League leaders Byers Green St Peters returned to winning form with an excellent derby victory over second side Willington WMC. Paul English put St Peters ahead at half before David Savage and Ian Brown made it 3-0. Malcolm McWilliams pulled one back but Jeffrey Morrow added a fourth for Byers Green who were much the better side on the day.

Crook Wanderers are emerging as serious title challengers and beat Stanhope Town 9-2. Lee Furber led the way with four and the rest came from David Pakes, Ian Dunn, Stuart Dawson, Graham Jones and Chris Pounder. Andy Lee scored both for Stanhope.

Wearhead United gave a very poor performance against Tow Law Cattle Mart and lost 2-0 to goals either side of half time from Edward Umpleby. After going the first fifteen league games without a victory the Mart have won two in a row. Wearhead in contrast have failed to win in their last eleven league games.

Roddymoor and Crook White Swan proved to be very evenly matched and the only goal of the game came from Roddymoor's Andrew Johnson after thirty-five minutes. The win extended Roddymoor's unbeaten league run to five games.

Paul Jobling gave Evenwood White Swan the lead at Howden Australian. There was little to choose between the sides for much of the match but in the latter stages Australian took their chances to run out 4-1 winners. John Chambers and Kevin Burke grabbed a brace each with one of Burke's coming from forty-five yards.

West Auckland Queens Head take a 4-1 advantage into the second leg of the Colin Waites trophy semi final with Bishop Rugby Club. Anthony Bailes, Andrew Bowes (2) and Matthew Moffatt saw Queens Head 4-0 up before Mark Foster netted for the Rugby Club.

Durham Alliance

P W D L F A Pts

Whitehill FC 21 14 3 4 72 32 45

Hartlepool Town 21 13 2 6 71 30 41

Coxhoe Athletic 16 13 1 2 46 19 40

Black & Decker 18 11 4 3 59 27 37

Belford House FC 19 11 3 5 50 37 36

Shildon Railway FC 18 11 1 6 50 40 34

Cockfield FC 17 9 4 4 45 24 31

Sporting Club S'land 17 9 3 5 52 27 30

Seaham The Duke FC 19 9 1 9 45 40 28

Brandon Station 11 7 2 2 41 9 23

Seaham Mallard 18 4 2 12 38 68 14

Simonside SC 20 4 0 16 39 83 12

Birtley Town Res. 21 3 2 16 34 79 11

Durham Victoria Bridge 21 3 1 17 26 74 10

*Ebchester FC 19 2 1 16 26 105 4