Burn Valley Club 0 Athletic Rugby 0: Ia game which was an excellent advertisement for the League, both teams served up a highly competitive and exciting third round tie.

Athletic started to get on top and win control after Burn Valley had a man sent off but were unable to take their chances indeed neither side could score in 120 minutes of football. The game was finally decided by a nail-biting penalty shoot-out and both sets of supporters and management would be proud of their teams after such a game. Keepers Stephen Jewson and Andrew Ruddock made penalty saves and credit to referee Tony Harrington for his handling of a fine game of football. Burn Valley won the shoot-out 4-3.

Rovers 3 Houghton Glendale 2

Rovers earned themselves a quarter-final tie when they beat last year's winners in a five-goal thriller. The home side started well but could not find a way through a resolute defence, and were shocked when the visitors took the lead after 20 minutes. Michael Ford hammer home the equaliser after Lee Keers perfect free-kick. Both teams had chances to increase the lead and it was Glendale scored again just before the break. Two minutes into the second half Lee Keers crashed the ball home for an equaliser and Stuart Craig putting Rovers noses ahead with a fine individual goal. The visitors piled on the pressure looking for an equaliser well with her to break down resolute Rovers' defence.

Lion Hillcarter 2 S'land Hylton Ca. 0

Lion moved into the next round with a well deserved victory against Hylton Castle. Paul Pitman scored from the penalty spot to give the home side a one-goal half-time lead. In the second half heavy pressure from the home side created several good chances, which they missed before Pitman was again on hand to head home from close range. Only good goalkeeping and defending prevented Pitman and completing his hat-trick.

Premier Division

Blackhall H'wick 2 Belle Vue OB 2

After an even and competitive opening 20 minutes Belle Vue took the lead through Paul Clapman after an excellent ball from Anthony Duncan. The visitors scrapped for everything and piled on the pressure, equalising 10 minutes into the second half and going ahead with five minutes to go. Belle Vue fought back and found a well deserved equaliser when Gary Hill pounced to after a scramble in the box to find a top corner. Stu Weldrake pulled off two great saves to deny Blackhall.

Shakespeare 7 West Park 2

Chances were never scarce at either end in an open game where West Park took the lead with a good finish after just five minutes. However Shakespeare were soon level after a good finish from Keith Brookbanks. Both teams carried on creating chance after chance and West Park restored their lead with a penalty just before half-time.

Shakespeare took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second period and it was then one-way traffic. Within two minutes James Gillies finished well to make it all square and within ten minutes he had added three more in quick succession to make it 5-2. Lahney then crossed for McGill to score with his head from close range, Peter Robinson finished well from a pinpoint pass by Kenny Bolton, but keeper Andy Vasey was also called upon to make some fine saves to stop West Park increasing their tally.

First Division

Corporation Welfare 0 Nursery 1

Nursery started the better and missed several good chances before Karl Fraser put them in front in the second half. Corporation fought back and should have drawn level when they were awarded a penalty but Paul Hackwell made a great save and the visitors held on.

Hartlepool CC 3 Greatham Bull & Dog 2

An evenly fought contest that was not finally decided until the very end. Bull took the lead when Daniel Bew scored direct from a corner, only for Glen Coatman to equalise. Ritchie Boddy put the Greatham side further ahead but they gifted an equaliser and Coatman was again on hand to accept. Both teams had chances to score in open second half but good goalkeeping and poor finishing kept the score level until Cricket Club grabbed a late winner.

Throston Wanderers 3 Rugby 2

Rugby were awarded an early penalty but Peter Bartelson's kick was saved by Dave Kitchen. Chris Fletcher put the visitors ahead, with a curling shot from a tight angle, but Gary Moore equalised. Fletcher again put the visitors ahead but this time it was Dean Hustler who levelled from the spot. Darren Howe lobbed the keeper Gardner from 35 yards to grab the winner. Both sides had plenty of chances to add to their tally late on with Moore, Hustler, Ritchie and Hudson going close for Throston and Bartelson, Nick Loughlin and Gutteridge for Rugby.

Travellers R. 2 Corner Flag SC 5

Corner Flag responded to their manager's demand for an improved performance. Four goals from the lively Mark Ingstant and a further one from star man Chris James saw them comfortably defeat a Travs side whose only response was two late consolation goals.

Tunstall Old Boys 5 Woodcutter 1

Scott Tunstall hit a 25 yard volley into the top corner of the net to put Cutter one-nil up in 15 minutes. They could have increased their lead but poor finishing let them down and allowed the home side back into the game. An own goal was the turning point before the home side scored four of their own, two from Chris Tarn and one each from David Bell and Andy Hogg to run out comfortable winners.

Second Division

Engineers 1 Moorcock 0

Stuart Robson and Dean Ryan went closest for them in a goalless first half and it was no surprise when their domination was rewarded in the second when Robert Gibbins s truck home the winner with a good close-range volley. Smith and Robson went close to increasing the lead, but the solitary strike won the game in which Marty Bulmer starred.

King Johns Tavern 2 Fens 2

The visitors opened brightly and missed several chances before King Johns took the lead against the run of play. In the second half Steven Wright equalised for Fens. Tavern took the lead through a hotly disputed penalty but David Millican scored a late equaliser to ensure the points were shared.

St Francis 2000 3 Clarendon 0

The home side took the lead in the first half when David Angel's shot deceived the keeper and found the bottom corner of the net. St Francis maintained their lead into second half when Philip Bassett's deflected effort added to their tally and the third came when Liam Wilkinson took advantage of a mistake to fire past the keeper. A solid performance by the home defence which kept a well-deserved clean sheet.

Seaton Holy Trinity 4 Millhouse Ath 3

Craig Thompson put Athletic ahead slightly against the run of play, but the league leaders fought back and Ian McDonough scored from a Lee Munslow corner then Jeff Graham added another from ten yards. McDonough completed his hat-trick with two second half strikes and Seat twice hit the bar, However, the visitors still had enough about them to worry the pace-setters and two Thomson strikes led to a nervous finish.

Stranton 0 St Josephs 1

A tight game with chances at either end very much at a premium. The game was decided when Ray Baxter's fine shot was parried and Andy Whittet reacted first to slot the ball home. Good goalkeeping kept Stranton at bay as they went in search of an equaliser. Best for Stranton were Robinson, Elliott and Thompson with Adams, Brown and Wanley catching the eye for St Joes.

TMD 1 Owton Lodge 3

Lodge started the stronger and went ahead from John Medhurst's penalty. Andy Normanton scored on his debut to double their lead in the second half and went on to add another. TMD pulled one back fifteen minutes from time. Best for the winners were Simon and Dowson.

Workingmens Club 4 Charter Bar 1

Workies made hard work of what should have been a more straightforward victory. Andrew Jobling nipped in to steer home the first then Michael Ireland added a second after good work from Kev Sharp. Jobling added a third at the second attempt, and although TMD hit the bar and pulled a goal back from the spot, Jobling ran the length of the pitch to square for Ireland to make the result safe.