Striker Chris I'Anson was the toast of Horden as the Second Division side lifted the Durham Challenge Cup for the first time since 1982 on Monday.

I'Anson scored a goal fit to win any game when he ran from the halfway line past two defenders and fired left footed into the roof of the net just before half time.

Synners, despite having most of the possession, barely troubled Horden keeper Steve Tierney and Horden nearly added another through Andy Davies, but his effort was cleared off the line.

Horden manager Tommy Garside said: "It was a tremendous result for us.

"There was no pressure on us before the game - Billingham were expected to win because they came from a higher division.

"It was a great goal by Chris, something which we'll all remember for a very long time."

Horden last won the competition 21 years back, when they beat Synners in the 1982 final.

The managerial merry-go-round is moving up a gear as the season comes to an end.

Three managers decided to move on after games on Saturday, two of them after the same match.

After Northallerton produced one of their best away performances of the season to win 7-3 at Easington, both managers announced that they are quitting when the season ends.

Easington manager Tony Metcalf, who took over from Wilf Constantine two years ago, announced he is leaving to become assistant manager at Jarrow Roofing.

Easington have been promotion contenders in the last two seasons but are going to miss out this season.

Applications for the managers job should be sent to chairman Alan Barkas at 2 Dilk Street, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.

Mulcaster returned to Northallerton as manager two seasons ago, and this campaign has guided them to the last 32 of the FA Vase - a great achievement for a Second Division club.

The biggest surprise of the weekend was Colin Carr's announcement that he is quitting Belle Vue after nearly 15 years as manager. He took over from former Newcastle player Gordon Hindson in 1988 and guided the club to promotion in his first season, as well as to the first round proper of the FA Cup and victory in the Northern League Cup.

Carr is one of the most respected managers in the league, but has decided to step aside so the club can bring in new blood.

"There have been a lot of good times over the years, but I haven't enjoyed it as much over the last two seasons. I've thought long and hard about it, and it's not a decision I've taken lightly. Even if we'd avoided relegation at Shildon last Saturday, I would still have resigned.

"The club and I will both benefit from a change. The new person will have the close season to have a look at the playing staff and make any changes.

"The players have been great over the years, and I cannot thank them enough for helping me."

Carr's departure means that Jarrow Roofing's Richie McLoughlin is now the longest serving manager in the league.

Eppleton's players might have to pay the club's recent heavy fine - or face a ban from football.

Eppleton were recently fined £750 and docked 15 points by the Northern League for poor administration and if the club doesn't pay the fine, FA rules state it is shared out among the players pro rata to the number of games they have played this season.

And in those circumstances, until the players' share of the fine is paid, they are suspended from football, even if they have played just a handful of games.

Manager Wilf Constantine said: "All the hard work since Christmas has been thrown away and we're worried now that the fine might be passed on to the players, when really it isn't their fault.

"We've been told that the club is going to continue when it drops down to the Wearside League, and the players have said that they're going to stick together."

Constantine has now achieved an unwanted hat trick - he was manager of Seaham when they were relegated last season, manager of Easington when they were relegated in season 2001-01, and now Eppleton.

"At least I can't be blamed for this one," said Constantine.

Eppleton have been instructed to replay their game against Horden, which ended in a 3-3 draw a fortnight ago. The re-arranged game takes place on Wednesday, and could have a bearing on the promotion race.

West Auckland are crossing their fingers and hoping that Billingham Town finish in the top four.

Billingham Town are the league's leading scorers with 94 goals this season, followed by Bedlington on 92 but there is a special award from the league for the club with the most goals outside of the top four.

Town are currently in fifth place and are trying to overtake Durham City, the current fourth placed club.

However, tomorrow Town are at Shildon, another club with hopes of a top four place, and if they lose Town will probably finish outside the top four. West currently have 86 goals.

Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery says that it's back to square one for his club.

Bedlington's hopes of clinching their sixth successive title were dashed last Saturday when Brandon beat them at Welfare Park.

Lowery said: "Second best is no good to us at all, going by the standards we've set ourselves over the last few seasons. Second would be great for a lot of clubs, but not us. The season is a disappointment, even though we're second.

"We're going to sit down now, and look at the whole picture. We'll start rebuilding during the summer.

"The club has come a long way, and we'll always be a team to win things. It's just made us more determined to bounce back next season."

Lowery reckons that his team's home form let them down. "Over the last six or seven weeks, we haven't played well enough at home, and we dropped a lot of points. We've played OK, but not good enough."

Since Christmas Bedlington have also failed to beat West Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Billingham Synthonia, Shildon, Billingham Town and Consett.

Shildon are through to the League Cup final at Feethams on May 5th after they beat Tow law in a penalty shootout in the semi final on Tuesday night.

The first half was poor, but the game livened up when Nigel Bolton had a goal disallowed for handball when he blocked a clearance by Tow law keeper Gareth McNary. Lee Ellison had three chances, before Graham Liddle headed wide near the end of normal time.

In stoppage time, Mark Eccles chipped over the bar with just Adam Clementson to beat, while Liddle had a header cleared off the line. McNary made an excellent save from Bolton at the other end.

In the shoot-out, Shildon keeper Clementson saved from Andy Allen, and Liddle put his wide, with first David Bayles and then Ellison scoring for Shildon. Scott Thompson hit the target for Tow Law, but when Gary Barnes' penalty squirmed under McNary, a miss by Eccles put Shildon through 3-1.

They will play Billingham Synthonia in the final on May 5th at Feethams after Synners won 2-1 at Brandon.

Brandon took the lead with a goal by Andy Purvis, but Synners hit back when Dave O'Gorman headed in from a corner.

David Wells got the winner from the spot with eight minutes left after Lee Flanagan was fouled.

Peterlee can still survive after they won 1-0 at Dunston on Wednesday night, Nathan Jameson scoring the winner from the edge of the box after 53 minutes.

Peterlee are now one point behind Prudhoe, and have played the same games. Peterlee are at Newcastle Blue Star tomorrow, while Prudhoe are at home to Morpeth.

Whitley Bay and Guisborough drew 0-0, with Whitley keeper Terry Burke pulling off three good saves in the first half.

In the Second Division, leaders Penrith dropped points at Alnwick in a 0-0 draw, and that allowed Thornaby to draw level with them thanks to a 1-0 win at Willington, Richie Storr on target.

The Craven Cup tie between Ashington and Seaham, which was abandoned on Tuesday night because of floodlight failure, will be staged again on Monday night.

The winner will meet Evenwood, who beat South Shields 2-0 with gaols from Kevin Bromley and Martin Houlahan in the second half.

Jarrow Roofing's Paul Chow will be watching Bedlington's last two games with interest as he chases the league's leading goalscorer award.

Chow has 33 league goals this season and his goal in the 3-0 home win over Morpeth on Wednesday night put him one ahead of Bedlington's John Milner.

But Bedlington have two games left, against Dunston and bottom club Newcastle Blue Star.

Leading scorers

First Division (league only)

Paul Chow (Jarrow Roofing) 33

John Milner (Bedlington) 32

Roy Allen (Bedlington/West Auckland) 28

Carl Chillingsworth (Billingham Town) 24

Lee Ellison (Shildon) 21

Craig Skelton (Billingham Town) 19

Lee Alexander (Marske) 17

Micky Dunwell (Durham City) 17

Craig Nelson (Jarrow Roofing) 16

Gary Messer (Esh Winning) 16

Lee Flanagan (Billingham Synthonia) 16

Ben Chambers (Washington) 15

Lee O'Donovan (Durham City/Whitley Bay) 15

Lee Ludlow (Whitley Bay/Durham) 15

Colin McLeod (Consett) 14

Andy McKenna (Tow Law) 13

Tony Wood (Billingham Synthonia) 13

Chris Taylor (Whitley Bay/Willington) 13

Andy Fletcher (Bedlington) 12

Paul Beavers (Morpeth) 12

Dave Mawson (Esh Winning) 12

Scott Nicholson (Tow Law) 12

Ben Thompson (Dunston) 12

Second Division

Adam Johnston (Washington Nissan) 36

Alan Hogg (Ashington) 27

Jamie Clark (Thornaby) 23

Andrew Wright (Penrith) 22

David Taylor (Easington/Shildon) 22

James Swordy (Alnwick) 19

Paul Taylor (Seaham) 18

Micky Haley (South Shields) 18

David Onions (Northallerton) 18

Chris Joyce (Hebburn) 17

Barry Irving (Penrith) 17

Richie Storr (Thornaby) 16

John Wightman (Washington Nissan) 14

Paul Diamond (Murton) 14

Craig Tate (South Shields) 14

David Hague (South Shields) 14

Marc Nash (Ashington) 13

David Snow (Crook) 13

Tony Hanson (Easington) 13

Michael Hodgson (Penrith) 12

Anthony Holmes (Kennek Ryhope CA) 12

Tommy Scott (Whickham) 12

John Harrison (Seaham) 12

Chris I'Anson (Horden) 1