BROOMPARK Loves Secretary Keith Flowers faces a loyalty quandary when his side take on Tudhoe United this Sunday.

Flowers is Managing Director of Darlington-based company A1 Windscreens, which are the official shirt sponsors of his team.

But he is also a shareholder in Spennymoor-based DIY firm PCA Systems, which are the official shirt sponsors of Tudhoe United!

The loyalty split comes in the shape of his close pal and business partner Phil Lennox - MD of PCA Systems - and his players, who are pushing for the league title.

So what would be his favoured outcome?

"There's no question," claimed Flowers. "A Loves win - and by at least three goals!"

He adds: "Tudhoe have just been promoted and they're a good set of lads. There's some friendly rivalry between the two clubs but I'm confident we'll run out comfortable winners - and I'm sure we will all enjoy a drink together afterwards."

But who's buying the drinks? "It will have to be Phil," says Flowers. "In my book, the losers always buy!"

Well, Flowers must have been buying the drinks when his side conceded their first defeat of the season last Sunday, going down 2-0 at home to Thorns.

Steven Smith put the visitors ahead about 20 minutes into the game, and Thorns defended admirably to stave off Loves, grabbing a final-nail goal through Andrew Richardson ten minutes from the death.

"A great win for us," said Thorns manager Dave McWaters. "It was very tight throughout and, after taking the lead, we were on the back foot due to their pressure. But I was delighted with our defensive performance and it certainly opens things up a bit at the top."

Elsewhere in Division One, Browney won 5-2 at Green Tree, while Binchester Social Club and Tudhoe United played out a 3-3 draw.

Meanwhile, Newton Aycliffe progressed to the semi-finals of the First Division Cup with a 5-1 win over neighbours Horndale.

Paul Stephenson (2), Dave Muir (2) and Nick Armstrong were on target to guarantee ten-men Aycliffe's quarter-final victory.

Boss Brian Scaiffe said: "It was closer than the scoreline suggested, but I don't think we ever looked like losing the game. We were a man down, but they had a player sent off in the first half which evened it up."

Old Shildon also booked their place in the semi-finals with a close, 3-2 win at Salvins, goals by Ian Maddison (2) and Anthony Moss doing the damage.

Lakeside beat Postchaise 4-1 in the first round of the competition thanks to braces by strikers Wayne Marram and Marc De Lucia. Brendan Mullen scored Chaise's goal.

That means the semi-final draw will consist of: Newton Aycliffe, Old Shildon, Green Tree and Lakeside or Beehive.

Meanwhile, Voltigeur progressed to the semi-finals of the Second Division Cup with a 2-1 win at the North Briton, and Masons Arms beat Shildon Athletic 4-3.

Hunwick Joiners are yet to play Belvedere in the first round of the competition, with the winners meeting Masons United in the quarter-finals. The other quarter-final tie that remains is between Boot & Shoe and Middlestone Moor.

In the Second Division last week, Grand and Cumby played out a 0-0 draw, while Belvedere grabbed three points with a 4-3 win at Masons United.

* There was no question of loyalty when the league called an extraordinary meeting at Spennymoor United's Brewery Field clubhouse last Wednesday.

Following an incident involving a team fielding an unregistered player, the league was rocked by the resignations of two key Committee members - and a special meeting was called to address the crisis.

The league would like to thank members for their overwhelming vote of confidence and clear support in what is a critical situation that could not only affect the future of the league, but grassroots football in general in the Durham FA area.

The league would also like to thank Durham FA Councillors Tommy Waggott and John Priestly, who both attended the meeting and both clearly gave their 100 per cent backing to the committee and its original decision concerning the case in question.

* www.spenny-league.co.uk

Sunday's fixtures: Division One: Horndale v Thorns, Postchaise v Old Shildon, Binchester SC v Salvins, Newton Aycliffe v Lakeside, Tudhoe Utd v Loves, Beehive v Browney.

Division Two: Middlestone Moor v Grand, Cumby Arms v Masons Arms, Boot & Shoe v Eldon Arms, Shildon Athletic v North Briton, Masons Utd v Victoria.

Second Division Cup round one: Hunwick v Belvedere.