With seven Chester-le-Street Town players in the side, Durham County under-18s won through to the final of the FA County Youth Cup with a closely-fought 3-2 victory at home to Middlesex County Youth in Saturday's semi final.

This is the third time in six years that Durham have made the final of the national competition, which they last won in 1999 and were beaten finalists two years ago.

Durham will now play North Riding in the final at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, on Saturday, May 1.

Durham are also through to the semi finals of the Northern Counties Competition and will meet either Manchester County or Lancashire later this month, the date and venue to be arranged.

In front of a good crowd at Durham City's New Ferens Park ground, Durham went a goal down after only 15 minutes but the introduction of substitute David Harrison (Darlington College) in midfield finally made the difference for Durham who equalised five minutes later, Steven Richardson setting up Chester-le-Street Town teammate Chris Laws to score from inside the area.

Two goals in five minutes from Richardson, both close range efforts, put Durham 3-1 up. Middlesex immediately came back with a second goal and Durham had to defend in depth for the final ten minutes as the visitors piled on the pressure and although the hosts side still had chance of a fourth goal they eventually settled for a single-goal victory.

Durham: Liam Connell, Carl Jones, Robbie Blemmings, Andrew Bulford, Gavin Stoker, Chris Laws, Steven Richardson (Chester le Street Town); Lee Farrington (Norton & Stockton); Curtis Taylor (Gateshead College); Michael Coulthard, Kyle Bird (Seaham Red Star).

Substitutes: John Nugent (Willington), David Harrison (Darlington College) Paul Henderson (South Moor), Harvinder Sull (Washington Dunlop), Kieran Routledge (Cleveland Hall), James Smith (Darlington Spraire Lads), Liam Lowe (Shildon).

Management: David Cleary (manager), Kevin Rides (assistant), Jim Thompson (coach), Andrew Brown (physio).

Two players had to miss the game with Chris Smith (Darlington Spraire Lads) ruled out with a broken leg and Chris Reay (Cleveland Hall) ill.