DUE TO waterlogged pitches the Darlington Dalecom Church and Friendly Football League weekend fixtures were reduced to four games.

Aycliffe Saints kept up their challenge at the top against another side pushing for league honours, Darlington The Mowden.

Kyle Hancock gave Saints an interval lead with Jonathan Hall adding a second goal early after the turn round.

Mowden hit back through sub Mike Hetherington but were unable to salvage a point.

Shildon Elm Road WMC reversed last week's score when they defeated Bishopton Hoppers Transport 6-3 in a keenly contested game.

For more than an hour the sides were well matched, with first one and then the other getting on top. At 3-3 Elm Road made a substitution with 20 minutes to go, and it paid off. Hoppers tired and Elm struck three goals more goals.

Elm Road scorers: Dave Austin, Thomas Louden, Chris Ross, Richard Nash, the Dawson brothers Craig and Carl. Hoppers: Neville Ford, Chris Jordan, Wayne Rochester.

Mike Wilson opened the scoring for Darlington Travellers Rest but from then on Darlington RA Youth dominated to win 13-1.

Darren Kokes was on target with six followed by three for Dean Lawson, two by Ross Wetherell and one apiece for Danny Connelly and Craig Adamson.

Darlington AFC Greyhound finally broke their duck when they came from 3-1 and 4-2 down to win-5-4 against Darlington GSOB.

Graeme Stamper, Paul Prince, Richard Maurice and Mike Bainbridge, 2, scored for Greyhound, with Matty Smith, 2, Mally Leafe and Stuart Anderson scoring for GSOB.

There was a mixture of cup and league games for Darlington Spraire Lads FC teams this week.

In the league cup, Spraire U12s were unlucky to lose 4-1 to Cleveland Juniors with great performances from MoM Myres, scorer Ward and Verity.

At U16 level, Spraire looked at half-time to be out of luck against Hartlepool Premier. Despite almost constant attacks by Spraire the score was 0-0 at the interval. However, Spraire's perseverence paid off in the second-half when the scoring was opened with a great shot by debutant Griffiths. It was parried by the Hartlepool goalkeeper, and an alert Grant struck the rebound home.

Griffiths got a goal, and Grey went on a run before rounding the goalkeeper and scoring.

In the Durham Cup a strong Spraire U14s side beat Spenymoor 5-0. Scorers: Craig Lavelle, 2, MoM Elgie, 2, Micheal Lavelle.

In the league, both Spraire U15s sides lost. The A team went down 5-2 to South Bank. Scorer: Healey 2. The B team lost 3-2 to Billingham Town. Scorer: Alderson, 2.

Spraire Lads U14B put in a below par performance to lose 4-3 to Whinney Banks. Spraire did well in patches but too often they were prone to making individual errors.

Whinney Banks took an early lead but MoM James McBride equalised following an excellent cross from Scott Chandler.

Midway through the first-half Whinney Banks regained the lead, but Thomas Chandler snatched Spraire's equaliser.

Whinney Banks took the lead for the third time early in the second-half and managed to break the pattern by scoring a fourth.

But back came Spraire in the final minutes for Thomas Chandler to notch his second and Spraire's third goal for an exciting finale.

Auckland and District EBAC Youth League side Chilton YC lost 3-2 at home to Sunderland Lambton Street to a golden goal in extra-time in the Durham County Youth Cup. Sean Grant and Aaron Wright were the home scorers.

Saturday fixtures, Auckland EBAC Youth League: Spennymoor Legion v Willington. League Cup, group stage: Barnard Castle v Ferryhill, Bishop Auckland v Chilton YC, Newton Aycliffe v Meadowfield.

FA County Youth Cup, round two: Durham v Nottinghamshire at Durham City, ko 2pm.