THEY may have been denied a second successive league title, but the county cup dream for Bardon Mill Bowes Lyons is still alive.

The leaders of the Hexham and District Sunday League will not be crowned champions for 2019-20 after league members voted 11-8 to expunge results due to coronavirus.

However, Bardon Mill had booked their place in the Northumberland FA Sunday Cup final for the first time this season when they recently defeated Bedlington Social Club.

Northumberland FA has yet to make a final decision on whether county cup finals, with it believed the games might still go ahead.

Adam Dickson, manager of Bardon Mill, said: “We understand the respective FAs and league committees are in unchartered territory and no decisions are easy in this situation.

“Our league have gone to a vote which was only ever going to have one outcome.

“My players have been unbelievable for two seasons now, and I can’t have asked for anymore from any of them. 

“Hopefully, we still get to play the Sunday Cup final when it’s deemed safe from authorities. The lads deserve that day after being so committed and hard to beat the last two years. 

“We’ll respect any decisions made and move on, and look forward to playing football again when it’s safe for all concerned.”

As a result of the league voting to expunge all results for the 2019-20 campaign, there will be no promotions from Division Two nor any relegations from Division One.

At the time, Bardon Mill were nine points clear at the top of Division One, having lost only once.