In the Semi Final of the Washington Aged Peoples Trophy Shildon Railway were knocked out of the competition by a competent Belford House outfit, although Belford left it until the last five minutes to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win they would have been very unlucky to lose this tie, they had so much of the play hitting the woodwork twice and not putting sitters away in a game which the wind made a mockery of the football at times.

Stewart Blacket put the Railway in front after 15 minutes from a volley assisted by the wind deceiving the Belford keeper. Belford were level ten minutes later from some good football played from their own half with Ian McDowell finishing off. Just before the interval, the Railway went 2-1 up with a cracking header from Steffan McGowan. Belford thought all the pressure they were putting on the Railway was in vain until the 86th minute when Grant Bulmer pounced on a loose ball to level for Belford. Then lack of concentration in the Railways defence allowed a nice solo effort by John Cogger to seal it for Belford who will meet Hartlepool Town in the final on Chester Moor Ground on the 14th April.

In the league, Brandon Prince Bishop outplayed Simonside SC with a 4-1 win in atrocious conditions. Michael Fort put the Bishops in front getting a simple tap n from close range. In the second half, David Fort made it 2-0 with another simple tap in from close range. Philip Martin pulled a goal back for Simonside when he hit the net with a cracking shot from 25 yards. Paul Webster made it 3-1 for the Bishops and Michael Fort hit a screaming 20 yard free kick to make it 4-1 at the final whistle.

Ebchester FC were losers in an eight goal thriller at home to Seaham Town. Chris Parker put Ebchester in front early in the game. Kevin Coyle headed in the Towns equaliser shortly afterwards then Darren Bleasdale hit a screaming volley to put the town 2-1 up in the first half. Two more goals from Bleasdale and another from Ross Pinder put the Town well ahead at 5-1. A brace for Ebchester from Carl Price, the first a bullet header and the second a volley into the top corner of the net, brought Ebchester back into the game but time ran out for them in an entertaining game played in very poor conditions.