Skipton LMS and Bulldogs at home to Colne CC.