MASONS ARMS maintained their 100 per-cent record with a thumping win over title rivals Thorns.

The struggling champions crashed to their third league defeat of the season as Masons stamped their authority on the championship race.

A hat-trick by Marc Costello - as well as goals by Tom Fothergill (2), Lee Atkinson, Liam McRoy and Lee Newby - was enough for last year's runners-up to open up a six-point cushion between the two sides, and with three games in hand.

"They seem to be struggling for players," admitted Masons Secretary Anthony Warnett. "Once we got a few goals in the first half, it was fairly straight forward. We were four goals up after 20 minutes or so and I think it was pretty much finished by then."

Steven Smith scored Thorns' goal.

Meanwhile, Old Shildon slipped up at home to Middridge Bay Horse when they were beaten 6-1 by the ninth-placed outfit.

Kyle Allen (2), Michael Cairns (2), Darren Scott and John Hughes all scored Horse's goals. Neil Robinson scored for Old Shildon.

Croxdale won 9-2 at Hunwick Joiners with goals by Dean Burns (3), Karl Lamb (3), Iain Ambrosini, Gavin Bell and Kev Hepburn. James Melville scored both Hunwick goals.

Quinns won 6-0 at Voltigeur with goals by Craig Parker (2), Dave Parker, Gaz Jackson, Jordan Bulmer and Stephen Quinn.

In Division Two, Belvedere grabbed their fourth win of the season with a good win in a close fight with Victoria.

Lee Nixon put them one up before Michael Simmons equalised for the Vic before half-time.

But second half goals by Nixon, Alan Lamb and Timmy Hutchinson gave Belvedere their win and gain some ground on their mid-table opponents.

"I was pleased with the way we played," said Bel boss Karl Thompson. "After the way we've been playing lately, we did quite well and I was pleased with the lads. I think the Vic looked a little out of sorts, to be fair, but at the same time I don't want to take anything away from our lads. It was a good result."

New Brancepeth won 5-3 at Hogans with goals by Craig Hindmarch (2), Anthony Holiday (2) and Eddie Watson. Jonathan Slack, Dean Cummins and Mark Bell scored for Hogans.

Browney won 3-2 at home to Penny Gill with goals by Stuart Kitching, Andrew Nicholson and John Kidd.

Green Tree won 2-0 at home to Half Moon with goals by Matthew Carrick and Glen Thompson.

In Division Three, the Navy Club put one over their neighbours Horndale Celtic to leapfrog fellow Aycliffe rivals the Southerne Club in Division Three.

Horndale had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half, although Navy recovered in the second half to out-run their opponents and chalk their third league win of the season - jumping a place to seventh.

Kevin O'Neil scored three, while Wayne Pratt, Rob Johnson, Michael Heseltine and an own goal were also on Navy's scoresheet.I thought we were too strong for them in the second half," said Navy's assistant manager Neil Rickaby.

"They were pushing us in the first half, they had chances and our goalkeeper has played really well, but I just think they tired after half-time, and it was fairly comfortable for us in the end. We had a full squad to choose from for the first time in a while and that showed, we played some good football."

Trevor Dixon scored twice and Shaun Grant once for Horndale.

Elsewhere, Shildon Fox and Hounds won 6-4 at Masons United with goals by Michael Roberts (3), Darren Foster and Michael Boddy. Chris Larkman and Carl Dawson both netted a brace each for Masons.

Graham Kime and Stuart Rand scored for Merrington Fox and Hounds as they drew 2-2 with Castle, who had Daniel Pattinson and Paul Thompson on the scoresheet.

EBAC won 9-0 at home to the Southerne Club with goals by John Wheatley (3), Gavin Bell (3), Mark Owen (2) and Darren Dye.

Aycliffe Village won 3-1 at home to Bishop Masons with goals by Jonathan Craig (2) and Morgan Fielding. Adam Henderson scored for Masons.

*The next meeting will take place on Wednesday December 13 at Old Shildon WMC in Shildon, from 8pm.

* www.spenny-league.co.uk

RESULTS: Division One: Hunwick 2, Croxdale 9; Old Shildon 1, Bay Horse 6; Voltigeur 0, Quinns 6; Masons Arms 8, Thorns 1.

Division Two: Green Tree 2, Half Moon 0; Hogans 3, New Brancepeth 5; Browney 3, Penny Gill 2; Victoria 1, Belvedere 4.

Division Three: Fox and Hounds 2, Castle 2; Horndale Celtic 3, Navy Club 7; Masons Utd 4, Shildon Fox 6; EBAC 9, Southerne Club 0; Aycliffe Village 3, Bishop Masons 1.

FIXTURES: Sunday: J&A Trophy Round One: Browney v Thorns, Shildon Athletic v Tudhoe Utd, Quinns v Old Shildon, Castle v Penny Gill, Bay Horse v Green Tree.

J&A Trophy Round Two: Croxdale v Half Moon, Aycliffe Village v Hunwick, Southerne Club v Masons Arms.

Division One: North Briton v Binchester SC.

Division Two: Belvedere v Hogans, Victoria v Eldon Arms.

Division Three: EBAC v Fox and Hounds, Bishop Masons v Horndale Celtic, Shildon Fox v Navy Club.

Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League

The Smithy 3 Ennis Square 2

DESPITE taking a two-goal lead within 15 minutes of the kick off, Ennis Square not only lost the game but also their 100 per-cent record as The Smithy came battling back.

Goals in the fifth and 15th minute from Liam Allinson and Wayne Gent gave Ennis a flying start but The Smithy reduced the arrears by half-time when Chris McGill saw his shot across the six-yard box end up in the back of the net, albeit with the aid of a deflection.

Ten minutes after the restart, McGill brought The Smithy back on level terms when he got on the end of a cross from Andrew Gove and it was Gove just ten minutes later who scored what proved to be the winning goal.

Picking the ball up in midfield, Gove found himself with time and space to hit an unstoppable shot from 25 yards out that finished up in the top corner of the net.

Acklam Steelworks 3 Stokesley 1

ACKLAM Steelworks took the lead on 20 minutes when a 40-yard solo run from Duane Vincent ended with the Steelies striker rounding the keeper and tapping home from close range.

Chances went begging at both ends but it was not until 20 minutes from time that Acklam went two up when a long throw from Darren Bartlett found Tony Coverdale.

Coverdale flicked the ball on to Sean Warren who made no mistake from 25 yards out.

Despite the scoreline, Stokesley battled hard to get back into the game and their hopes were raised when Andy Hudson tapped home from close range with ten minutes left but a quickly taken free-kick in the dying seconds by Steelwork's Stephen Dalton ended with substitute Sean Warren hitting the winner.