Rohm and Haas GOC Hetton Youth League: The season started at the weekend with just five clubs in membership. Before the amalgamation of the two leagues in 2001 at one time the Hetton Youth League boasted 16 clubs and the demise of Saturday youth football is illustrated by the fact that the combined league now only has five sides following the resignation of Herrington.

Champions Lumley opened their programme with a 2-2 draw with Sacriston. Simon Davison and David Smith gave Lumley a 2-1 interval lead with Scott Embleton on the mark for the visitors who in the second period equalised through Robert Lewis.

Jarrow St Bedes just edged Ryhope CW by the odd goal in five. John Smith, Paul Kelly and James Ward earned Jarrow three points with Kyle Dinsdale and Michael Pattinson replying for Ryhope.

Chester-le-Street Town

For the second season in a row Chester-le-Street Town Juniors have caused a major shock by beating the Youth side of a Nationwide Football League Conference Club in the first qualifying round of the FA Youth Challenge Cup.

Last season Southport Academy were heavily defeated 6-1 at Moor Park in the opener. This year The Juniors made the trip to the opposite side of the country to take on Morecambe at Christie Park on Monday evening.

Morecambe's full-time Academy side had strengthened their squad considerably in the summer benefiting from the signings of a number of players who had been released from Wigan Athletic and Tranmere Rovers.

The game opened with fast flowing attacking football by both sides but a healthy sized crowd had to wait until the 43rd minute of the first half for the opening goal. Midfielder Steven Richardson set up Christopher Laws on the left of the box and his fine strike was blocked but the ball rebounded across the goal and was driven home powerfully at the far post by former Newcastle United Academy striker Andy Bulford. Morecambe equalised within three minutes of the interval after Chester lost possession in centre-midfield. Within two minutes though, Chester were back in front when Gary Browne cut in from the left to smash home a powerful 20-yard effort.

The home side equalised again before Laws cleverly beat the home keeper from the edge of the box with a dipping shot to put the Cestrians ahead for the third time. Laws was unlucky not to make it 4-2 when he rattled the woodwork minutes later. Morecambe equalised for the third time, six minutes from the end of normal time to set up a frantic finale where Chester were required to do some resolute defending.

The tie moved into extra-time and on 94 minutes Steven Richardson played a superb reverse ball into the path of Christopher Clayton and his powerful left foot drive took a wicked deflection off a Morecambe defender and beat the goalkeeper inside the far post. Once that goal was scored, Chester held on for the last 26 to record a notable victory over a very decent footballing side.

Juniors Manager Andrew Muxworthy was delighted with his sides' performance and said after the match: "When the draw came out and we found out we had got Morecambe I told my players that this was easily the most attractive fixture of the Northern Section of the draw. It was always going to be football at its purest and it was a very exciting game for those watching in the stands.

"I was really pleased with my players and the character they showed in a game that took them through a roller coaster of emotions several times. When we got our noses in front for the last time I had a feeling that we would hold on, though with it being extra-time and a lot of players feeling weary you have to expect the unexpected. The players were a huge credit to the club and themselves and I am very proud of not only how they performed but also how they prepared themselves from Sunday for such an important match".

Chester-le-Street Town: Connell, G Draper, R Draper, Glazinski (Clayton 78), Curry, Jones, Watson (Wadge 95), Richardson, Laws, Bulford, Browne (Hetherington 85). Subs not used: Urwin, Nevins.

Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League

Seaham Red Star, who were without a game at the weekend, have won three games out of three as have Walker Central.

New Hartley are two points adrift of the leading trio after their 4-1 victory at Whitley Bay when Michael Latimer (2), James Brown and Graham Smith. Mark Minto was Whitley's only scorer.

West Denton who also have seven points scored four goals and Blackfyne failed to reply. Stephen Dodds bagged a brace and others on the mark for West Denton were Sean Gartland and John Pendlebury.

Chester-le-Street are joint top of the table with Seaham Red Star and Walker Central. They won for the third time in four outings defeating North Tyneside College 3-1 when Chris Laws struck all three goals.

P W D Pts

Chester-le-Street 4 3 0 9

Seaham Red Star 3 3 0 9

Walker Central 3 3 0 9

New Hartley 4 2 1 7

West Denton 5 2 1 7

Whitley Bay 3 1 1 4

Blackfyne 3 1 0 3

Consett 1 1 0 9

Prudhoe 4 1 0 3

North Tyneside Coll 5 0 1 1

Swalwell 3 0 0 0

New County North Durham Youth League

The season started on Sunday and in the U16 division there was an eight-goal thriller when Ryton and Cleveland Hall shared the points.

Lee Morton (2), James Carr and Alex Robson netted for Ryton with Keith Carson (2), Andrew Reay and Dean Tempest replying for Cleveland Hall.

Nine goals were scored at Leam Rangers who defeated South Moor 5-4 with strikes by John Sherlock (3), Lee Turnbull and Lee Moody. Scott Hardy was another player to hit a hat-trick in the game, but he finished on the losing side.

Greg McKie was South Moor's other scorer.

The game between Redheugh and Consett was abandoned with the Reds leading 1-0. A player received a serious injury and the referee called a half.

In the U17 division Leam Rangers finished 5-3 ahead of Winlaton Promotions with goals from Robbie Dixon (3), John Storey and Curtis Wooff. Owen Fox scored twice and Carl Riach responded for Winlaton.

Stephen Agnew (2), Craig Platten (2), Philip Taylor and Paul Henderson all struck for South Moor in their side's 6-1 victory over Red House whose only reply came from David Hawthorn.

Redheugh put eight goals past Rutherford who failed to find the net once. Chris Wilson rifled four goals, James Laidler bagged a brace with Martin Mossgrove and George Whitfield completing the rout.

Cleveland Hall were another side to score eight times and Blackfyne managed one in reply through Liam Burns. Anthony Falcon (3), Liam Docherty (2), Jamie Scope, Chris Morris and Matthew McCormick all found the net for Cleveland Hall.

David Middlemiss (2), Michael Brown, Tom Spearling and Dean Taylor were marksmen for Birtley in their 6-1 success over Beamish for whom Lee Harvey scored.

Darlington Spraire Lads

OSaturday the Under-9s played in a tournament at Bishop Auckland College. Drawn in a group of six teams they started off well beating Sunderland Redhouse CA 3-0 with goals from Zac Tervit. Matty Plumb and Kerry Hedley.

In the second game they beat St Marys 1-0 with James Bennett scoring the only goal they then won their next three games 1-0, 3-0 and 2-0 to qualify for the final without conceding a goal with Ryan Allinson playing well in defence and stand-in keeper Ben Tervit doing well in goal.

In the final they beat Vishop Auckland St Marys A 1-0 to claim the trophy.

Squad: Ben Tervit, Ryan Allinson, James Bennett, Kerry Hedley, Matthew Plumb, Wilson Kneeshaw, Sam Liddle, Zac Tervit.

On Sunday the Under-10s played in a tournament in Ferryhill and started with two 2-0 wins before beating a good Ferryhill side 2-1 which meant a 0-0 draw they earned in their last game secured a place in the final.

Up against the Allstars, their opponents went in at half time 1-0 ahead but an excellent second half saw Ben Bradley hit two goals to give Spraire a well-deserved 2-1 victory.

Squad: Luke Gilbert, Chris Charlton, Dale Johnson, Jackson Kneeshaw, Robert Gilmour, Wade Gilbert, Ben Bradley and Ben Sanderson