Ferryhill Greyhound, still top of the premier division, are five points clear of their rivals who have played fewer games.

They dropped to valuable points by drawing 1-1 at home to Killingworth Arms. It was a very even game with goals hard to come by. Ferryhill took the lead after 30 minutes through John Parnaby and it looked sufficient to win the game. Killingworth made a substitution late on bringing on Gary Walker in defence and pushing defender Dean Walker up front, a move which paid off when Walker, seeing Ferryhill's keeper well off his line, cleverly lobbed the ball over his head into the net for an unexpected goal to make it 1-1.

Billingham Wanderers move into third spot. They won 3-2 at home to Usworth who took an early lead through Tate, but the champions came back strongly and Keith Corner levelled heading home a cross from Eric Barrett and shortly afterwards made it 2-1 with a similar move. After the restart Micky Taylor scored to make it 3-1 to the home side. Usworth never gave up and Steve McGee netted to put them back into the game at 2-3. Billingham's defence, however, held firm and although under pressure never looked like losing. Outstanding players were Geoff Kirton and Steve Cuthbertson.

Owton Manor were in fine form. Three times in arrears they fought back strongly and eventually won 4-3 away to second placed Steels SC.

In division one Langley Park Rams Head are experiencing a bad run of games. They have a habit of taking time to settle down into their game and once again their opponents benefited going into a 2-0 lead before the Rams settled down. Kevin Chatterton pulled one back close on half-time but the second half was an uphill struggle and the result was that the visitors Newton Aycliffe won 3-1 against the luckless Rams.

In division two Barnard Castle drew 2-2 away to Hebburn in a very tight match. Hebburn took the lead after three minutes when Micky Malley scored but Geoff Banister levelled. The second half saw Malley restore Hebburn's lead when he headed home a corner kick from Colin Holloway, but Kevin Hodgson equalised for the Castle to make it 2-2. Despite all the Castle's efforts Hebburn's defence held out and the game ended in a draw for Castle, Graham Hammond and Dave Bowes as well as sweeper Corky Waistell starred.

In the Kenny Ball Cup division one side Darlington Croft proved superior to local rivals division three side Darlington Railway by winning 2-0 away.

In the Echo Cup Billingham Town won 5-2 at home to Durham C Strollers. They opened in fine style and led 3-0 at the interval, courtesy of Tony Screen, Steven Cooper and Jimmy Speight. After the restart Dave Long made it 4-0 but Durham fought back and goals from George Collins and Steve Thompson made it 2-4, but Colin Liddell scored a fifth goal for Billingham to settle the issue 5-2.

In the Billy Lorraine Cup Thornley Celtic lost 3-0 at home to second placed division four side Hedworthfield Deneside. The visitors led 1-0 at the interval and two further second half goals saw them finish comfortable 3-0 winners.

Trimdon Veterans won 4-3 against Houghton Swifts. The game swung from end to end, but it was Trimdon's refusal to give in which won the game. Two goals town in ten minutes it looked all over for the home side but a converted penalty by Malcolm Bean put them back into the game. Tommy Smith levelled shortly after the restart and then shot them into a 3-2 lead. Five minutes from time Houghton scored the equaliser, but in a grandstand finish, Malcolm Bean scored the winner in the last minute to put Trimdon through to the next round.

Crook Town won 3-0 away to Wynyard Old Boys.