OLD Shildon edged their Division One title-clash with Newton Aycliffe with three quick-fire goals at Moore Lane.

Kevin Ryans had cancelled out an Ian Maddison opener for the Shildon side - but they quickly nudged back in front with three goals inside ten minutes.

James Hedley, Maddison and Paul Shaw each chipped in to pretty much claim maximum points at half-time from a depleted Aycliffe side.

A spirited fightback - and a second half brace by striker Dave Muir - brought a glimmer of hope for the current champions. But Paul Whensley completed the scoring, and an Old Shildon win, with their fifth goal.

"It was a close game," said Shildon's Dave Hedley. "They were struggling for a side but still gave us a hard game, but we scored three quick goals that really killed the game off."

Aycliffe Assistant Manager Craig Murray said: "Our striker began the game in goal and we played the second half with 10 men, so we were always up against it. But we couldn't fault the lads for their effort. It was the three goals before half-time that lost us the game."

Meanwhile, Loves - currently top of the First Division - dropped two points when they drew 2-2 at Beehive. Stephen Brown and Kenny Melvin scored for Beehive, with Michael Howard and Jay Wilson netting Loves' goals.

Elsewhere, Lakeside beat Browney 5-4 thanks to a hat-trick by Marc De Lucia and one each by Wayne Marram and Steve Woodward. Peter Boucher (2), Chris Allan and Steven Rogers scored for Browney.

Thorns won 6-2 at Binchester Social Club. Steven Richardson scored a hat-trick, while Kyley Wright netted two and Mark Russell one in the win. Scott Smith and Michael Tinkler scored for Binny.

Kevin Dodds and Mark Nicholson were on target for Salvins to give them a 2-1 win at Tudhoe United.

In Division Two, Top-of-the-table North Briton conceded their first defeat of the season with a narrow home defeat to the hands of Shildon Athletic.

Ryan Laffey and Christopher Ross scored first half goals to give Athletic a 2-0 half-time lead.

And, despite a Dominic Rich goal five minutes from time followed by heavy pressure, they held out for the narrow win.

"It's a great result and a welcome boost," said Secretary Wayne Stout. "We haven't enjoyed the best of starts through several injuries, and it was pleasing that we played so well against the team top of our division."

Brit Secretary Phil Judge said: "We were never at the races and never really looked like scoring. After such a good start to the season it's very disappointing - I think most the lads were a bit worse for ware after their Saturday night exploits!

Meanwhile, Belvedere won 6-2 at Cumby Arms. Lee Nixon (2), Tim Hutchinson, Andrew Trotter, David Brown and Colin Walker scored their goals.

"It was a closer game than the scoreline suggests," admitted Belvedere Secretary Karl Thompson. "The first half was very scrappy, but it opened up in the second half and both sides had plenty of chances - we just took our chances when they came along and that was the difference."

Elsewhere, Masons Arms won 5-1 at home to Victoria. Gary Dixon (2), Stewart Thompson, Ian Crow and Justin Fox scored for the victors, with Marc Nelson netting Vic's only goal.

Eldon Arms won 4-0 at Masons United thanks to goals by Andy Malkin (2), Michael Walker and Simon Malkin.

* Club secretaries are reminded to contact Secretary Mike Hill on 01388 608062 for any queries regarding fixtures, while referees should contact Registration Secretary Tommy Lye on 01388 773550 for any queries.

The league would also like to wish Loves and North Briton all the very best of luck in this Sunday's Durham County Sunday Cup. The Loves travel to Hartlepool Welfare Cosmopolitan, while the Brit entertain Coundon WMC.

Results: Sunday, October 12: Division One: Binchester SC 2, Thorns 6; Newton Aycliffe 3, Old Shildon 5; Tudhoe Utd 1, Salvins 2; Lakeside 5, Browney 4; Beehive 2, Loves 2; Postchaise 2, Green Tree 1.

Division Two: Boot & Shoe 1, Grand 3; North Briton 1, Shildon Athletic 2, Masons Utd 0, Eldon Arms 4; Cumby Arms 2, Belvedere 6; Masons Arms 5, Victoria 1; Hunwick Joiners 5, Voltigeur 0.

FIXTURES, Sunday, October 19: Division One: Thorns v Postchaise, Old Shildon v Binchester SC, Salvins v Newton Aycliffe, Lakeside v Tudhoe Utd, Browney v Beehive, Green Tree v Horndale.

Division Two: Grand v Hunwick, Shildon Athletic v Boot & Shoe, Belvedere v Masons Utd, Victoria v Cumby Arms, Voltigeur v Middlestone Moor.