It was arguably the game of the day Coundon Forrester's and East End WMC faced each other in a game between the first and third placed teams in Division One at the start of the days play.

Coundon managed to take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a well-taken goal from Darren Wilson. However, East End WMC weren't going to be rolled over, and Jimmy Morris struck in the final ten minutes of the game to take the cup tie into Golden Goal extra-time. As East End continued to push on for a winner though they were caught by a swift Coundon break as Adam Reid broke the Club Men's offside trap and kept his composure to lob the on-coming keeper as Coundon moved into the first round proper by a 2-1 scoreline.

Newton Aycliffe Sports Club's game against third division Falchion also went to form as the Sports Club won their first round match 5-1 to move into the second round. However, the majority of cup games on Sunday took place in the second round of the cup, with the shock of the round being pulled off by Hurworth Albion as the second division club scored a 2-0 away win against first division Speedwell. Elsewhere, first division Brinkburn squeezed past Division Three leaders AFC Orange 1-0 thanks to a header from Steve Johnson in a game affected by the strong winds at the weekend.

In another game between sides from Divisions One and Three Spraire RA moved into the hat for the third round with a convincing 15-0 victory over third division Newton Cap, whilst Nestfield Seconds eased past fellow third division side Biglins News 4-0 to join them in that third round draw. In the remaining cup-tie of the day Shuttle & Loom moved past Division Two rivals Allstars 4-1 thanks to goals from Chris Airey, Stuart Curry, Gary Hutchinson and an own goal. Substitute Michael Bland notched Allstars goal.

In Division One Nestfield Club are the new leaders thanks to a combination of their nearest rivals still being involved in cup competitions and a resounding 9-1 victory over Division One's bottom side Green Dragon. However, it was the Dragon that took the lead in the wet and windy conditions as Matthew Smith took advantage of some loose defending. However, Graham O'Neill hit a reply to level things up within a matter of minutes before Nestfield's leading scorer, Gary Mitchell, hit a brace to make the score 3-1. New signing Wayne Buckley hit his first hat-trick for Nestfield thanks to goals either side of half-time to make the score 6-1, and Mitchell then completed his hat-trick as Nestfield hit their seventh. Graham O'Neill notched his second of the game past a thoroughly demoralised Dragon defence before man-of-the-match Martin Williamson put the icing on the cake with the best goal of his career as he lobbed Dragon 'keeper Andy Merry from 25-yards to complete the scoring.

Team Scania defeated Springfield 3-2 in the only other game that took place in Division One - a result that sees Scania move five points clear of a Springfield side that are currently occupying the third relegation spot in the division.

In Division Two Bishop Auckland Cricket Club moved to the top of the league due to their superior goal-difference over Shuttle & Loom and Hurworth Albion in second and third places respectively. However, the Cricket Club's goal difference was certainly helped on Sunday as they defeated bottom side Smith & Allan 25-0. Man-of-the-match Michael Barker was in irresistible form as he laid on goals for the Cricket Club's scorers Alan Meadows (9), Anthony Jaques (7), Ross Hardaker (3), Kevin Slater (2) and one apiece for Wayne Hopps, Craig Best, Lee Stainsby and Jonathon Lacham. Smith & Allan did produce a spell of sustained pressure in the second half, but they were kept at bay by some fine defending from the Cricket Club's captain Neil Martin and goalkeeper Michael Barlow. In the remaining game in Division Two Bishop Auckland Derby moved into the top five thanks to a fine 8-4 victory over Northern Spirit, despite the best efforts of Preston Slade who produced a fantastic performance in the Spirit goal. However,

Spirit spent much of the first half being unable to get the ball out of the half due to a combination of some fine Derby pressure and a gale force wind, and it came as little surprise when Matthew Gowland finally broke the deadlock and gave the Derby a 1-0 lead. Spirit did strike back though, and Chris Vallis struck with yet another impressive long-range free kick, his third against the Derby this season. The Derby stepped up another gear though, and soon moved into a 3-1 half time lead as Dale Jardine found the back of the Spirit net, as did Spirit striker Phil Moore with a bullet header past his own 'keeper.

Spirit did close the gap again early in the second half as Neil Jollie scored the easiest of tap-in goals, but the Derby hit an irresistible purple patch, with Wayne King notching a hat-trick and Dale Jardine striking another in the space of five minutes to make the score 7-2 to the Derby. Mike Donnelly reduced the arrears once more for the Derby before Jardine completed his hat trick to make the score 8-3. Matt Dunn then notched a late consolation from close-range to cap a solid debut performance, but Spirit now have a real fight on their hands if they are to avoid relegation this season.

In Division Three, Canney Hill Athletic continued their high-scoring exploits from last week as they cruised past AXA Insurance 5-0 to move into second spot in the division.

However, Yates's Wine Lodge picked up the best result of the day as they beat a Royal British Legion side that started the day in second place 3-1 to move into third place. David Aiken (2) and Paul Spinks notched for Yates's whilst Adrian Gough hit the Legion's goal. Finally, Pizza Perfekt remain in fifth place thanks to a 8-4 victory over bottom side Hogans. Gav Beadle (2), David Caygill (2), Carl Batty, Liam Coleman, Paul Hope

and Mark Wardell notched for Perfekt, whilst Chris Piper (2), John Newick and Dale Elgie scored Hogans goals.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts GD

Nestfield Club 15 9 1 5 53 40 28 13

East End WMC 12 9 0 3 57 25 27 32

Spraire RA 12 8 2 2 52 17 26 35

*Coundon Foresters 12 9 1 2 69 13 25 56

Newton Aycliffe SC 11 7 3 1 38 14 24 24

Speedwell 14 7 1 6 61 38 22 23

Brinkburn 14 6 2 6 50 37 20 13

The Northern Echo 13 6 1 6 37 47 19 -10

Team Scania 14 5 0 9 52 85 15 -33

*Springfield 16 4 1 11 41 72 10 -31

Hoppers Transport 13 2 2 9 24 68 8 -44

Green Dragon 14 1 0 13 28 106 3 -78

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts GD

BA Cricket Club 12 10 0 2 101 24 30 77

Shuttle & Loom 11 10 0 1 68 11 30 57

Hurworth Albion 11 10 0 1 59 10 30 49

Jack Horners 13 9 0 4 58 16 27 42

BA The Derby 15 7 2 6 83 55 23 28

All Stars 11 7 1 3 76 19 22 57

Copper Beech DCS 13 5 0 8 35 40 15 -5

Sadberge 12 4 0 8 46 53 12 -7

Greyhound 13 4 0 9 39 61 12 -22

Northern Spirit 14 2 1 11 30 71 7 -41

Smith & Allan 15 0 0 15 10 245 0 -235

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts GD

AFC Orange 14 13 0 1 62 10 39 52

Canney Hill Athletic 15 11 2 2 66 27 35 39

Yates Wine Lodge 16 11 1 4 57 37 34 20

Royal British Legion 15 10 2 3 56 31 32 25

Pizza Perfekt 16 8 2 6 67 47 26 20

Nestfield Seconds 15 6 4 5 45 40 22 5

Biglins News 14 6 2 6 42 31 20 11

Faverdale 15 5 2 8 47 53 17 -6

The Falchion 15 4 2 9 31 48 14 -17

Newton Cap 13 4 1 8 32 71 13 -39

AXA Insurance 16 3 0 13 29 62 9 -33

Hogans 16 0 0 16 22 100 0 -78

Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League

HORNDALE Working Men's Club hauled themselves off the bottom of the First Division for the first time this season with their first League win of the campaign.

The Aycliffe outfit defeated Salvins 6-1 thanks to a hat-trick by Scott Mason and two by Wayne Pratt. Substitute Ricky Milford grabbed the sixth.

Delighted assistant manager Keith Corbett - standing in for absent gaffer Michael Grimes for the first time this season - was delighted with the result.

"I thought we played really well," said Corbett. "Obviously the lads are pleased with the result as well. They showed their self-belief again and played some nice football.

"It's only the second time we've played like that this season - the other was in the cup and we won that game, too. We just have to carry on that kind of form consistently if we are to avoid relegation." Gary Somerson netted Salvins' only goal.

Elsewhere in Division One, Old Shildon maintained their top-of-the-table status with a 4-2 win over neighbours Royal George.

Dean Maddison grabbed a hat-trick for Shildon, with Darren Plaice netting one. Karl Dawson and Darryl Meadows scored for the George.

In-form Huntsman jumped to second with another good win. This time they beat The Grand 8-2, thanks to goals by Wayne Marram (4), Marc De Lucia (2) and James Alderson. Mark and Kevin Priestly scored The Grand's goals.

Eldon Lane beat Laceys 4-2 with goals by Colin Paterson (2), Michael Paterson and Steffan McGowan. Adam Handerson and Jeff Alderson scored for Laceys.

In Division Two, the Social Club won the battle of the Binchesters, beating the Hotel 8-0 thanks to goals by Darren Spark (3), Anthony Binks, Paul Foster, John Wheatley, Terry Little and Scott Smith.

Masons United recorded an emphatic 10-4 victory over the Locomotion. Craig Taylor (3), Ross Hall (2), Neil Quigley (2), Dean Merchant, Andrew Sedgewick and Christopher Strong all scored for United, while John Airey (2), Andrew Metcalfe and Shayne Wilson scored for the Loco.

In the League Cup, Newton Aycliffe beat First Division title rivals New Masons 6-0 to book their place in the second round.

Europa beat Brandon 4-1 in the second round to progress to the quarter-finals. Matt Mardula, David Forest, Kevin Wilkinson and Mark Preston all scored for Europa, while Paul Thompson netted Brandon's goal.

Results round-up - Division One: The Grand 2, Huntsman 8; Laceys 2, Eldon Lane 4; Horndale 6, Salvins 1; Royal George 2, Old Shildon 4.

Division Two: Black Horse 3, Shildon Athletic 1; Boot & Shoe 2, Victoria 4; Locomotion 4, Masons United 10; Brawns Den 7, North Briton 2; Pit Laddie 0, Thorns 5; Postchaise 7, Green Tree 4; Binchester Social Club 8, Binchester Hotel 0.

League Cup round one: New Masons 0, Newton Aycliffe 6.

League Cup round two: Brandon 1, Europa 4.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Old Shildon 14 10 1 3 56 26 31

Huntsman 13 9 3 1 62 26 30

New Masons 12 9 1 2 41 25 28

Newton Aycliffe 9 7 1 1 41 18 22

Europa 10 6 1 3 28 24 19

The Grand 12 6 1 5 32 33 19

Royal George 12 5 1 6 28 33 16

Eldon Lane 12 4 3 5 33 37 15

Salvins 12 3 1 8 34 35 10

Laceys 13 2 3 8 32 55 9

Horndale 12 1 2 9 23 49 5

Brandon 14 1 2 11 23 70 5

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Spennymoor Thor. 18 17 0 1 108 24 51

Broompark Loves 15 13 1 1 77 15 40

Postchaise 18 12 1 5 72 45 37

*Black Horse 15 12 1 2 66 28 34

Binchester Soc. Cl. 15 11 1 3 50 26 34

Brawns Den 15 9 0 6 57 33 27

Masons United 17 8 3 6 48 40 27

Green Tree 16 7 0 9 40 57 21

Boot & Shoe 18 5 1 12 40 77 16

Shildon Athletic 16 5 1 10 36 54 16

North Briton 19 5 0 14 48 67 15

Locomotion 13 4 1 8 40 48 13

Two Blues 15 4 1 10 34 67 13

Pit Laddie 16 4 0 12 31 68 12

*Victoria 18 5 3 10 33 68 15

Binchester Hotel 18 2 0 16 23 97 6

*Denotes three points deducted

Darlington and

District League

East End WMC gave a debut to ex-Darlington trainee Paul Cooper who came off the subs bench to score his side's third and finally kill off a game DGSOB. Earlier Mark Maddison and John Gibson had put the clubmen two up.

Greyhounds gave a much improved performance ion the first half of their encounter with Rothmans but they failed to convert their chances and it was goalless at the interval. Rothmans used route one to good effect in the second half and as Greyhounds faded they races into a three goal lead with two well taken goals from Phil Shields and a third from the prolific Michael Bland. Substitute Andrew Mackintosh pulled one back with five minutes to go but Rothmans sub Danny Thorns restored the three-goal advantage in the last minute.

Shuttle and Loom moved within two points of leaders Post Boy when they won by the odd goal in three at Newton Aycliffe. They had to come from behind after David Welsh had put the hosts ahead.

Speedy Hire raced into a two-goal lead in the first 15 minutes of their encounter with Archdeacon courtesy of an og and a Matthew Ironside strike. However the Deacon re-grouped and were level by half time, the second being an excellent 20-yarder into the top corner from Richard Tuttie. Deacon made good use of the restart and increased their tally to five when Andy Vernon shot home from 25-yards to finish off a superb run from defence. Neil Blewitt converted a penalty to complete a 6-2 victory. Anth Thorns (2) was Deacon's other marksman.

After a slow start Albion playing their first league game since December 1 took control to race into a 4-0 lead with goals from Gary Mitchell (2), and Adrian Weston (2) against Grey Horse, Weston converted a penalty to complete his hat trick and second-half goals from Rodney Brown(2), Mark Harris and Jonathan Robson completed the 9-0 rout. Dave Palmer was man of the match for Grey Horse.

The twice postponed Durham Minor Cup tie between Killinghall Arms and Wheatley Hill WMC finally went ahead with Killie bowing out of the competition by the odd goal in seven.

Post Boy entertained Shildon Railway in the Sacriston Aged Miners Cup and in a very competitive match a rare defensive mix up saw Railway take the lead. Post Boy rallied hit the post and had an effort cleared off the line but they succumbed to a fortunate second goal following a break away to lost the tie 2-0.

RA Social visited Arriva Express in the semi-final of the Stockton Charity Cup and had to thank Nigel Clark for levelling matters. However Arriva regained the lead ten minutes from time and added a third in the final minute.