THE First Division's top two both got off to winning starts last week in the first game of the 2003-04 campaign.

Champions Newton Aycliffe were 5-0 winners at Browney, while runners-up Old Shildon beat title rivals Thorns 3-0.

Lakeside, meanwhile, were 6-1 winners over newly-promoted Horndale.

Anthony Briddick (2), Mark Addy (2) and Mark Lunn were on target for Aycliffe in their win.

Thomas Louden (2) and Paul Whensley were Old Shildon's scorers in their 3-0 win over Thorns, while Martin Walker (2), Marc De Lucia (2), Dave Welsh and an own goal were the scorers for Lakeside in their win over Horndale, with Tony Stebbings grabbing a consolation.

Daniel Pattinson (2), Mark Nicholson and Aaron Soulsby scored for Salvins in a 4-1 win over Green Tree, with Gavin McIntyre grabbing Tree's goal, while Loves and Postchaise played out a 1-1 draw - Gavin Wood scoring for Loves and Paul Thompson for Postchaise.

Beehive's game against Binchester Social Club was postponed, but Beehive won their first game of the season on Tuesday night with 4-1 win over Postchaise.

Jeff Dunn scored two goals in the first half, then Jeff Alderson scored a third midway through the second half, with Lee Taylor pulling one back for Postchaise. Mark Foreman added a fourth with a few minutes to go.

Lakeside went top of the First Division on Tuesday night, with a 11-1 win over Green Tree.

Thorns beat Salvins 3-2, Loves beat Horndale 3-1, Browney beat Binchester 3-2 and Newton Aycliffe scraped a 4-3 win over Tudhoe United, who had led with 20 minutes left.

In Division Two, North Briton appeared to claim first blood over neighbours Cumby Arms with a 4-3 win. Hunwick Joiners enjoyed a 6-4 win over Victoria. Michael Madden (2), Jason Smith and Adam Cunningham scored for the Vic.

The Grand got their season off positively with a 7-1 win over Shildon Athletic. Stuart Downs scored both goals for Eldon Arms to give them a 2-1 win over Voltigeur.

Belvedere and Middlestone Moor played out a 2-2 draw.

Results round-up, Sunday, August 17: Division One: Old Shildon 3, Thorns 0; Salvins 4, Green Tree 1; L'side 6, Horndale 1; Loves 1, P'chaise 1; Browney 0, N Aycliffe 5.

Division Two: Shildon Athletic 1, Grand 7; Eldon Arms 2, Voltigeur 1; Belvedere 2, Middlestone Moor 2; Victoria 4, Hunwick Joiners 6; Masons Arms 5, Boot & Shoe 1; Cumby Arms 3, North Briton 4.

Tuesday, August 19: Division One: Thorns 3, Salvins 2; Green Tree 1, Lakeside 11; Horndale 1, Loves 3; P'chaise 1, Beehive 4; Binchester SC 2, Browney 3; N Aycliffe 4, Tudhoe Utd 3.

Fixtures, Sunday, August 24: Division One: Thorns v Loves, Old Shildon v Lakeside, Green Tree v Beehive, Horndale v Browney, P'chaise v Tudhoe, Binchester SC v N Aycliffe.

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

Tuesday, August 26: Division One: Lakeside v Thorns, Salvins v Old Shildon, Loves v Green Tree, Beehive v Horndale, Browney v Postchaise, Tudhoe v Binchester SC.

Thursday, August 28: Division Two: Belvedere v Grand, Eldon Arms v Shildon Athletic, Victoria v Voltigeur, Masons Arms v Middlestone Moor, Cumby Arms v Hunwick Joiners, Masons United v Boot & Shoe.

Durham County Sunday Cup, first preliminary round (fixtures involving league clubs), September 7: Shildon Three Tuns v Cumby Arms, Broompark loves v Hartlepool The Office, Horndale v Stanley Ball Alley, Barnard Castle G. v Voltigeur, Grand v Pelton Crown Inn, North Briton v Trimdon The Dovecote, Gateshead Allerdene v N Aycliffe.

September 14: Billingham Stoney Oak v Binchester SC, Green Tree v Birtley Vigo Inn, Masons Arms v Ferryhill Celtic, Masons Utd v H'pool Rugby, Bill. The Merlin v Salvins, Hunwick Joiners v Washington The Stella.