Simonside SC went down 4-2 at home to Durham City Reserves. City went in front on ten minutes when Neil Middlemiss put away a cross from Barry Cook. Simonside were level five minutes later.
David Basham slipped through the City's defence to slot the ball past the keeper. A nice move from John Hunt assisted by Neil Middlemiss made it 2-1 in the first half. In the second half Barry Cook pulled the ball back to Middlemiss who made it 3-1 before Mark Hutchinson hit a cracking 20-yard free kick for Simonside to pull them back to 3-2. A mistake by Simonside's keeper allowed Barry Cook to make it 4-2 to Durham City.
Shildon Railway went down 3-2 at home to a powerful Hartlepool Town. Shildon went ahead in the second minute; Stewart Blackett slipped a neat pass to Neil Robinson, who beat the keeper with a crisp shot. Geoff Cook levelled for Hartlepool then went ahead just before half-time with Chris Birkbeck hitting the target. A long range volley from Jamie Parkinson made it 3-1 to Hartlepool. Terry Gillan pulled it back to 3-2 for Shildon, but it wasn't enough to stop the impressive Hartlepool outfit.
Belford House are still top of the league thanks to a deserved 2-1 win away to Brandon Prince Bishop. Michael Conner tapped in Belford's first from a defensive error in 15 minutes. Five minutes later a cracking header at the back post from Kenny Taylor made it 2-1. David Dickinson put away a penalty to pull a goal back for the Bishops in 35 minutes. Belford's plucky defence withstood all of Bishops pressure in the second half to earn a deserved three points.
Ebchester FC beat Durham University 2-0 to earn their second consecutive win in the league. Paul Hagan and Neil Swainston scored the goals to put the first point on the league table since September 13. Having had six points deducted for breach of the rules and only a point gained in a 2-2 draw against Gateshead A on August 20, Ebchester had been carrying a points deficit. Now with two wins in a row there is a buzz in the club who are hoping their form continues when they play their next match against Simonside SC.
A comfortable 4-0 win against Gateshead A keeps Coxhoe Athletic's chances of a second Consecutive championship on course, they are a point behind Belford House with two games in hand. Peter Croft and Andrew Richardson made it 2-0 in the first half, with Andrew Richardson and Alan Tolley sealing it.
Whitehill FC beat Birtley Town Reserves 3-2 thanks to a fine hat trick scored by Mark Adamson in the second half. They were trailing 1-0 in the first half when John Dexton for Birtley scored in the 30th minute. Chris Guy got Birtley's second in the 83rd minute.
Durham Victoria Bridge shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Seaham Town. Dean Anderson put the Town in front after ten minutes, side footing in a goal from a right wing cross. Ian Brown scored the equaliser on 35 minutes hitting a half volley into the bottom corner.
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