The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League, Sunday, May 13, Division One Cup Final

The last divisional final of the season saw DSRM All Stars play Smith and Allan in a repeat of a recently-played League Cup quarter final, with Smith and Allan looking for revenge.

An early chance for Smith and Allan went begging when Nick Lyons won the race to the ball between him and All Stars keeper Dave Hardisty, only to see his lob drop agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

All Stars' Adam Moses was next to almost break the deadlock when he saw his angled shot from the edge of the penalty area strike the post and rebound back into the arms of the grateful Smith and Allan keeper Ted Halstead.

It was to be a set piece move that finally made the breakthrough when Paul Freary flicked a corner on for Lyons to give Smith and Allan a lead going into the break. DSRM All Stars started much the brighter after the interval and were level when man of the match Dean Lowson saw his 18-yard daisy cutter roar past Halstead into the bottom corner.

In a to-and-for match it was Smith and Allan who edged ahead again thanks to the lively Michael Richardson only for Ian Grey to send the game into extra time when he forced home Lowson's low right wing cross.

With both sides wary of losing, chances were at a premium although DSRM All Stars had penalty claims turned down and then saw star striker Darren Kokes home in on goal in the dying seconds only for Halstead to produce a wonder save low to his left to take the final into penalties.

The drama of the penalties saw Kokes, Lee Thompson, Adam Wilson, Dale Sheridan and Scott Mallen all convert for the All Stars while Lyons, Freary, Andy Rustico and Max Ripley were equally successful for Smith and Allan. However, centre half Jamie Smith unfortunately saw his penalty go the wrong side of the bar and it was the All Stars who were left to receive the trophy and champagne from League secretary Ken Moore and begin their celebrations.

Division Two

In a hard-fought derby between the Killinghall Arms and the Fighting Cocks, who needed to force a result to stave off relegation, it was Killie keeper Richard Snowden who proved to be the difference as his stunning display, coupled with two goals in the last ten minutes from striker Chris Thompson, gave Killinghall all three points and condemned the Fighting Cocks to Division Three.

Division Three

In the final game of the season The Northern Echo played hosts to the already-promoted Bengal Tigers and the home side started brightly, putting the visitors under pressure for long periods of the first half.

With the half coming to a close, a John Neilson corner was met by the head of Craig Maddison who gave the keeper no chance from 12 yards and a stunning Rob Carter free kick into the bottom corner doubled their lead a minute later.

The second 45 minutes saw the visitors come out determined to get back into the game, only for Carter to add his second, and the Echo's third, after 55 minutes

Undeterred, the Tigers continued to press forward and when Amzad Hussein pulled a goal back, they went on all out attack to try to edge back into the match. However, the Echo successfully kept them out, rounding off their season as they had started it, with a victory.

The only other match played saw DfES beat Sherwoods 4-2. Scorers for the victors were Stuart Bell, Jamie Callaghan, Anthony Whiteside and Chris Foster while Jon Coker and Dave Armstrong netted Sherwood's goals.

Wednesday, May 9

Division One

East End WMC took on Hurworth Albion knowing they needed only one point to guarantee retaining the First Division title.

With this in mind they started understandably cagey, despite the tonic of an early Matthew Coad goal giving them the lead. Hurworth soon showed they had not arrived simply to make up the numbers as they pressed the home side, trying to finish their own season on a high.

The home side retained their lead into the interval and, when they came out for the second half, finally settled and started to play sharp football, and Garry Barnes and Lee Johnston in particular started to have a greater influence on the match. It was Barnes who made sure of the result with a calm finish and substitute Chris Liddle made doubly sure it would be all three points that East End would take with a well-worked goal near the end of the 90 minutes. The referee's whistle signalled the start of the title celebrations on the East End touch line and left Spraire RA runners up.

Sunday's fixture

League Cup Final: Haughton Grey Horse v Shuttle and Loom.