ICING Cabin travelled to West End B with the Express Appliances Intermediate Snooker League destiny in their own hands, but they eventually succumbed 4-2 to leave the title race wide open.
Hosts West End shuffled their pack and promised to test the Cabin's credentials.
And so it proved as Craig Rowbotham and Paul King won on one table, while recalled captain Martin Shaw and Dave Powell took their first frame on the other to make it 2-0 .
However, Scott Gibbons knocked in a 42 break to pull one frame back, and then veterans Tony Aisthorpe and Terry Burns made it 2-2.
In the last pairing, Andrew Warner and Daz Stanfield knew they had to keep Jamie Barrett quiet – and that's what they did, with in-form Stanfield hitting a 37 to condemn the Cabin to a shock defeat.
Meanwhile, at Clee Home Guard, second-placed Gas Man got off to a great start with Scott Long, Rick Gilliatt, Kev North and Paul Jackson winning the opening frames for a 2-0 lead.
Keith Southwell and Fred Parker pulled one back, but North and Jackson made it 3-1 on the other table.
Ashley Wright and Dan Mumby made it 4-1, before losing their last frame as Craig Taylor and George Padley made it 4-2.
This week's results have left Gas Man one point ahead going into the last game of the season, and have almost certainly eliminated Locate from the title race, despite their 4-2 win against Peter Hogarth & Sons.
An early 2-0 from Mark Franks and Wayne Webber won the match but, realistically, they needed all six to keep alive their hopes of a third title in six years.
At the other end of the table, we wave goodbye to Westlands D – who have fought bravely all season, but have now been relegated.
They lost 5-1 to Ray Edmonds B who themselves underperformed for most of the season, but showed their quality this week with an 82 break from Alan Edmond, 66 from Daz Evans and a 54 from Lee Plant.
The second relegation spot is between Clee Home Guard, who lost 4-2, and Ray Edmonds S.
With only three points separating them, it was a great time for the Edmonds team to find some form – and with Gaz Dannatt and Gill Wilson putting them 2-0 up at Carr Lane Social A, and Steve Arnold and Andy Stocks winning their first frame, they found themselves 3-0 up.
Gaz Horsfall, Alan Young, Derek Crosby and Joe Goodfellow all won a frame to make it 3-2 – and they nearly pulled off a great comeback, but Mark Hicks and Nick Mason took the last for a vital 4-2 win for the S team.
Mick Chew and Gordon Dawson put Webbonet 2-0 up at home to Ray Edmonds A, and then watched as Jamie Green (55), Andy Aisthorpe, Paul Clark (59), Daz Potter, Jamie Richardson (45) and Paul Smith took the remaining frames for a 5-1 win.
Jase Reynolds and Jimmy Yates put Clee Cons A 2-0 up 'away' at Clee Cons C, but Lee Pawson and Damon Gresham matched them as the Cons derby ended up in a 3-3 draw.
Hainton B finally mathematically relinquished their title after a 3-3 draw with sixth placed Birds Eye, who have done very well in their first season back in the top flight.
In section B, the title race is going to the wire with the top two still to play each other.
Both faced tough tests this week as they sought to out-do each in the run in.
Ray Edmonds D went to Westlands Heating, who could yet spoil the promotion party, and got off to a great start with Keith Fountain and Liam Oswin putting them 2-0 up.
It was soon 3-1 and Edmonds could sense a big victory, which would have put them in sight of the title.
However it did not come as Chris Yull and Stu Wilkinson had the final say, taking both of their frames for a 3-3 draw.
Cambridge F could reduce the gap between themselves and Edmonds D, but to do that they would have to overcome West End D, who had won their previous two matches 6-0.
It was to prove to be a very close affair with Garry White and Craig Allerston winning for Cambridge F and Dave Page and Euan Hunter making it 1-1 by winning on the other table.
Walt Simpson and Barry Jebson put West End 2-1 up and, before John and Keith Philipson won on a respotted black to make it 2-2.
Nick Mason played very well in the next as he and Paul Spall put Cambridge 3-2 u,p but back came the Westenders as Steve Donner and Dave Mac made it 3-3.
It was a superb night for West End C, who went to Victoria Street to face The Police who have been having a great season.
Unfortunately for the hosts they were out-played after Kev Ferguson and Pete Wood had given them a 1-0 lead.
Tony Smith carried Mike Needham to make it 1-1 and then some quality play from Terry Anglin, Tony Pearce, Frank Brookes and Bill Smith took West End to a 5-1 win.
Express Appliances could yet get promoted after a 5-1 win at Clee Bowls Juniors moved them to within a point of third-place, and they ready to pounce if one of the top two slip up.
However, to do that they will need a big win next week against Hainton A, who equally need a strong result.
The match between Westlands C and Cambridge Graduates ended up honours even after a spirited 3-3 draw.
A League
Locate Supplies 4 Peter Hogarth & Son 2
Ray Edmonds B 5 Westlands D 1
Clee Home Guard 2 The Gas Man 4
Clee Cons C 3 Clee Conns A 3
West End B 4 Icing Cabin 2
Carr Lane Social A 2 Ray Edmonds S 4
Webbonet 1 Ray Edmonds A 5
Hainton B 3 Birds Eye 3
B League
Cambridge F 3 West End D 3
Grimsby Police B 1 West End C 5
Westlands C 3 Cambridge Graduates 3
Westlands Heating 3 Ray Edmonds D 3
Clee Bowls Juniors 1 Express Appliances 5
