Foursome Hill in top form

From the beginning, Norton attacked and were 6-0 up by half time, with four of the goals being scored by the impressive man of the match Tom Hill. A few changes in the second half didn't alter Norton's attacking style. It was a great team performance with superb individual displays especially Joe Taylor who scored two goals.

Visitors Cumby Rovers beat Norton Under-9s 2-0, although Norton started well, passing the ball around and had a few chances until Cumby scored a breakaway goal. The second half was much the same, but Norton could not put the ball in the back of the net. Cumby scored a second goal to get the points. Josh Purves was Norton's man of the match.

Norton Under-10s started the season with a brilliant 6-1 home win against an enthusiastic Fishburn. Norton played some excellent football with great passing and movement, resulting in some great goals from N Mohun (2), M Johnson, N Thomas, M Simcox and M Garbutt. The two defenders, M Craggs and D Green, and goal keeper T Johnson all worked hard to keep Fishburn at bay.

Norton Under-11s were at home to Marton Hall Drive in an exciting game. Norton went ahead through Calum Hassan, and then Paul Vaulks hit the post for Norton before Marton scored two goals direct from corners to put them in front. Norton controlled the second half with Josh Sutcliffe equalising with a superb free kick from 30 yards. Calum Hassan scored two more to complete his hat trick. A good start for Norton against a lively Marton side. Final score Norton 4 Marton Hall Drive 2.

Another brilliant home win for Norton with the Under-12s won 6-0 against California Boys. Good football from Jake Laverick on the right wing gave James Gray his first goal of the season. Josh Worton followed with a brilliant goal ten minutes later, shortly followed by another two goals by James Gray to complete his hat trick. The second half was just as exciting with Josh Worton scoring his second goal from a free kick 25 yards out. James Gray secured the points by smashing his fourth goal into the back of the net.

TIBS FC beat the Under-13 A team in an entertaining game in which both teams showed some skilful football. Norton were unfortunate in the first half, conceding a penalty and then a wicked rebound between keeper and defender ended in the back of the Norton net. Norton responded quickly in the second half, squaring the game to 2-2. The game then came to life with another four goals being scored in quick succession. Norton's goal keeper, Rob Cotts, kept his cool with three very good saves. Norton tried in vane to get back into the game seeing shots go wide and clear of the line, but the final score was TIBS 6 Norton 4.

Despite some good football by Norton's Under-15 B team, they were unable to produce a win against Coulby Newham. Karl Nugent, Danny Hughes and Nicky Matthews scored for Norton in a very close fought game, but Coulby got the points with a 4-3 win.

Norton's Under-13 B new boys got their league campaign off to a great start against Marton FC with a 4-1 home win. Big games are won by big players, and Norton's James "Jamma" Cronesberry was the star of this show.

He rattled home a curving free kick on 15 minutes, then scored the goal of the game, side stepping an opponent before unleashing a 25 yard drive into the top corner of the Marton net. Marton hit back with a goal before the break, then were unlucky not to level when a shot came off the inside of the Norton upright, spun across the goal and went out for a goal kick!

That, however, was Marton's last attack of the game, and it was not yet half time. In the second half it was Jamma who added a third for Norotn after great work on the left side, the fourth quickly followed and was well deserved in a dominant second period where Norton's back line looked comfortable, assured and untroubled.

Norton Under-14s started their season with a 3-1 home defeat to Hartlepool Crest. Crest went ahead within a few minutes with a strong run from Luke Preston breaking through the Norton defence. In the second half, Norton once again came out strong with Michael Willan scoring a well deserved equaliser from a goal mouth scramble. Just as Norton started to get into the game, Crest pushed the ball around the Norton keeper. Luke Preston finished the game with a speculative shoot from outside the box to score a hat trick for Crest.

Norton Under-16s were away to Fishburn Boys in the Durham Cup and started very strongly on a very hot afternoon. Steven Rudd got the opener for Norton, followed by a well taken goal by Shaun Taylor to make it 2-0. Fishburn pulled one back with a goal from Fowler. In the second half Andy Giddings scored with a great finish in the bottom corner after a well worked 1-2 with Lee Thomas. McManus scored with a header for Fishburn before Norton sealed the game with 2 further goals in the last 20 minutes making the final score 5-2 to Norton.

Rohm and Haas JOC Hetton Youth League

Lumley, who won the championship last season, suffered a rare defeat when they went down 2-1 to Jarrow St Bedes in the Subsidiary Cup. Mark Brocklehurst gave Jarrow the lead in the first half and when Craig Redhead added a second goal Lumley had a fight on their hands. David Smith found the target to throw the Cestrians a lifeline but Jarrow held on for a 2-1 victory.

Red House, newcomers to the competition, drew 3-3 with Ryhope after leading by two goals at the halfway stage.

The Subsidiary Cup is played on a league basis and the two teams at the top of the table will compete in the final. Teams tying on the same points and goal difference will play off to see who goes through into the final.

Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League

North Tyneside College were easy winners visiting Swalwell where goals from Stuart Nicholson (2), Steve Black, Martin Evans, Anthony Thompson and Alan Hunter resulted in a 6-0 victory.

Newcomers Seaham Red Star put nine goals past Blackfyne, who managed only one from Dan Clark in reply.

Clubs were also involved in the Tyne and Wear Cup and West Denton just had the edge on New Hartley winning 3-2

Walker Central had a 2-0 victory at Prudhoe Town and Whitley Bay won by the same margin at Consett.

Apollo Doors Gateshead Youth League

Ryan Hunt bagged a brace goals leading Consett R to a 3-2 victory over Whickham Fellside G in the Under-11 division.

Nick Cox hit a hat-trick for Leam Rangers Y in his side's victory at Blaydon, while Jack Self scored twice for South Moor and Don Curry for Redheugh when they shared a 4-4 draw. Swalwell and Beamish ended 1-1 while Blackfyne defeated Whickham Fellside Y 6-2 when Thomas Roland and Ben Campsell both found the net on two occasions.

Low Fell M and Leam Rangers G shared in a 2-2 draw, Stocksfield hit Felling with a 6-1 defeat and Winlaton and Low Fell C ended 1-1.

In the Under-12 section Low Fell hit Prudhoe Town with a 9-2 defeat as Ricky Fenwick struck no fewer than six times. Jack Day rifled a hat-trick. Winlaton defeated Blaydon 8-1, Cleveland Hall ran out 5-1 winners over Beamish, Felling just had the edge over Leam Rangers winning a five-goals thriller 3-2 and a hat-trick by Lee Dial earned Consett a 5-2 success over Ryton.

In the Under-13 division Leam Rangers G ended 5-3 ahead of Whickham Fellside B and Leam Rangers Y drew 1-1 with Whickham Fellside R.

Winlaton and Cleveland also drew 2-2, Chopwell and Washington Oxclose finished 1-1, but goals were plentiful for Blackfyne, who hammered Swalwell 10-1. Daniel Walker struck five times, Andrew Reynoldson found the net on three occasions and Stephen Shaw struck twice.

Scott Martindale was another player to bag a couple of goals in Rutherford's 5-1 victory at home to Blaydon, while in the other match Low Fell saw off the challenge from Redheugh 5-2.

In the Under-14 section Adam Hewitt, Alex Francis and Nathan Luscombe all found the net twice in Redheugh's 8-0 runaway victory at South Moor. Kevin Hempsall struck four times for Cleveland Hall in his team's 7-1 victory at home to Leam Rangers, Low Fell B defeated Low Fell C 5-0 and Blaydon ran out 4-1 winners at home to Consett.

Daryl Iveson scored three goals for Redheugh who ended 5-0 ahead of Leam Rangers and two goals from Gary Archibald assisted Cleveland Hall in their 3-0 victory over Consett.

Shaun Seggars blasted four goals and Martin Dodd scored twice as Blaydon won 8-0 at Beamish.

Durham County Council Lomax Enterprises

Under-18 League

The new league, organised by Durham FA, began a fortnight ago with 11 teams in membership.

Willington, who in three pre-season friendlies defeated Sacriston 4-3, Consett Badgers 25-0 and an American touring college side from Boston 11-0, drew their initial game 2-2 away to Gateshead Redheugh.

Willington visited Hartlepool on Saturday and won 6-0 with goals from Chris Hodgson (3), John Nugent, John Cunningham and goalkeeper Mark Boughey, who converted a penalty.

Washington Dunlop hammered South Shields 10-0 after establishing a six-goal interval lead.

Trimdon were another side to reach double figures as they ended 10-0 in front of Consett, while Darlington Spraire Lads finished 6-3 in front of Darlington College, but there was only one goal between the sides at the halfway stage. Chris Smith struck a hat-trick and others on the mark for Spraire Lads were Phil Seymour, Stuart Banks and John McKay. Chris Walker, James Bowman and Anthony Ross responded for the College.

New County North Durham Youth League

Darren Alcock scored four times when Birtley defeated Rutherford 8-4 at the end of a 12 goals thriller in the Under-16 division. A hat-trick by Scott Hardy assisted South Moor to a 6-2 success at Consett and in the Under-17 section John Storey scored twice for Leam Rangers who won 5-2 visiting Consett.

David Middlemiss netted on two occasions for Birtley, but South Moor ended 3-2 in front with goals by Steve Agnew (2) and Liam Todd.

Michael Anderson with a hat-trick and Chris Morris (2) provided most of the goals in Cleveland Hall's 8-0 home win over Rutherford and Beamish also suffered an 8-0 defeated at Redheugh, for whom Chris Wilson (3), Timothy Whelan (2) and James Laidler (2) scored most of the goals.

Red House finished 7-4 winners over Blackfyne and Cowgate saw off the challenge from Winlaton Promotions by a 4-1 margin.

In the Durham County Under-16 Cup there were wins for Leam Rangers who hammered Stockton Grangefield 13-0 while Blaydon defeated Brandon 9-0 and Sunderland Redby finished 4-3 in front of Redheugh.

Stockton Town

Stockton Town Under-14s started the TJFA League campaign with a home fixture against Nunthorpe Athletic.

The Under-14s were looking to reverse the result of last season where they lost the corresponding fixture 2-1. Unfortunately, they couldn't quite manage the win, but did improve with a 2-2 draw.

Stockton had the majority of the early play, but struggled to make their superiority count until Elgey managed to break free and his cross-cum-shot was fired across the face of the Nunthorpe goal for Lee Allcock to open the scoring.

Stockton held the lead for only ten minutes.

A corner from Nunthorpe had Stockton struggling to clear the ball and MacWilliams latched onto the loose ball firing it above Blakemore in the Stockton goal onto the crossbar and then into the net.

Stockton came back at Nunthorpe almost immediately and a cross from Crossen had the Nunthorpe defence struggling to clear. Hillerby managed to hold off a defender and hook it over his shoulder and the keeper's reach to take Stockton into a 2-1 half time lead.

The second half saw the game swing from end-to-end, with neither team really creating any clear cut openings, until with five minutes to go when Wearmouth managed to get the better of Todd in the Stockton defence and fired across the goal, Reid tried desperately to keep the ball out but could not as it squirmed past his foot.