Super Spraire claim final spot

Aycliffe dominated the early exchanges and deservedly went two up through Kevin Watson and Paul Stout. Spraire showed tremendous character to fight-back to all square with goals from Steve Shaw and Danny Connelly, with keeper Michael Thravis doing his bit by making a brilliant penalty save. The second-half was evenly matched until Danny Richmond curled home a free-kick and Martin Brown ran clear to put Spraire 4-2 up midway through. Aycliffe came back in the later stages and a brace from John Shotton levelled the scores and took the tie into extra-time. The additional period was again end-to-end until Martin Brown tapped home a Ross Wetherell cross to send Spraire through.

In division two, top of the table Cleveland Bridge maintained their 100 per cent league record with a 3-1 victory over third placed Middleton St.George. The first period saw Middleton absorb constant Bridge pressure and only a combination of superb goalkeeping from James Briggs and a missed penalty kept the score down to 2-0 to Bridge at the break. Middleton began the second half strongly and a Phil Gordon goal brought them back into the game. They nearly levelled shortly after as a wind-assisted lob struck the bar but Cleveland Bridge broke immediately to score their third. Bridge's goals came from Trenton Hewitt and Stu Hardy with two, while Phil Sheridan put in a man of the match performance.

At the other end of the table a Kevin Myers hat-trick helped Copper Beech DCS to a fine victory at fellow strugglers The Northern Echo. The visitors played well in the first-half to lead 2-0 at half-time. The Echo then got back into the game at 2-1, but Copper Beech soon restored their two-goal lead thanks to an own-goal from Keith Duncan. Again the Echo fought back to 3-2, but Copper Beech were not to be denied and two more goals, including another own-goal, this time from Paul Mansfield, saw the game finish 5-2. The Echo scorers were Steve Howe and Graham Bainbridge.

The Hole In The Wall crashed to a 7-3 drubbing at the hands of FRA Mowden. The game was virtually over after 20 minutes with Mowden having raced into a 4-0 lead. From then on the goals alternated from one side to the other, but the result was never in doubt. John Hughes, Nigel Rea and Sid Seddon scored for the Hole in the Wall. Steven Thompson and Gaz Varty (twice) scored for FRA Mowden, but it was man of the match Richard Bestford who stole the plaudits, notching four.

In the only other game in Division Two promotion chasers Pepper Draughting Services scored a comfortable 6-1 victory over relegation-threatened Royal British Legion. Four goals from David Raine and two from Lee Hammond being more than enough to see off the one scored for the hosts by Martin Scott.

A full programme in Division Three saw an immediate return game between the top two sides, with St Augustine's gaining revenge for the previous week's defeat as they beat visiting Newton Cap 3-0. The game was always going to have a "must win" edge to it and it didn't disappoint. At half time the home side led by a Michael Kipling goal. Stephen Piper set off from within his own half to beat four Cap players before supplying the perfect cross for Anthony Brockley to finish at the far post. Liam Coleman finally settled the game with a cross that was caught on the high winds and flew into the net. Liam claims he meant it, but the jury is still out!

MN All Stars took advantage of Newton Cap's defeat to regain second spot, but failed to capitalise completely as they were held to a 2-2 draw by The Falchion. It was the visiting Allstars who struck first, through the prolific Steve Howden, who evaded a sloppy home defence to head home. The home side equalised in spectacular fashion when Dom Lund curled a 35-yard effort into the top corner. After the break the good play continued and the visitors were denied repeatedly by some stout defending and inspired goalkeeping from Dean Bates. The Falchion took a controversial lead after James Benson was bundled over in the box and Mike Watt made no mistake from the spot. The Allstars rallied and pushed hard for the equaliser which came in injury-time after a goalmouth scramble led to the ball falling to Paul Robertson who hit a wonderful strike from 25 yards to become the Allstars hero for the day.

Haughton climbed to fourth after a 6-2 win over The Cricketers. Haughton opened the scoring when Iain Wilkin finished from close range. Paul Cooper doubled the lead when he cut in from the left and unleashed a shot beyond the diving keeper. Just before half-time Wayne Spooner ran 30 yards with the ball and coolly slotted home for his first ever goal for the club. The Cricketers pulled a goal back shortly into the second-half through Kevin Howlett, but Haughton responded well and another close range effort, followed by a looping header, saw Iain Wilkin complete his hat-trick. Alan Tweddle brought the game back to 5-2 from the spot but again Haughton responded positively and Spooner obviously enjoyed his goalscoring experience as he repeated the trick to make the final score 6-2.

Goodfellas started brightly against visitors AXA Insurance and took a deserved lead after some neat passing which ended with a calm finish from Dave Tarn. The hosts continued to press but were hit on the break and AXA grabbed an equaliser through Alan Percival. The second-half saw Goodfellas continue to dominate and they restored their lead after Chris Tarn slotted home. However they were finding it difficult to break down a stubborn AXA defence and were again caught on the break as AXA scored again through a Greg Wilde header. Goodfellas had their best chance to win the game with only ten minutes remaining, but Mark Addy saw his penalty saved brilliantly by Luke Stott.

Smith and Allan's fine run of form continued with a 5-1 victory over Royal Oak. After a scrappy 30 minutes the home side got the goal they deserved when Holiday tapped home. Wayne Turner then scored his 7th goal in 3 games to put Smith and Allan two-up at the break. The Royal Oak then saw their keeper dismissed for handling outside the area and with that Smith and Allan took control. Lee Anderson added a third and Adam Gilroy converted a penalty before Neil Jollie pulled one back for the visitors. Ten minutes from time Nick Davidson scored the goal of the game with an unstoppable left foot drive.

Fighting Cocks secured their third straight win with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Drinkfield Utd. After a tight first-half James Riggall fired home to put the Fighting Cocks in front. Drinkfield keeper Paul Holliday then made a great save from a Riggall penalty. Drinkfield pressed in the second-half but were thwarted in their efforts by a breakaway goal by Stephen Brookbanks. A second penalty, this time to Drinkfield, saw Daniel Eeles bring the score back to 2-1 but, despite a late surge, they were unable to grab an equaliser.

At the foot of the table bottom side Sherwoods grabbed a rare victory with a 5-3 win over second-bottom AFC Aruba. Sherwoods goals coming from Gilby, Stephen Park (2), Peter Taylor and Danny Wilson. Aruba's scorers were Liam Hibburt, Pete Ironside and Jamie Gardner.