What price a hat-trick?

Convinced if he had the latest Murcurial Vapours boots by Nike he would finally grab a hat-trick, Jackson smashed a triple first time out in the boots against Nunthorpe in a thrilling 5-2 victory. An excellent team performance against a previously unbeaten Nunthorpe. Credit is due in every position with Chris Charlton in goal demonstrating why he is the Darlington Town under-11s' keeper. It was 2-2 at half-time, then Jackson's boots took flight. Two goals from the scoring machine; Ben Bradley put the game beyond a battling Nunthorpe. Great game, great skill, great result. Man of the match was inevitably, Jackson Kneeshaw, but he doesn't get to keep the match ball!

A good all round team performance from Spraire Lads Under-8s saw them draw 1-1 with Coulby Newham. From the start of the game to the end, Spraire had attack after attack on the opposition goal and were unlucky to only go in at half time with one goal on the scoresheet scored by Liam McKue. Aiden Mcdonough carried on where he left off from last week with excellent defending clearing anything that came near him. Spraire's MoM, Jonathan Dye played the captains role in midfield by chasing every ball and was supported well by Martin Bowers. Keenan Alexander and McKue pressured the Coulby goal to try and get the elusive second to seal the match, but Coulby Newham scored on the break away to level.

Spraire Lads Under-9s went down 7-0 at Eldon Lions. Spraire's man of the match was Lee Varley.

Spraire Lads Under-10s were at home to Billingham Town, who had previously only lost the one game this season. Defences were on top in the opening minutes before Spraire stepped-up a gear and went close through Hedley and Bowers. Then Spraire went in front before half-time when Kerry Hedley put Wilson Kneeshaw through to score. The second-half saw Billingham come out strong and only some excellent tackling from Ben Tervit kept Spraire in front to record a 1-0 win.

Spraire Lads Under-15 A could only muster ten men, but they produced another spirited performance and were only narrowly defeated 4-3 by Cleveland Juniors. Spraire's scorers were Michael Ward(2) and Gary Hill. Man of the match was Steven Woodley for excellent debut performance.

Spraire Lads Under-15 B kept their cool to come from a goal down to beat Saltburn Athletic 5-1 and maintained 100 per cent record for the season in the bargain. Oxendale gave Saltburn the lead with a well-struck goal midway through the first-half but Spraire's man of the match, Borrowdale equalised shortly before the break. After the interval Spraire continued to play an attractive passing game that had Saltburn working overtime to contain. Eventually, Saltburn ran out of steam and Spraire rack-up further goals from Borrowdale, Elgie, Hind and Knox.

Spraire Lads Under-16s, sponsored by Cummins Engines Ltd, entertained New Marske JFC. Spraire started well and deservedly took the lead after some excellent wing play by McDonald set up Wright to score his third goal of the season. Spraire continued to dominate open play and squandered several good chances before conceding an equaliser from a free kick in the last minute of the first-half. After the break, Spraire once again gottheir noses in front with a right foot drive from Barr. However, disaster struck in the closing stages. Firstly, New Marske won a free kick 30 yards out and took advantage of a mix up in Spraire's defence to snatch an equaliser and then deep into stoppage time, Spraire conceded another unnecessary free kick, which Marske converted to give them a surprising 3-2 victory.

Durham County Cups

ties were played in the Under-14 Durham County Cup and no side did better than Redheugh who defeated Chuter Ede from South Shields 13-0. Blaydon ended Redby's interest when they secured a 6-2 result as Adam Boba and Duane Murray both scored twice. Winlaton went out at Leven by a 6-0 margin while Chester-le-Street Riverside progressed defeating Low Fell 2-1.

Billingham Town lost their home tie 4-3 to Cleveland Hall and Bishop Auckland dismissed Chopwell with a 2-0 result.

Lee Potts and Daniel Bruce each bagged a brace of goals as Consett ended Darlington RA's interest in the competition when they won 6-0.

In the Under-17 Durham County Youth Cup Billingham went out 2-1 to Cleveland Hall and Redheugh secured a similar result when they hosted Stockton.

Durham County

Durham County under-18s defeated Cheshire under-18s 2-0 in their Northern Counties Youth Championship fixture at Billingham Synthonia's Central Avenue ground on Saturday to gain revenge for a 3-0 defeat by Cheshire in the same competition last season.

The home side had the encouragement of a goal in the very first minute. Durham pressed from the kick-off and Christopher Laws (Chester le Street) latched on to a defensive error to score.

Durham kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Laws scored his second goal in the 17th minute. A fine move started with centre back Robbie Blemings hitting a terrific 40 yard cross field pass to Steven Richardson who waltzed past the Cheshire full back and centred for Laws to side foot home from a couple of yards out.

With the rain lashing down both sides were playing good football, but it was Cheshire keeper Barry George who had more to do and he produced several good saves. After the interval both sides continued on the attack, but the hard-working George and Durham keeper Ciaran Ruttledge ensured the score line remained at 2-0.

Durham: 1. Ciaran Ruttledge (Gateshead Cleveland Hall), 2. Gavin Stoker (Chester le Street Town), 3. Christopher Reay (Gateshead Cleveland Hall), 4. Curtis Taylor (Gateshead College), 5. James Crossman (Bishop Auckland), 6. Robbie Blemings (Seaham Red Star), 7. Andrew Bulford (Chester le Street Town), 8. Ian Glazinski (Chester le Street Town), 9. Christopher Laws (Chester le Street Town), 10.Steven Richardson (Chester le Street Town), 11. Kyle Bird (Seaham Red Star), Substitutes from: James Smith (Bishop Auckland), Liam Connell, Robert Draper (Chester le Street Town), David Harrison (Darlington College), Harvinder Sull (Washington Dunlop), John Nugent (Willington).

The Durham County squad will be in action again tomorrow when they entertain Lancashire at Durham City's Archibalds Stadium (2pm) in the second round of the national competiton, the FA County Youth Cup, after being exempt from round one.

Durham will retain the same squad plus Carl Jones (Chester le Street Town), Lee Farrington (Norton & Stockton Ancients), Ben Harris (Seaham Red Star) and Christopher (Smith (Darlington Spraire Lads).

The winners will have a third round tie away to either Manchester or Birmingham County FA