The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

The Division One title challenge is really starting to hot up after this week's games with Newton Aycliffe moving into pole position ahead of cup finalists Spraire RA and Coundon Forresters.

On Thursday evening Coundon Forresters cruised past Team Scania 6-0 whilst Newton Aycliffe Sports Club travelled to play an already relegated Springfield side. However, any thoughts of Aycliffe slipping up were quickly forgotten as Paul Stout produced an excellent performance as he fired four of the away side's goals in a 6-2 victory. John Shotton notched the Sports Club's other two goals whilst Mark Carter and Darren Tate hit Springfield's consolations.

Whilst Spraire and Coundon were enjoying their day out at Feethams, the Sports Club were in the process of dismantling East End WMC at the slightly less inviting venue of Croft WMC.

The Sports Club once more hit six goals as they crushed a weakened East End side 6-0, but the score would have been even greater had Wayne Carrick in the East End goal not kept out two Aycliffe penalties. As it was though, John Shotton added to his midweek brace with a hat trick whilst Wayne Anderson, Andrew Turner and Carl Black also found the back of the net.

That result moves the Sports Club above Spraire into the top spot by a point despite the Sports Club having played a game less, whilst Coundon Forresters are a further point behind but also have a game in hand on Spraire. The end of the season will prove to be one of the most exciting for several years, however, as once Coundon have played East End WMC they will have to face Newton Aycliffe Sports Club.

In turn, The Sports Club will have to play Spraire RA as well as facing Coundon so any of the top three teams could still take the title.

In the only other game of the week Biglins News beat Newton Cap 7-1 in the final game outside of the top flight this season.