The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

The game between Coundon Forresters and Newton Aycliffe Sports Club provided, as ever, a fantastic game of football, but unlike their league game earlier this season, goals were difficult to come by. In fact it took until ten minutes into sudden death extra-time for the deadlock to be broken, as Rob Mazur's fine header from a corner gave Coundon a place in the final for the second year in succession. Meanwhile, Spraire RA, the current leaders in Division One, will be their opponents, but they certainly made life difficult for themselves in their semi-final against Speedwell. Speedwell capitalised on some poor defending early in the game to race into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from John Banks, Carl Bozeate and a fine breakaway strike from Stuart Cottam. However, Graham Dodsworth reduced the arrears soon before the break, giving Spraire a vital lifeline in the process. In fact, Spraire raced out of the blocks in the second period and goals from Martin Ward and Danny Richmond soon levelled the score at 3-3. However, Speedwell defended resolutely, but they just couldn't survive the onslaught, and in the final stages of the game Richie Hindle bagged a brace and Dodsworth notched his second of the game to make the score 6-3 to Spraire, and set up a cracker of a First Division Cup final.

In Division Two, leaders Hurworth Albion had a week off, giving the chasing pack the opportunity to close the gap. However, it was an opportunity that second placed Jack Horners wasted as they were beaten 4-1 by a Bishop Auckland Cricket Club side that moved into fourth place with that victory. Alan Meadows and Anthony Jacques both bagged two goals apiece in the game, to give the Cricket Club a deserved victory, especially as secretary Ian Corner and members of his squad were cutting and marking the pitch at seven in the morning in order to make it fit for the game!

Another team to spurn the opportunity to put the pressure on Hurworth were Allstars, who have fallen into mid-table after an impressive start to the season. They travelled to Bishop Auckland Derby on Sunday, but came away with only a point as both teams played out a hard-fought 2-2 draw. Michael Bland and Darren Kokes were on the score-sheet for Allstars whilst Michael Latcham and Darren Dye hit Derby's goals.

At the bottom end of the table, Northern Spirit finally picked up their first points of the season as they defeated Sadberge 5-4 in an entertaining encounter. Spirit hit Sadberge with an early goal apiece from Mike Donnelly and Phil Moore to put themselves in the driving seat, but Mark Grant hit a well-deserved goal after about half an hour to put the pressure on struggling Spirit. However, unlike in previous weeks, Spirit held their nerve and struck again, with Donnelly bagging his second of the game, to make the score 3-1 at half time. Soon after the break Tristan Alltimes notched for Sadberge to bring the score back to 3-2, but again Spirit extended their lead straightaway, this time thanks to a good strike from Dave Brown, after he had rounded several Sadberge defenders. Spirit then took their foot off the pedal though, and Sadberge got back onto level terms as Mark Grant struck twice to complete his hat-trick, but Spirit weren't to be denied, and Dave Brown's header in the last five minutes gave Spirit a deserved three points.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Smith & Allan were thumped 21-0 in their local derby game against Shuttle & Loom, with Chris Airey top-scoring with nine goals. Kevin Baines and Stuart Curry notched four apiece, whilst Darren Hickey notched a brace, and Jamie Smith and Graham Dutton helped themselves to one each as the Shuttle move into third place. Smith & Allan, meanwhile, remain bottom of the league. The only other game in Division Three saw Copper Beech DCS pick up all three points in their game against Greyhound, which moved them into an impressive fifth place.

Chris Footer and Tim Usher bagged the goals for the Beech, whilst Nigel Rea hit Greyhound's response.

In Division Three, AFC Orange retained their 100 per cent record as they returned to the top of the table after defeating Faverdale 4-0. Faverdale's defence put up a stubborn show, but Ali French and Gary Park both hit a brace each to keep Orange on course for promotion to Division Two. Another side looking for promotion is Yates's Wine Lodge, who moved into second place in Division Two thanks to an 8-4 victory over bottom side Hogans. Matthew Waistell and Chris Chadwick ran the game for the Lodger's, with Chadwick notching an impressive hat trick. Waistell was also on the score sheet, and Stuart Bell and Chris Easby both notched two goals apiece. Ian Tailor (2), Andi Hall and Martin Wilson hit Hogans goals. Royal British Legion, meanwhile moved into third place, as they swapped places with Canney Hill Athletic after the game between the two sides. Michael Meredith was the Legion's star man as he notched a hat-trick, with the in-form Trevor Cooke also notching for the Legion. Lee Douthwaite hit two and Michael Ginty also grabbed a goal for Canney Hill, but it was too little, as the Legion won the game 4-3.

At Abbey Road, Biglins News hosted Nestfield Seconds in a very exciting game. Biglins took the lead halfway through the first half with a superb solo goal from Paul Freary, but it was to be a short-lived lead as Ade Weston coolly slotted home for Nestfield Seconds after rounding the Biglins back-line, to make the half-time score 1-1. A penalty from Paul Carroll restored Biglins lead after an hour, and they seemed content to sit back and defend that lead for the remainder of the game. However, in the final 15 minutes Nestfield Seconds hit three goals in quick succession to turn the game on its head. First, Weston struck his second of the game with a penalty to bring the score back level, and then, with a little help from a mistake by the Biglins keeper, he completed his hat-trick with a strike from just outside the box.

Nestfield substitute Howells then looked to have sowed the points up as he made the score 4-2 with five minutes remaining. Biglin's refused to lie down however, and Carroll notched his second penalty of the game to give themselves a shout, and then Ste Payne notched an equaliser in a last minute goal mouth scramble to make the final score 4-4.

In the remaining third division fixture, The Falchion scored their second win of the season with a 4-2 victory over Newton Cap. However, it was Cap that made the early running, and they almost went 1-0 up in the opening minutes, but for a superb one handed save from Scott Carvell. The Falchion eventually got themselves in the game, however, and Mike Watt broke the deadlock with a fine strike from the edge of the box after 20 minutes. However, Cap were back on level terms within five minutes thanks to an Andrew Carrick goal, and then Sean Bell gave them a 2-1 lead on the stroke of half-time. A change of personnel at half-time saw a much improved performance from The Falchion, though, and soon after half-time Mike Layton latched on a long punt up-field by his goalkeeper to bring the scores back level. Minutes later Simon Taylor gave The Falchion the lead after a wonderful pass from Matt Davies, and then minutes from time Mike Layton notched his second of the game to make the final score 4-2 after another huge goal-kick from Trevor Hardy.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts GD

Spraire RA 7 5 1 1 42 13 16 29

Nestfield Club 9 5 1 3 29 26 16 3

The Northern Echo 9 5 1 3 29 31 16 -2

Speedwell 9 5 0 4 36 22 15 14

Newton Aycliffe Sc 7 4 2 1 19 9 14 10

*Coundon Foresters 7 5 1 1 41 8 13 33

East End Wmc 6 4 0 2 27 14 12 13

Brinkburn 8 3 1 4 33 27 10 6

Team Scania 8 3 0 5 25 53 9 -28

Hoppers Transport 9 1 2 6 19 45 5 -26

*Springfield 9 2 1 6 19 45 4 -26

Green Dragon 8 1 0 7 19 45 3 -26

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts GD

Hurworth Albion 8 7 0 1 43 6 21 37

Jack Horners 8 6 0 2 34 9 18 25

Shuttle & Loom 6 5 0 1 35 7 15 28

B A Cricket Club 6 5 0 1 24 8 15 16

Copper Beech DCS 9 5 0 4 27 23 15 4

All Stars 8 4 1 3 46 15 13 31

Sadberge 8 4 0 4 37 23 12 14

BAA The Derby 8 3 1 4 32 26 10 6

Greyhound 9 2 0 7 20 40 6 -20

Northern Spirit 8 1 0 7 10 35 3 -25

Smith & Allan 8 0 0 8 7 123 0 -116

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts GD

AFC Orange 8 8 0 0 38 5 24 33

Yates Wine Lodge 10 8 0 2 42 21 24 21

Royal British Legion 9 7 2 0 42 19 23 23

Canney Hill Athletic 9 7 0 2 40 12 21 28

Pizza Perfekt 10 5 1 4 38 27 16 11

Nestfield Seconds 9 3 3 3 25 24 12 1

Biglins News 9 3 2 4 28 23 11 5

Newton Cap 9 3 1 5 25 43 10 -18

Faverdale 10 3 0 7 25 37 9 -12

The Falchion 10 2 1 7 22 39 7 -17

Axa Insurance 9 2 0 7 17 34 6 -17

Hogans 10 0 0 10 12 70 0 -58

*Denotes three points deducte