Premier Division, Belle Vue Old Boys 0 Rovers 3: Rovers extended their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable victory over an under strength Belle Vue.

Andy McKenna put the visitors ahead from the spot after Ashton had been fouled. David Hoey's excellent free-kick found McKenna who turned his man well and fired home past a helpless Weldrake into the corner. Belle Vue should have pulled one back in the second half but Cockerill missed the target from the spot. McKenna completed a fine hat-trick with a bullet header from David Jones' cross.

West Park 1 Burn Valley Club 5

Burn Valley put in a good performance to see off a depleted West Park. Mark Rutherford opened the scoring with a fine run and finish and although more chances were created there was no further score before the break. Park equalised early in the second half and this spurred Valley on and Ian Davies scored after good work by Neil Hay. The latter then helped himself to two goals in quick succession. The scoring was finished off with a great strike by Greg Hall in a game well handled by Neil Sharp.

Division One

Greatham Bull & Dog 1 Odessa 4

Odessa played some of the best football of their season so far to dominate the first half and build a three goal lead. Jonathon Crone gave them the lead from Shaun Winwood's whipped cross. Crone was also instrumental in the second when his driven cross was deflected home by a defender. Man of the match Karl Johnson and Lee Bryan set up Winwood for the third. Bull * Dog forced their way back into the game but were often thwarted by Gary Brown in the Odessa goal. They did reduce the arrears when Mark Sickling's pass was rifled home by Andrew Sanderson.

Woodcutter 1 Hartlepool Crick. Cl. 5

The visitors took an 8th minute lead, and with both sides playing good football it was no surprise when woodcutter equalised with a powerful strike. The Cricketers laid siege to the home goal in the second half, and although Scott Tunstall pulled off a series of great saves, they added four goals to win comfortably in a game well handled by Malcolm Lancaster.,

* Elsewhere in the division Tunstall Old Boys and Rugby drew 3-3.

Division Two

Ath. Mill House 3 King Johns Tav. 1

Paul Craigs put the home side ahead and added another after good work by Daniel Swan. King Johns pulled a goal back before half-time but Athletic made the game safe early in the second period from Craig Watson's chip. Watson was best for the winners but this was essentially a battling team performance.

Clarendon 4 Charter Bar 2

Another Jekyll and Hyde performance from Clarendon, but they eventually triumphed over a spirited Charter Bar at a bright and breezy Rift House. They dominated a goal-less first half and broke the deadlock early in the second with a superb move which saw Marty Skirving finish well to celebrate his return. They added three more inside ten minutes to take control. Peter Smith's ninth of the season, Marty Waggott's close range finish and Chris Barlow's precise header doing the damage. They then took their foot off the gas and allowed Charter Bar back into the game through Mark Loynes' free-kick and Dave Bruce's header. Clarendon then held firm to keep their promotion challenge on course with Turner , Alexander and Barlow starring.

Moorcock 0 Fens 1

Fens earned the three points when Anth McLoughlin scored after just ten minutes. Moorcock created chances but couldn't find a way past Steve Young in goal. Fens also pushed on in search of further goals to make the game safe but to no avail. Edmondson and Boagey starred for Fens with Stewart best for Moorcock.

Stranton Ath. 4 St Francis 2000 6

Stranton opened the scoring before Marc Clouston's free-kick equalised. The home side equalised then Adam Butler's shot was deflected to Liam Wilkinson who set up Anthony Coveredale to score. Stranton the added two more to go into the break 4-2 ahead. St Francis stepped up a gear in the second half and Coverdale completed his hat-trick with assists by Bassett and Millican. Clouston's free-kick was headed home by David Angel, then Bassett's solo effort completed the scoring.

John Dowson Cup

Athletic Rugby 8 Office 1

The visitors could again only muster ten men and given the standard of their opponents this did nothing to help their cause. Although they battled hard, Athletic won at a canter with four goals in each half. Three early goals settled the home side, two from Paul Fraser and the other from Martin Hewitt and Mark Taylor added the other before the break. Hewitt opened the second half with a neat chip and although Neil Swift ran 30 yards to score a consolation goal for Office there was only one side in it. Neal Guttridge, Neil Murray and Phil Nicholson completed the scoring. Two outstanding goals from Fraser and Guttridge, and Taylor continued his tremendous run of form with another man of the match performance.

* In the final game of the week Blackhall Hardwick beat Corporation Welfare 4-0.

Lion Hillcarter 7 Nursery 1

Nursery could only field a weakened side, which is never a good idea when facing the likes of Lion. They put up a spirited display, but in truth were no match for the home side who ran out comfortable winners. The goals came from a Paul Pitman hat-trick plus strikes from Craig Lines, Andrew Allen, Robert Wright and Stu Dixon. James Parkinson scored the Nursery reply.

Owton Lodge 1 Seaton Holy Trinity 9

Nine-man Lodge were never in the game from the start and soon found themselves five goals in arrears. Jeff Graham opened the scoring from ten yards then John Dobling rounded the keeper to score. Graham made it three before Robert Thompson ran in two more before half-time. Brian Myers was Lodge's star man and did pull a goal back from close range, but man of the match Graham added to Seaton's tally to complete his hat-trick. Ian McDonagh added two more and Tommy Bage completed the scoring.

Sports Bar 9 Engineers 0

In spite of the scoreline, Engineers kept battling all the way and were unlucky not to score a couple themselves. They managed to frustrate Sports Bar and restricted them to three goals at half-time but superior skill and fitness told in the second half. Best for Engineers were Martyn Ryan and David Parkinson.

Throston Wanderers 3 Welfare 4

The game started with Welfare only fielding seven men and it was no surprise that they soon went two goals behind, indeed they went three down shortly after they mustered their full side. They started to play their football and pulled a goal back when Jamie Fleming scored from the spot and the same player rounded the keeper to add a second before the break. They equalised with a 40 yard screamer from Chris Andrews and eventually took the lead when Paul Robinson found the top corner of the net from 25 yards. A great fightback from Welfare.

Workingmens 6 TMD 0

After an even opening from two sides trying to play fast flowing football. Paul Sharp's neat through ball set up the in form Andrew Jobling to race clear for the first and Michael Ireland added the second with a neat finish. Workies' third came courtesy of an own goal after a goalmouth scramble. Two more cool finishes from Ireland completed his hat-trick and made it seven in two games. A quality chip from John Cowley rounded off a fine performance.