The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

The goalless first-half was a fairly close affair but the game opened up in the second-half when Shuttle and Loom took the lead as a wind-assisted cross was headed into his own net by a King's Head defender.

Barry Raper doubled the Shuttle's advantage with a well-taken goal. The King's Head rallied for the last 20 minutes and Ross Hardaker grabbed an excellent goal to give King's Head hope with two minutes to go, but in the end it was too late as the Shuttle hung on for a deserved victory.

In Division One, Coundon Miners Arms finally took their first championship as they defeated The Northern Echo. After their 5-0 midweek victory over Brinkburn, the Miners knew that three points against the Echo would finally kill off Spraire's vague hopes of catching them.

In the end it was a deserved championship win, and although the Echo played some good football, Coundon were in control for the majority of the game and ran out 4-2 victors.

Steven Denham, Wayne Carr and Darren Wilson (2) secured the although a goal either side of half-time for the Echo's Rob Carter ensured that the Miners didn't have it all their own way.

Spraire kept up their run of victories, taking all six points, firstly beating The Northern Echo 3-1 yesterday week and then beat fellow challengers Team Scania 4-1 on Sunday and they look likely to finish runners-up in their first season in the top flight.

Elsewhere, goals from Roy Winter and Stu Cottam helped ensure that Busters would have a top three finish while Stu Alderson's goal and a man-of-the-match performance from Steve Minns wasn't enough to ease Stooperdale's worries at the wrong end of the table. Stooperdale's 3-1 defeat coupled with their 2-2 draw with bottom side Copper Beech DCS means that Sunday's game with Brinkburn will decide which of the two sides will be playing in Division Two next season. The Brinkburn are in a similar poor vein of form, however, losing 4-1 to Springfield on Sunday, thanks to a Darren Tate double and goals for Lee Rutter and Dominic Rich. Richie Wilson hit Brinkburn's consolation.

Newton Aycliffe Sports Club defeated Copper Beech DCS 3-1 while East End WMC drew 2-2 with relegated Jack Homers. In a dreary game, Jacks took the lead against the run of play through Leon Russell, only for the lead to be reversed as Steve Johnson struck two goals in less than ten minutes to put East End 2-1 up.

However, Charlie Camilleri converted a penalty just before half-time to draw the two sides level before half-time and that's how the game finished.

In Division Two, Nestfield Club were presented with the championship trophy before they kicked off against Sadberge, and they proceeded to dent their opponent's promotion hopes as they ran riot, picking up a 5-2 away win. Garry Mitchell hit four of Nestfield's goals and Mark Kemp struck the other, with Mark. Grant and Simon Harrison striking Sadberge's goals.

Northern Spirit RA's recent run of good form continued, defeating Smith and Allan 1-0 yesterday week, thanks to a fine goal from Mike Gatenby. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Bishop Auckland Derby finished their season well with a 9-4 victory over Smith and Allan, and the Greyhound beat Hogans 8-0.

Northern Spirit Colts have finished the season by picking up seven points from nine, the last two games being a 3-3 draw with Hoppers Transport on Thursday week and a 4-3 win over Newton Cap on Sunday. Against Hoppers, midfielder Craig Stoddart opened the scoring against his former club before strikes from Dave Richards (penalty), Ian Thompson and Andy Thompson put the promoted side in the driving seat. Colts pushed forward and got the point they deserved with two further goals.

Colts' scorers on Sunday were Martin Hogg (3) and Phil Moore, in reply were strikes courtesy of Mills (2) and Foster.

In Division Three, 21st All Stars are celebrating a successful first season, winning the Third Division championship thanks to a 5-1 victory against Hopetown WMC.

Division One

P W L D F A Pts Gd

Coundon Min. Arms 20 19 1 0 81 23 57 58

Spraire 20 16 3 0 83 39 48 44

Busters 19 14 4 1 65 38 43 28

Team Scania 20 12 8 0 74 46 36 28

East End WMC 20 11 7 2 67 43 35 24

Springfield 20 10 6 4 72 49 34 23

N Aycliffe 20 11 8 1 75 61 34 14

Northern Echo 21 9 11 1 50 57 28 -7

*Stooperdale RA 20 4 14 2 45 78 11 -33

Brinkburn 19 3 14 2 37 98 11 -60

Jack Horners 22 2 17 3 39 102 9 -63

Copper Bch. DCS 21 1 18 2 28 82 5 -54

Division Two

Nestfield 22 19 2 1 136 39 58 97

Hoppers Tran. (p) 22 15 5 2 87 51 47 36

Green Dragon 21 11 7 3 101 61 36 40

Sadberge 21 10 6 5 79 70 35 9

BA Derby 22 10 9 3 107 80 33 27

N Spirit RA 21 9 7 5 58 42 32 16

Classic World 21 8 6 7 72 70 31 2

Greyhound 21 8 6 7 66 64 31 2

Smith and Allan 22 8 9 5 85 84 29 1

N Spirit Colts 22 5 12 5 50 80 20 -30

Newton Cap 21 4 17 0 61 124 12 -63

Hogans 22 0 21 1 27 164 1 -137

Division Three

21st All Stars 19 16 1 2 120 22 50 98

Shuttle and Loom 18 14 3 1 97 23 43 74

BA Kings Head 129 13 3 3 69 35 42 34

Hurworth Albion 19 13 5 1 61 29 40 32

Hopetown WMC 20 11 7 2 91 42 35 49

AFC Orange 20 11 7 2 85 46 35 39

RBL 20 7 12 1 58 62 22 -4

AXA Insurance 19 6 13 0 33 126 18 -03

*Brown Trout 17 4 12 1 42 105 10 -63

Biglins News 19 2 16 1 25 92 7 -67

Falchion 18 0 18 0 18 117 0 -99

*Denotes three points deducted

Darlington Church and Friendly League

AFTER inflicting the first defeat for The Royal last week, Deepdale lost their unbeaten tag, going down 2-1 to Otter and Fish, all three goals scoring in the first-half, Darren Wray headed Otter in front from a corner kick with Chris Liddle adding the second after a great four man move, Phil Kirby reduced the arrears for Deepdale.

Model T crashed 8-2 to The Royal after taking the initiative and opening the scoring through Callum Reilly, their second came from a James Middleton free-kick, Paul Cleary led Royals scoring with a double in each half, Simon Hares hit a first half brace, one each went to Jason Legender and Paul Weir.

Three goals from Jamie Welsh and one for Stuart Cottam were enough to give Busters a 4-1 win over Aycliffe Saints. DGSOB and Turbinia shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Abbey Road, Peter Turnbull with a well struck free kick for Old Boys and Terry Robinson converted a penalty for Turbinia.

Playing some neat football RA Youth overcame Three Tuns 5-2, both Darren Kokes and Paul Tully hit doubles for RA with their fifth coming from Carl Moss. Wesley's took the game to Tap and Spile to lead at the break through a Paul Prince goal, in the second, thinking they'd done enough, sat back and midway through the half were then caught out as Tap hit them with four goals without reply through Paul Hope, Carl Ridley, Neil Scarth and Mike Pallister. Hydro came out 5-2 victors against Wheatsheaf Wanderers, Neville Richardson was once again Hydro's target man with four, their fifth was scored by Adrian Gough, the Wheatsheaf goals came from Steve Ryder and Paul Tron.

In midweek there were wins for Deepdale, Model T, Otter & Fish, SCA, Sedgefield, The Royal and Turbinia.

Hathaway Auckland and District League

Ithe League Cup final on Monday night, in front of a good crowd at West Auckland, Witton Park beat Coxhoe Athletic 2-1 in a close game. Coxhoe got off to a good start with an early goal from David Hutchinson. They held the lead until just before half-time when Wayne Nicholson equalised for Witton Park.

The second-half produced plenty of chances, and just when extra time looked on the cards, Wayne Nicholson scored the winner for Witton Park.

In the Auckland Charity Cup final played yesterday week, Darlington RA beat DSRM 3-1.

On Saturday, Shildon Railway finished their league programme with a 7-1 win over Glaxo, leaving Darlington RA needm four points from two games to become champions.

Shildon Railway's scorers were John Shotton (4), Will Swinburn, Gavin brown and John Myers, with Carl Dowson replying for Glaxo.

Cockfield, in their last game, lost 3-2 at Black and Decker.

Rob Mazur, Paul Franey and Michael Hodgson scored for Black and Decker, with David Kemp-Ambler and David Wilkinson replying for Cockfield.

Roddymoor's climb continued on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Brewer and Firkin. David Snow and Anthony Stewart scored for Roddymoor with Steve Hockburn replying for Brewer and Firkin.

Coxhoe Athletic beat Middleton Wanderers 2-1, Philip Best and Michael Armstrong scoring for Coxhoe and Dale Dryden scoring the Middleton goal.

Quinns Inn recorded the double over Witton Park with a 4-2 win. The scores were level at half-time.

Billy Latcham scored for Witton Park and John Nicholson replied for Quinns Inn who then took control with Michael Kyle scoring a hat-trick and Latcham scoring his second near the end for Witton Park.

Crook and District League

After Crook Wanderers lost in midweek, Willington Cottles drew level at the top with a 3-1 victory over Wearhead United.

The visitors led 1-0 with an early Richard Needham goal. Goals from Michael Bylett and Wayne Fleming turned the game in Cottles favour by half-time.

A 30-yarder from Christopher Ross made the final score 3-1 to Cottles.

Paul Gibson, Darren Deuchars and Gary Thompson gave Crook White Swan a 3-0 lead after just 20 minutes against Stanhope Town. But Stanhope came back and a hat-trick from Rob O'Dell made it 3-3 at half-time.

The game turned back in favour of White Swan and they completed a 6-3 win with second half goals from Deuchars (2) and Gibson.

Camerons Teesside League

P W D L F A Pts Gd

Acklam SW 34 24 7 3 97 40 79 +57

Nunthorpe Ath 34 23 4 7 106 43 73 +63

Grangetown BC 34 21 7 6 80 35 70 +45

Cargo Fleet 34 21 5 8 112 55 68 +57

Thornaby YC 33 18 8 7 68 38 62 +30

Hollybush Utd 33 17 7 9 89 49 58 +40

Bedale Ath 34 18 3 13 95 66 57 +29

Carlin How 34 16 6 11 92 64 57 +28

Thornaby 34 15 5 14 58 52 50 +6

Fishburn Park 34 13 10 11 76 53 46 +23

BEADS 34 13 3 18 69 118 42 -39

Richmond Town 33 12 3 18 58 73 39 -15

Whitby Town Res 34 10 7 17 53 67 37 -14

Wolviston Res 32 9 9 14 50 64 36 -14

New Marske SC 34 10 5 19 41 75 35 -34

*Stokesley SC 34 6 4 24 40 107 19 -67

*Guisb Town Res 34 6 2 26 46 115 17 -69

Mackinlay Park 33 1 3 29 28 144 6 -116

*Denotes three points deducte