Darlington Sunday Invitation League; Division One : Smith and Allan and East End replayed their Division One Cup quarter-final last Sunday, and it was Smith and Allan who deservedly came out on top triumphing by 6-3 and earned the right to meet Spraire RA in the semi-final.

It was East End, however, who took the lead with a superb strike from Neil Tarrant after a Richie Hill free-kick. Although Smith and Allan responded with an equally good strike from Mike Richardson, Tarrant`s second of the game once again gave East End the lead.

In a to-and-fro match it was to be Smith and Allan who went into the half-time break ahead as, driven on by the impressive Nick Lyons and man of the match Kevin Duggan, goals from Pete Gormley and another from Richardson gave them a slender advantage.

Once again East End`s reply came from the excellent Tarrant as he made the game all square early in the second half only for Smith and Allan`s counter attacking style of football to take them through, with Richardson completing his own hat-trick and both Paul Freary and Lyons scoring to make the final margin of victory look convincing.

Whoever wins the semi-final between Spraire and Smith and Allan will find DSRM All Stars waiting for them in the final as they safely booked their passage through with a convincing 3-0 victory against Haughton WMC. All Stars broke the deadlock after 20 minutes with a screamer into the top corner from Darren Kokes and it was the same player who doubled his side `s lead when he scored from an acute angle on the hour. With time running out, Dean Lowson found a way through the Haughton WMC defence and squared the ball to the ever alert Kokes who completed his hat-trick and finished the scoring.

Second Division

First met third in a crunch match as Highland Laddie played host to Tanners Hall in a top of the table clash. Fresh from reaching the Division Two cup final Tanners attempted to play their free-flowing game despite the boggy conditions, while the Laddie opted for a more direct approach.

But, although Jon Roote came close and Tanners hit the woodwork, half-time came with the game scoreless.

Both defences remained on top in the second half with only Paul Hope bringing any save of note from Stuart Webster in the Tanners goal, while Luke Stott at the other end was equally adept at repelling what few chances Tanners created, as the game finished scoreless, costing Highland Laddie their cherished top spot.

BSC played host to AFC Brinkburn at Branksome and it was the home side that began well and although Brinkburn took the lead through Matty Smith `s penalty.

BSC wasted no time in equalising when a David McDade header found the net and ,with Scott McDonald and Tommy Wright also scoring, they took a 3-1 lead into the second half.

They further increased this lead when Wright scored his second and, despite Smith scoring his second for Brinkburn, BSC finished the scoring off when Wright broke clear and confidently slotted home past the onrushing keeper to make the final score 5-2 to the home side.

Bottom of the table Red Lion hosted Hole in the Wall and it was the away side that edged a close game 3-1.

They went ahead after an under hit back pass put keeper Preston Slade in trouble and Aaron Radstock pounced on his scuffed clearance to slide the ball into an empty net. Ten minutes before half-time Radstock doubled the Hole lead and, despite a much better second half performance from the Lion, which saw Mark Batey reduce the arrears, it was Radstock who had the final say in the game when he struck to complete his hat-trick.

Elsewhere two goals apiece for John Fitzgerald and Michael Meredith meant that the Royal British Legion kept their recent good run of form going against the Fighting Cocks, for whom Paul Teasdale scored a consolation in the 4-1 defeat and the Shuttle and Loom beat Bay Horse Goodfellas 5-1 to regain top spot in the Division. On target for the Shuttle were Chris Airey (3), Mick Shaw and Tommy Shields while Foster scored the Bay Horse `s solitary consolation

Third Division

Leaders Longfield met the in form DfES and took another important step towards the Division title.

Although the final 7-1 score line in their favour was a little harsh on DfES who, for the first 30 minutes matched their illustrious opponents and indeed both Anth Whiteside and Stuart Bell were denied early on by Longfield keeper Dave Raine. However as the game progressed Longfield began to impose their selves upon it and Adam Hughes gave them the lead with a cross come shot.

Having made the breakthrough the game was more or less finished within five minutes of their first goal as Jason Whale and Mark Finn struck to make it 3-0.

Further goals came through Martin Webster, Hughes from the penalty spot and Lee Hammond and although DfES grabbed a deserved consolation through Whiteside, it was Hammond who had the last word with a drive from the edge of the box to complete the scoring.

The Northern Echo finally got back to winning ways with their first three points since the end of August as they beat Affinity Healthcare 6-2.

They took the lead on the half hour mark when excellent play between Gary Pallas and Rob Carter down the left, saw Carter shoot under the keeper and into the net.

They held the lead until a Simon Taylor penalty equalised for Affinity with the last kick of the first half.

The home side took control of the second 45 minutes as first Trevor Kerins gave them the lead and then Carter`s second extended it.

Craig Maddison then added his name to the score sheet and Gary Pallas rounded off an excellent display with a superb individual goal.

Substitute Scott Latta made it six when he struck from just inside the area, although ,just as in the first 45 minutes, Affinity scored with practically the last action of the half as Steve Howden scored the goal of the game, picking up the ball in his own half and running through the Echo defence to slot home.

Finally the Bengal Tigers enjoyed a 4-1 victory against Sherwoods. Goal scorers for the Tigers were Amzad Hussein (2), Hawairas Dar and Faysal Ahmed while Matty Groves was on target for Sherwoods.

Fixtures: First Division: East End WMC v Haughton WMC, Stadia v Turks Head, Smith & Allan v Spraire RA.

Second Division: Killinghall Arms v Shuttle & Loom, Tanners Hall v Fighting Cocks, RB Legion v Highland Laddie, AFC Brinkburn v Red Lion, Hole in The Wall v BSC.

Third Division: Bengal Tigers v Peladon Utd, Affinity Healthcare v Sherwoods,DfES v Wheatsheaf, D'ton Cricket Club v Northern Echo.