DUNCAN McCULLOUGH was the star of the show for the Cricketers in Division Two when he netted five times in an incredible 13-goal thriller.

And unbelievably this was only one of two matches in that division that ended up 7-6.

McCullough's haul saw the Cricketers triumph 7-6 at Shaftoes while the Black Horse saw off Consett Top Club by a similar margin with Craig Convery hitting a hat-trick and both Michael Hurst and Ryan Stokoe two goals each.

Promotion favourites Burton House were also involved in a closely contested game that saw them edge out the Bute Arms by the odd goal in five. Steve Brown, Graham Gill and Peter Maguire netted for the home team with the Bute's pair scored by Shaun Newton and Ben Watson.

Goals from Lee Carriss and Lee Milburn failed to save Annfield Plain Demi from a 5-2 home defeat against the Highwayman.

Because of cup competitions, only one match took place in the top flight and that produced a 2-0 Stateside win at Blackhill Comrades with goals from Martin Herdman and Andrew Watson.

In Division Three, two goals from Mark Emery and David Sewell saw Horse & Groom on their way to a 7-2 win over the Duke of Wellington while Hat & Feather went behind to an early Smelters Arms goal before going on to win 14-1 with Richard Carroll scoring four times and Paul Sawyer on three other occasions.

Doubles from Stephen Hutchinson and George Butcher saw Hamsteels to a 4-4 draw with Scotch Arms for whom Dean Laddie netted twice along with Shaun Ellison and Mick McGuigan.

Leaders Burgoynnes chalked up another win as a Mathew Roby hat-trick took them to a 7-0 win over the Miners Arms with Craig Curry, David Nicholson, David Prior and Andrew Blair also on the target.

The Ball Alley crushed Cronniwell 8-0 with Darren Scarr helping himself to a hat-trick and there were two others for David Coulson.