FERRYHILL Greyhound, in the Villa Real Cup fourth round, defeated Marden 1-0 away, a most unexpected result as Marden are close challengers for the premier league title and Ferryhill are fourth bottom in Division One. Ferryhill put Marden under pressure with their attacking football and took the lead after ten minutes when Marden's keeper failed to hold a fierce shot from Robson which slipped from his grasp and went into the net. Marden subjected Ferryhill to spells of heavy pressure but failed to break their solid defence. In the closing minutes Marden were awarded a penalty but former Darlington and Gillingham keeper Phil Owers, diving to the left, made a brilliantly save from Haldane's spot kick. Kevin Simpson and David Topp were outstanding.

In the Premier League, champions Billingham Wanderers defeated Bates Cottages 2-0 after a goalless first half. Bob Bishop fgave the Teessiders the lead and on the hour a cross from Eric Barrett was deflected off a defender to put Billingham further ahead and secure three valuable points.

Chris Foster was strong in midfield and Peter Collins had another sound game in defence while Ray Smith was always a threat for the visitors up front.

In Division Two, Glaxo won 3-1 against Touchdown Hotel. Geoff Wall gave Glaxo the lead when he coolly chipped the keeper from an acute angle. Graham Hammond made it 2-0 shortly after the restart, but Kenny Elodon reduced the arrears for Touchdown. Bobby Murdoch made sure of victory when he scored late on.

Langley Park Ram's Head had an off-day, never adapting to the heavy greasy conditions and went down 5-2 at home to Board Inn, scoring through Hancock and Forster.

Wynyard Vets top Division Four. They turned in a super performance to win 5-0 away to Sportsmans Arms, scoring all the goals in the first-half and look good for promotion. Scorers were Mo Najah (2), Neil Sullivan, Tony Docherty and Alan Morning one apiece.

Draw for quarter-finals Villa Real Cup (to be played November 18): British Telecom v Steels Social, Ferryhill Greyhound v Consett CC, Owton Manor v Sedgefield United, Penshaw Catholic v Northumbria Police.

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Sland Rail 10 7 0 3 27 14 21

Steels SC 8 6 0 2 26 12 18

Marden 8 4 4 0 16 9 16

Billingham W 8 4 3 1 19 8 15

Blue Flames 8 4 3 1 15 10 15

Bates Cottages 9 3 3 3 17 16 12

Inn Place 6 3 0 3 12 11 9

Penshaw CC 8 2 2 4 14 15 8

N Police 7 2 1 4 17 23 7

Blackhall Hardwick 8 2 1 5 17 26 7

Sedgefield 8 1 1 6 16 25 4

Ghead Ex-S 8 1 0 7 11 38 3

Division One

Wearmouth 10 6 1 3 26 15 19

Usworth WMC 9 5 3 1 19 12 18

Sland Catholic 9 5 2 2 16 11 17

Ghead HG 8 4 1 3 18 17 13

Owton Manor 7 3 3 1 17 11 12

N Aycliffe 8 3 2 3 12 13 11

Grindon B 7 3 1 3 14 13 10

Byker St Peters 6 3 1 2 10 13 10

Ferryhill G 6 2 2 2 10 11 8

Barnes Hotel 7 1 1 5 9 16 4

Darsley Park 7 1 1 5 9 17 4

Masons Arms 8 1 0 7 12 21 3

Division Two

H'pool Catholic 9 6 2 1 20 11 20

Board Inn 11 5 4 2 27 21 19

Boldon BB 9 4 3 2 22 18 15

Rams Head 9 4 2 3 21 17 14

British Televom 8 4 2 2 15 13 14

Wallsend RS 9 4 1 4 17 15 13

Glaxo 10 3 2 5 19 21 11

Red House WMC 8 2 4 2 16 15 10

NS Wanderers 9 3 1 5 18 27 10

Steels FC 8 2 2 4 15 17 8

Rockcliffe A 9 1 4 4 9 15 7

Touchdown H 9 2 1 5 16 25 7

Division Three

Regency Windowsd 10 6 1 3 20 16 19

Hylton Castle 10 5 3 2 20 13 18

Taylors 9 4 0 4 23 24 15

Cleveland B 8 4 2 2 22 14 14

Roker Queen Vic 9 3 3 3 18 19 12

Oddies 8 3 2 3 116 18 11

Spring Gardens 6 2 3 1 16 13 9

Billingham T 9 2 3 4 21 22 9

Houghton CC 7 3 0 4 11 14 9

Durham CS 9 3 0 6 19 24 9

Wingate 9 2 1 6 15 23 7

Division Four

Wynyard Vets 9 8 0 1 38 9 24

S Shields Lake 11 7 2 2 34 19 23

W Cornforth 10 3 6 1 23 16 15

Hebburn DT 7 4 2 1 20 11 14

Livingstones 8 3 4 1 17 13 13

Consett 5 4 0 1 18 4 12

White Horse Inn 10 3 3 4 20 34 12

Halfway House 8 3 2 3 17 20 11

NS Vets 8 3 1 4 19 19 10

Winstons 8 3 0 5 10 18 9

Sportsmans A 9 1 2 6 15 27 5

Darlington Rail 8 1 2 5 19 34 5

Houghton Mill 9 0 0 9 11 37 0