CITY FC’s home-straight hiccups struck again as Dog & Partridge dealt out a third successive defeat to leave the long-time Ridley League leaders agonisingly short of the winning line with one league game left.

The visitors - still way off their early-season form - kept the darts alive until Mick Cain’s decisive win in the fifth singles - Harry Cove (City) hitting a 180.

However, with rivals Little Waltham denied a big win, the visitors’ six points (including four in the dominoes) may yet decide the Combined title race.

Women’s singles finalists Amanda Dodd (Chequers) and Jenny Kochan (Little Waltham) scored a cracking singles win apiece as the Felsted side were edged out.

Dodd (180) swung the darts to help Graham Millbank to the mixed point and partnering Donna Hazel in a 13th straight women’s victory.

There were further 180s for Waltham’s Mark Chapman and Steve O’Neil, and the home side hit vintage dominoes form to beat the cup semi-finalists 5-1.

Champions Black Bull took all five singles at the Red Beret, but were undone in three pairs and a dominoes draw all but hands that section title to City.

The Beret still have to play their two postponed fixtures with the Compasses, whose runaway win against City Birds leaves them favourites to lift the darts section crown.

Results: City Birds 2 Compasses 13, Dog & Partridge 9 City FC 6, Little Waltham SC 9 Chequers 6, Red Beret 6 Black Bull 9