Wanderers top League

Billingham Wanderers won 3-1 away to the Killingworth Arms and once again top the Premier Division. Leading 2-0 at the interval courtesy of Barrett and Aldridge whose goals put them two up after two minutes, Billingham were always in command and never looked like losing. After the break Killingworth pulled one back but a further goal from Mark Steel settled the issue.

Owton Manor won 3-0 against the Police thanks to goals from Gaffick (pen) and Skirving to finish in third position. The Police with two games left must win both and hopes Usworth lose theirs to escape relegation.

Marden still have a squeak, they drew 2-2 against the Lord Seaham and must hope the Police and Usworth lose their games.

In the Kenny Ball Cup fifth round Langley Park Rams Head belied their lowly position in Division I by holding Premier side Ferryhill Greyhound 0-0 and forcing extra time and only lost 4-5 on penalties. The hero of the game was Ferryhill's keeper Phil Owers who played a blinder, in extra time he saved the Rams' fifth penalty and then scored with Ferryhill's fifth to see them through. In Division II Barnard Castle Glaxo finished their programme on a winning note, defeating Roker Queen Vic 4-2 at home to finish in mid-table.

In Division III Consett Cricket Club are the champions and have won promotion for the second successive year. They won 3-2 away to the Marsden Inn. They trailed 0-1 at the break but came back strongly after the break, John Morrison levelling. A fine solo effort from Shaun Peacock gave them a 2-1 lead. The Marsden Inn equalised two minutes from time, Consett now pushed all forward and in the last minutes a cross from Peacock was hammered home by Kevin Carr to give them a 3-2 away victory. In Division IV Darlington Railway faltered in their promotion drive losing 1-3 to near rival N Shields Vets and now must win their last game if they are to gain promotion. Three teams are still concerned, the other two being the NS Vets and Billingham Town.

Emergency Services League

With the season coming to its climax, it's still neck and neck between Frankland and Easington, with both teams having won again this week, Frankland were six goal winners at Stockton with goals by Richie Hiskinson (2), Peter Jobling, Richard Knott, Peter Aanderson and Malcolm Penney. Easington were 4-1 winners at home to Langbaurgh. Newcastle West finally got a game under their belts after several weeks without one for various reasons. They travelled to Durham and beat HQ 5-1, in what was HQ'S final game of the season. The result was a disappointing end to satisfying season for Gordon Stuarts' team. Barrie Joiyce and Peter Kindon scored two goals each with leading scorer Dave Oakes getting the other, Mick Button got the consolation goal for HQ, Saints only just took advantage of Durham and CLS having eight men, when they won 2-1 thanks to two first hall goals from Les Goodliffe and John Rowland. Man of the match Andy Davies got the second half goal for the Durham side.

Durham Fire Brigade pulled off their third win off the season over Derwentside when they won 2-1 at Aykley Heads.

Derwentside kicked off with eight men and the Fire team profited with two goals by Mark Harrison and Steve Holcroft. Derwentside eventually reached their full quota of players by half time. They got back into the game late on with a Kevin Maddick header, but it was too little too late, as they slumped to their eighth single goal defeat in the league.

Eskvale and Cleveland League

Ia thrilling match at the Turnbull Ground last Friday Lealholm eventually managed to beat Staithes Ath on penalties in the final of the League Cup.

The first half was fairly uneventful with both defences dominating neither side took the initiative and few chances were treated. In contrast the second half exploded.

After ten minutes poor marking by Lealholm allowed Calvert a free header which was placed well beyond the diving keeper to give Staithes the lead. This prompted Lealholm to raise their game and within five minutes they had found the equaliser when Carruthers passed the ball into the net from the edge of the area.

A tight match then saw its biggest talking point when the Staithes keeper Eddie Brown, brought down Lealholm striker Phil Brown midway into his own half. With covering defenders scrambling back the referee rightly saw the challenge only worthy of a yellow card.

There followed a goal feast at regular intervals. Staithes regained the lead when a right wing cross allowed Calvert to tap in his second. A Whitwell free kick then struck the bar and with the Staithes keeper still struggling to his feet Dent scored from close range. With ten minutes to go Staithes looked to have won the game when their third was smashed in off the bar. However, with one last effort Lealholm managed to find their third equaliser when a Whitwell shot from the edge of the area.

With just ten seconds to go took the match into extra time. Once again Lealholm allowed Staithes the edge when in the first minute of extra time a scuffed clearance allowed Gibson a clear run on goal to give Staithes a 4-3 lead. They failed to capitalise on this and with Lealholm quiet for the rest of the period, Staithes missed two or three good chances to kill off the game.

In the second period Lealholm, were the stronger side and after making their three substitutions they somehow found the fourth equaliser when a delicate shot from man of the match Carruthers gave him his second goal with just a couple of minute remaining.

Even Lealholm found time for one last chance when a Howes shot drifted agonisingly wide of the post. Going first in the penalty shoot-out allowed Lealholm the chance to take the lead for the first time. The first two shots saw the teams level. Lealholm scored their third but Staithes missed. When Lealholm netted their fourth the pressure was on Staithes keeper who stepped up to take their fourth. He managed to convert and he now faced Lealholm keeper Gibson who held his nerve to score the fifth and so win Lealholm the cup in this dramatic well supported final.

Lealholm and Staithes had their Saturday league matches postponed, however, four matches did take place.

Both Boosbeck United and Whitby Fishermans completed their league programme. Two goals from Winspear and one from Graham gave Whitby a victory over Anchor to leave them halfway up the league table on 37 points.

Boosbeck Utd ensured that they would not finish in last position with a fine win over runner up contenders Loftus Ath. The game started at a fast place with Loftus looking as if they were taking charge but an early goal from Dewing gave Boosbeck the advantage.

Loftus played some good build up football finding Sivills with arial balls but the Boosbeck defence was well marshalled by Morgan who never lost a tackle. Loftus won a corner, the ball was knocked into the box where Boosbeck keeper made a goof collection only to drop the ball at the feet of a Loftus player who out it straight back into the penalty area for Hall to fire home.

Boosbeck restored the lead when Breckon broke down the left to cross the ball for Bowden to slot the ball in from close range. Boosbeck then began to control the game, with Buck and Thompson providing from midfield. An early cross from Buck found Bowden who outstripped the Loftus defence to cross for Breckon to score the third.

Loftus pulled a goal back when a move down the left resulted in Deveraux beating the Boosbeck keeper. Some strong running from Bowden who was having a fine game, left to a cross into the penalty area where Dewing played in Johnson to net Boosbeck's fourth. The Boosbeck defence held firm with keeper Myers in outstanding form, thwarting he Loftus attack on numerous occasions.

Grangetown clinched the championship title with a dominating performance against Hinderwell winning the match by ten goals to give them their second successive title.

Redcar Mackinlay Park entertained Brotton in a match that was very even for the first 20 minutes, both sides having limited chances, most of the play being battled out in midfield. Mackinlay Park had a good move down the right between Sherwood, Goult and Bennions which gave Jackson an easy tap in for the first goal. Brotton pressed hard in the second half to try for the equaliser, Solomon having a few good chances which he failed to put away. During this period keeper Henwood made a brilliant point blank save to keep Mackinlay in the game. Brotton finally got the equaliser with 15 minutes to go when Keegans managed to break free. Five minutes later however, Nozeedar beat the offside trap to put Mackinlay into the lead again. Their defence then held on for the last ten minutes despite some intense pressure from Brotton to give Mackinlay Park all three points.