OLD Shildon and Newton Aycliffe will meet in the league's first cup final at Spennymoor United's Brewery Field ground this Sunday.

The two sides will do battle in the First Division Cup Final after going head-to-head in league action this week.

Aycliffe won their dress rehearsal in a 3-2 league win on Tuesday night of last week, with David Hanson (2) and Ross Killip scoring the goals.

"But there was nothing in it," said Aycliffe manager Brian Scaife. "It was a very close game and we were well up for it. I just hope the lads are in the same mood on Sunday, but we know it will be a different game yet probably just as close."

Aycliffe were still reeling from their shock 3-1 defeat at home to Horndale last Sunday.

Goals by Wayne Pratt, Lee Foster and Mark Silvester did that, then they followed it up with a 4-0 win at Green Tree on Tuesday night to all-but guarantee their top-flight status.

"The lads have been brilliant," said Horndale boss Michael Grimes. "They were well up for the Aycliffe game and that showed. Although we started slowly, we soon started playing some good stuff and it looks like we have just about survived relegation."

Carl Hodgson, Scott Mason, Tony Stebbins and Mark Silvester scored in Horndale's win at the Green Tree.

Meanwhile, Loves progressed to the final of the League Cup with a nail-biting penalty shoot-out over Old Shildon last Sunday - they now face Thorns, who beat Tudhoe United 5-2 in the other semi last week.

Sean Nelson, Michael Howard, Terry Nelson and Gary Hindmarsh scored Loves' goals, with Ian Maddison (2), Darren Place and Philip Appleby scoring for Shildon.

"A great win," said Loves Secretary Keith Flowers. "It was extremely close and sad that a team has to lose a semi-final on penalties, but that's football and we're delighted to be in the final."

The League Cup Final will be played at Brewery Field on Sunday, May 9.

Meanwhile, Voltigeur will play Masons Arms in the Division Two Cup Final on Sunday, April 25. The B&A Trophy Final between Old Shildon and either Loves or Masons Arms will be played on Sunday May 2.

In Division Two last Sunday, Hunwick made the most of leaders Masons Arms' week off with a 6-1 win at Eldon Arms.

James Melville scored a hat-trick, with goals also coming from Sean Nicholson, Lee Genner and Jonathan Lee securing the three points.

Currently second in the table, Hunwick are still on course to go top if they win their games in hand.

Boss Aidan McCabe said: "We're just taking every game as it comes. It's going to be hard, with all our midweek games, but we just have to keep going and hopefully we can keep things going."

Elsewhere, Shildon Athletic won 4-1 at Cumby Arms with goals by Jamie Scaife (3) and Liam Kavanagh. North Briton won 1-0 at Masons United with a Brian Burniston strike.

* The next league meeting will be held at Browney WMC on Wednesday, May 5.

* The league's end-of-season presentation night will be held at Old Shildon WMC on Friday, June 5. More details regarding tickets and entertainment will be announced soon.

RESULTS: Tuesday, April 13: Division One: Green Tree 0, Horndale 4; Thorns 6, Lakeside 2; Loves 2, Beehive 1; Old Shildon 2, Newton Aycliffe 3; Postchaise 4, Salvins 3.

Sunday, April 11: League Cup semi-finals: Thorns 5, Tudhoe United 2; Loves 4, Old Shildon 4 (AET, Loves won 4-2 on pens).

Division One: Newton Aycliffe 1, Horndale 3.

Division Two: Cumby Arms 1, Shildon Athletic 4; Grand 3, Boot & Shoe 1; Hunwivk 6, Eldon Arms 1; Masons U 0, North Briton 1.

Thursday, April 8: Division Two: Eldon Arms 3, Masons Utd 0; Hunwick 5, Shildon Athletic 2; Voltigeur 3, Victoria 0; Masons Arms 4, Cumby Arms 1; Middlestone Moor 2, Grand 2.

Tuesday, April 6: Division One: Salvins 0, Beehive 4; Old Shildon 3, Popstchaise 2; Thorns 9, Binchester SC 0; Lakeside 5, Tudhoe Utd 2; Horndale 0, Newton Aycliffe 8.