Bishop Auckland Barrington Wanderers: Barrington Wanderers travelled to play Farringdon Jubilee, Sunderland and came away comfortable 6-1 winners.
On the hottest day of the year so far the temperatures made it difficult to play football but the sun also brought with it an excellent all-round team performance with Barrington playing some of there best football they have for a number of matches.
An injury forced the team down to ten men in the second half with no travelling substitutes available. Man of the match Paul Brunskill then upped his game to chase every ball and made it look as though the opposition were the team a man short. The team not only hung onto the lead during this time but also went on to score another two goals. The goals came from David Spence, Robert Sowerby, Paul Brunskill, Stephen Brunsill and Andrew Howe.
Tow Law Juniors
Honours were even in the top of the table clash in the Russell Foster League when Tow Law Juniors drew two each with the visiting Washington Juniors. The visitors made a good start and went ahead after eight minutes when Marc Baxter hit a low shot from thirty yards which slid into the corner of the net past the unsighted home keeper, William Bland.
Both defences were well on top and so there were goal-scoring chances created. However just before the interval, Kevin Russell cut in from the right and gave the Washington keeper, Scott Smith no chance. This equilibrium was short lived as Washing restored their lead three minutes into the second half when a right wing corner hit the post and rebounded to Anthony Harvey, who slammed it into the net.
Four minutes later Tow Law were back on terms when Chris Wayman won possession deep in his own half and struck a long ball to Daniel Appleby, who controlled the ball confidently before placing his shot carefully past Scott Smith.
Both teams battled hard for the winner but the two defences were always confidently in charge. However just two minutes from the final whistle Scott Smith rescued Washington with a spectacular save to deny Nicky Martin the winner. Kevin Russell took the Man of the Match award for the Lawyers, who now lead the table by two points from Coxhoe, who they travel to play on Sunday with a 1.30pm kick off. Washington are three points behind Tow Law but have a match in hand.
Bishop Auckland St Mary's Juniors
The Under-10 A team played Spraire Lads and were unlucky to get beat 2-1 with Thomas Stones scoring for St Mary's and Adam Atkinson having a shot cleared off the line.
The Under-11s played TIBS FC in a very exciting game in the pouring rain. St Mary's took the lead through Callum Hoggart and Billy Hutton and TIBS FC then missed a penalty. In the second half TIBS FC pulled a goal back to make it an exciting finish. Nigel Turner then made it 3-1 to St Mary's and with good work from Stacey Stewart another goal came for St Mary's from Matthew Taylor to end the game winning 4-1.
In last weekend's games the Under-10 C team played Stockton and had the best performance of the season winning 6-1 with goals from Thomas Knowles (4), Liam Mather and Michael Tippling.
The Under-11s played Nunthorpe Athletic in a game which Nunthorpe had to win to make a play off for the championship and St Mary's had to win to secure third place. St Mary's took the lead through Matthew Taylor. But Nunthorpe then scored two goals from defensive lapses and then St Mary's went close with two chances to equalise. Nunthorpe then took a 3-1 lead with St Mary's pulling another goal back through Nigel Turner to make it 3-2 and with time running out Michael Turner was unlucky to see a shot just go wide with Nunthorpe winning 3-2 in a very entertaining game.
The Under-15s lost 4-1 at home to Hartlepool Crest with St Mary's missing key players due to the Under-15 schools final against Portsmouth on Tuesday.
Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League
Chester-le-Street had mixed fortunes in the two games they have played recently. Already established as champions they crashed 5-1 to second club Walker Central for whom Grant Kershaw bagged a brace of goals.
At the weekend the Cestrians returned to winning form defeating Consett 6-1 with goals from Andrew Bullford (3), Robbie Blemmings (2) and Stephen Richardson
Following their superb performance against Chester-le-Street, Walker Central crashed 3-1 to Whitley Bay and Seaham Red Star kept alive their hopes of being runners-up beating New Hartley 4-2.
Josh Mincher (2), Nicky Martin and Michael Coulthard with James Brown and Scott Westway replying for New Hartley.
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