Premier Division league leaders Killingworth Arms drop into second spot on goal difference as they lost 1-0 at home to Penshaw Catholic Club, the new leaders are Steels Social, who won 4-1 away to Ferryhill Greyhound.

The first half was fairly even, Steels scored first through Micky Kennedy, but Nigel Fawdon levelled with a spot kick. The restart saw Steels slowly gaining control and goals from Peter Stronach, Les Logan and Micky Carroll gave Steels a 3-1 victory.

Masons Arms, who had had a disastrous season and face relegation once again faltered losing 7-0 at home to the champions Billingham Wanderers who led 3-0 at the interval. Keith Hatfield scoring his hat-trick. The restart saw Billingham totally in control and a hat-trick from Keith Corner and one from Steve Parks saw them finish 7-0 winners. Outstanding player was Colin Steers of Billingham.

In division one Newton Aycliffe look to have lost out on promotion, they lost 2-0 away to leaders Blackhall. It was a hard-fought game with the home side having a slight advantage and scoring in each half. Geoff Cudlip gave them an interval lead and Ed Freeman settled the issue 2-0.

Langley Park Rams Head move into fourth from bottom a point ahead of Sedgefield, who have played three games less, so the Rams must win their last three games to have a chance of escaping relegation. They turned in a fine performance to draw 0-0 at home with Wallsend RAOB. Gary Collin and Kevin Moralee were their star players.

In division two Glaxo drew 3-3 at home to Spring Gardens. The Castle had a dreadful first half and trailed 3-0 at the interval. Failure by the defence to clear their lines gave away three goals. The restart saw Castle playing attacking football and taking the game to the visitors. The method paid off, Gary Hutchinson made it 3-1 and then Neil Franklin scored with a spectacular overhead kick from 12 yards to make it 3-2 and from then on Castle besieged Spring Gardens' goal. Finally Graham Hammond levelled in injury time to end the game 3-3.

Consett look safe at last, they drew 2-2 away to Boldon Black Bull in a most exciting end to end game. Boldon took an early lead through Chris Hood, but Peacock equalised for Consett close on half time and then shot them into the lead shortly after the restart. Gerry Chalder scored to level the game 2-2.

In division three Billingham Town are in third place, they drew 3-3 away to second placed Hylton Castle. Bob Kelly and Brian Conlon both scored to give Hylton a 2-0 interval lead. Shortly after the restart Billingham scored to make it 2-1 only for Hylton to apply the pressure and Conlon scored his second of the game to put them 3-1 up. But Billingham rallied and in a grandstand finish scored twice to level the match 3-3 and gain a very valuable point.

Hartlepool RNC came back to form with a vengeance winning 5-1 at home to Durham Strollers. Paul Thompson put them 1-0 up but Greenham levelled and Thompson regained Pools lead just on the interval. The restart saw Pools on the attack and further goals from Colin McMorris and a brace from Steve Chaytor saw them finish 5-1 winners.

In division four Crook Town kept up their promotion drive and move into fourth spot. They won 5-1 against Halfway House. Crook were in top class form and led 3-0 at the break courtesy of a brace from Francis Robinson and one from Hodgson. After the restart Robinson completed his hat-trick and Freddie the Fox Fowler scored to make it 5-0. Two minutes from time the visitors scored a consolation goal.

In the cup Darlington Croft won 3-1 away to British Telecom. Hero of the game was John Dee who scored a hat-trick. Ex-Darlington player Roger Wicks starred on his debut.

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Steels SC 15 11 3 1 45 12 36

Killingworth Arms 18 10 6 2 45 19 36

Billingham W 17 11 2 4 56 19 35

Owton Manor 16 11 1 4 36 24 34

Ferryhill Grey 18 9 5 4 41 26 32

Usworth WMC 17 5 6 6 20 28 21

Seaton Delaval 14 5 3 6 21 21 18

Penshaw CC 14 5 3 6 17 19 18

Lord Seaham 15 3 4 8 21 28 13

*Grindon Broadway 16 3 5 8 23 38 11

S'Land Catholic Club 18 2 3 13 26 44 9

Masons Arms 14 0 1 13 11 63 1

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Blackhall H 16 12 4 0 63 16 40

Marden 14 11 2 1 41 12 35

Wallsend RAOB 17 9 5 2 37 29 32

Wearmouth CW 19 9 3 7 38 39 30

Darlington Croft 18 8 5 5 38 23 29

Newton Aycliffe 19 8 3 8 33 21 27

Wardley Green 18 7 3 8 38 33 24

Wallsend RS 16 6 6 4 36 33 24

*Rams Head 19 7 1 11 30 48 19

Sedgefield 16 5 3 8 30 32 18

Barnes Hotel 20 2 3 15 25 77 9

Willow Pond 20 2 2 16 28 69 8

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Touchdown Hotel 18 12 2 4 63 25 38

Hartlepool CC 20 10 4 6 43 31 34

Hebburn DT 19 8 5 6 32 26 29

Consett 21 8 4 9 34 37 28

Brit Telecom 16 7 5 4 43 25 26

Barnard CG 15 7 5 4 43 25 26

Spring Gardens 17 7 4 6 41 35 25

Red House WMC 20 7 3 10 38 53 24

Boldon Black Bull 21 6 3 12 35 64 21

*Gateshead Ex-S 16 5 7 4 21 23 19

Moor House 16 5 2 9 28 42 17

Houghton CC 17 4 2 11 23 48 14

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts

Wynyard Vets 17 14 1 2 64 23 43

Hylton Castle 18 13 2 3 53 28 41

Billingham Town 18 10 5 3 45 25 35

Whitley Bay 19 10 3 6 40 33 33

Wingate 21 9 3 9 46 42 30

Darsley Park 19 8 4 7 50 40 28

Regency Windows 22 8 4 10 47 55 28

Durham CS 20 8 2 10 37 42 26

West Cornforth 23 8 2 13 44 49 26

Marsden Inn 19 7 4 8 42 43 25

Darlington Rail 19 7 1 11 33 54 22

Hartlepool RNC 21 5 3 13 39 71 18

Steels FC 18 5 2 11 30 35 17

Roker Queen Vic 18 3 5 10 29 47 14

Division Four

P W D L F A Pts

Oddies 17 15 2 0 65 15 47

Hed Deneside 20 13 3 4 67 34 42

Houghton Swifts 15 10 1 4 49 24 31

Crook Town 16 10 1 5 41 27 31

Toll Bar 17 9 3 5 34 27 30

Dagmar 20 8 5 7 41 40 29

Thornley Celtic 20 8 4 8 46 39 28

Houghton Mill 19 7 6 6 41 39 27

Marsden Vets 21 5 10 6 45 37 25

Trimdon Vets 19 6 7 6 41 33 25

Sportsmans A 19 6 2 11 43 65 20

Taylors 19 5 4 10 30 39 19

Winstons 18 4 4 10 26 51 16

Wynyard OB 20 3 4 13 21 66 13

Halfway House 21 2 2 17 29 78 8

Tomorrow's fixtures

Kenny Ball Cup, fourth round

Billingham CGS Wan. v Wynyard Vets

Blackhall Hardwick v Marden

Darlington Croft v Silksworth Lord Sea.

Gateshead Ex-Serv. v Hartlepool Catholic

Killingworth Arms v Steels Social

Hartlepool RNC v Penshaw Catholic

Seaton Delaval SC v Sunderland Catholic

Owton Manor SC v Spring Gardens

Division One

Barnes Hotel v Wallsend RAOB

Wardley Green v Langley Park Rams H.

Wearmouth CW v Newton Aycliffe

Division Two

Moor House v Houghton CC

Red House WMC v Glaxo

British Telecom v Touchdown Hotel

Division Three

Billingham Town v Steels FC

Darlington Railway v Roker Queen Vic

DSS Darsley Park v Whitley Bay

Durham C Strollers v Marsden Inn

Division Four

Dagmar FC v Toll Bar

Hedworthfield Denes. v Winstons

Oddies v Houghton Swifts

Halfway House v Marsden Vets

Houghton Mill Inn v Crook Town

Sportsmans Arms v Thornley Celtic

Trimdon Vets v Taylor