MASONS ARMS eventually saw off Division Two opposition New Brancepeth with six second-half goals to eventually book their place in the second round of the J&A Trophy.

First-half goals by Lewis Dodds and John Savage weren't enough for Masons to be leading by half-time after strikes by Antoney Holiday and Andy Guy drew them level.

But Masons, last season's beaten finalists of the competition after Quinns lifted the trophy, hit back after the break with two goals by Marc Costello, another by Lewis Dodds and others by Tom Fothergill and Lee Atkinson.

Their secretary Anthony Warnett said: "It was close and we couldn't break them down in the first half, they kept coming back at us, but I think we were fitter and out-ran them in the second half and probably had too much pace for them up front.

"We just missed out last year after getting to the final so we would hope to go one better this year and win it."

Meanwhile, Fox and Hounds shocked Division One side Voltigeur with a first-half goal blitz which effectively dumped them out of the competition.

The Division Three side recovered from going a goal down in the first half - Chris Pennal put Volti ahead - with two goals by Steven Bowen.

Carl Anderson then made it 3-1 and Andrew Williams added a fourth before the break.

Bowen completed his hat-trick after half-time to all-but book their passage into the second round, although Voltigeur rallied with goals by Mark Priestly, Gary Dixon and Ian Johnson.

"I thought we played some very good football," said Fox boss Jeff Spooner. "And we fully deserved to be in the next round."

Volti secretary Tony Biddle added: "We're just letting far too many goals in. We were all over the place, even though we came back in the second half but we just ran out of time, with another five minutes we would probably have gone on to win it."

Masons United fought back from two goals down to beat EBAC 3-2 and book their place in the second round.

Mark Owen and Craig Ellison were on target for EBAC to give them a 2-0 first-half lead.

But after Masons changed things around at the break, Paul Scott pulled one back for them shortly after half-time before Chris Larkman drew United level mid-way through the second half. Lee Hodgson then grabbed Masons' winner ten minutes from the end.

"It was a great comeback," said their secretary Andrew Simpson. "The lads took their goals well, on both sides."

Elsewhere, Shildon Fox won 5-4 at Belvedere with goals by Stephen Hall (3), Ross Brown and Robbie Appleby. Brendan Mullen, Timmy Hutchinson, Lee Nixon and an own goal were on Belvedere's scoresheet.

Hogans won 6-2 at home to the Southerne Club with goals by Mark Bell (3), Dean Cummins, Paul Welsh and Alex Robson. Scott Hudson and Adam Redhead scored Southerne's goals.

Croxdale won 2-0 at Eldon Arms with goals by Craig Flowers and Andrew Stuart, while Marc De Lucia (2), Andy Kay, Jonathan Ablett and Steve Williams were all on target for the North Briton as they won 5-0 at Binchester Social Club.

Aycliffe Village won 6-0 at home to Victoria despite a goalless first half. Wayne Marram opened the second half scoring spree, followed by a neat finish by Darren Griffiths. Morgan Fielding then netted and Griffiths headed home his second of the match before Fielding bagged the goal of the game with a clever lob. Defender Francis Hannan also scored with his late, annual goal.

Hunwick Joiners won 5-3 at the Navy Club with goals by Paul Bullerwell (2), Andrew Howard (2) and Chris Pratt. Wayne Pratt scored twice for the Navy and David Bush got one.

Bishop Masons won 9-2 at home to Horndale Celtic with goals by Simon Hodgson (4), Kenny Melville (3), Adam Henderson and Tristan Delf. Trevor Dixon and Graeme Carling scored for Horndale.

* The next league meeting will be held at the Navy Club in Newton Aycliffe on Wednesday, November 15 from 8pm, when raffle tickets for the Christmas prize draw will be handed out to clubs.

Results: Sunday, October 22: J&A Trophy round one: Eldon Arms 0, Croxdale 2; Belvedere 4, Shildon Fox 5; Navy Club 3, Hunwick 5; Fox and Hounds 5, Voltigeur 4; Binchester SC 0, North Briton 5; New Branc. 2, Masons Arms 8; Bishop Masons 9, Horndale Celtic 2; Hogans 6, Southerne Club 2; EBAC 2, Masons Utd 3; Aycliffe Vill. 6, Victoria 0.

Sunday's fixtures: Division One: North Briton v Thorns, Bay Horse v Masons Arms, Old Shildon v Hunwick, Quinns v Binchester SC, Croxdale v Voltigeur.

Division Two: Green Tree v Penny Gill, Half Moon v Belvedere, Hogans v Eldon Arms, New Brancepeth v Browney, Shildon Athletic v Victoria.

Division Three: Horndale Celtic v Fox and Hounds, Masons Utd v EBAC, Navy Club v Bishop Masons, Shildon Fox v Castle, Southerne Club v Aycliffe Village.

* www.spenny-league.co.uk