The only First Division game to escape the weekend's miserable weather was played between fourth-placed East End WMC and third-placed Nestfield Club.

However, despite their high-flying league position, Nestfield somehow found themselves unable to field 11 fit players and had to play the entire game with only ten men. Undaunted by the prospect though, they gave an excellent account of themselves, and took a justified early lead as Lee Jenkinson waltzed through the EastEnder's defence before beating the advancing keeper. However, as the game progressed East End began to make their numerical advantage count, as Shaun Collins struck an equaliser early in the second half. Worse was then to come as Paul Tunstall struck a winner late in the game to halt Nestfield's hopes of moving into second, whilst East End closed the gap between themselves and the top three to only three points.

Division Two fared slightly better as two games managed to beat Sunday's weather, with All Stars continuing their unbeaten run. Bishop Auckland Derby were their victims on this occasion as Darren Kokes four goal haul put the All Stars on target for a 5-3 away win. Carl Amos also found the net for the runaway league leaders, whilst Darren Dye, Wayne King and Glen Thompson struck for The Derby. In the other Division Two game, Royal British Legion leapt up to seventh place as they beat Jack Horner's 4-1. However, things could quickly change for the Legion as only six points cover the bottom half of the division and every team below them have at least one game in hand.

Division Three saw three games played this week, but in the game of the day, Pizza Perfekt missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on the top three in the division as they succumbed to 13th-placed AFC Aruba. The Pizzaboyz struggled to get to grips with the atrocious conditions, and soon fell behind as the unlucky Liam Coleman turned the ball past his own keeper to give the visitors the lead. Mike Weston soon got the home side back on level terms as he nodded the ball home following some fine work from Matthew Smith, but Aruba struck another almost instantly as Richie Horn gave them a 2-1 half-time lead. The second half provided much of the same entertainment as the Pizzaboyz passing game was thwarted by the muddy pitch. However, they battled on and player-manager Paul Hope presented Weston with an open goal which he duly accepted to notch his second of the game. Once more though, the Pizzaboyz weren't going to remain on level terms for long as Richie Horn struck his second goal of the game as the Perfekt defence was caught flat-footed by a long-ball over the top. Controversy then reigned as Liam Coleman slipped a shot past the Aruba 'keeper which would have usually nestled in the back of the net. However, the ball got stuck in the mud on the goal line and, as the Pizzaboyz claimed a goal, an Aruba defender cleared it and the referee ruled that the whole of the ball hadn't crossed the line. The Pizzaboyz were furious, and as their frustration got the better of them they were once more caught out at the back as Ste Oddle struck a fine individual goal to make the final score 4-2 to AFC Aruba.

In the remaining third division games, Emcor squeezed past struggling Newton Cap 5-3, whilst AXA Insurance caned Smith & Allan 8-2. Greg Wilde capped a fine performance with a match-winning hat trick for AXA, but they were given a shock as Gareth Hodgson gave Smith & Allan a first half lead. In fact, whilst AXA went in to the half-time break 2-1 in front, Dave Collinge struck for the hosts to make the score 2-2 early in the second half. Unfortunately for the hosts though, this provoked AXA into a period of complete domination in the second half and it came as no surprise when they started to run away with the game. As well as Wilde's hat-trick, Dave Aiken (2), Alan Percival, Barry Foster and Chris Baines also found the back of the net.

Durham County Trophy

Sunderland SC 3, Darlington CB 2

Darlington Cleveland Bridge went behind in their twice postponed Durham Trophy match at Sunderland Sports Club, but fought back to lead 2-1 at half time with goals from Wayne Buckley and James Morris, they then had a goal disallowed before the home side finely drew level with four minutes remaining, sending the game into golden goal extra time which Sunderland Sporting Club won and gained a quarter final place at the expense of the unfortunate Darlington Cleveland Bridge.

Darlington Charity Cup

Darlington RA 4, Ferryhill Post Boy 0

Darlington RA Reserves joined both Darlington SRM and Teesside Arriva in the second round of the Darlington Charity Cup after this comfortable win over Ferryhill Post Boy, the opening forty minutes were evenly contested, but Steve Appleby then gave RA the lead five minutes before half time, but five minutes into the second half both teams were reduced to ten men with the RA player seemingly innocent of any wrong doing, but sent off with a Ferryhill player. Fifteen minutes later the RA got control of the match when Michael Weston made it 2-0, with ten minutes remaining Mark Armstrong added the third before Graham Dodsworth made it 4-0 with four minutes remaining.

D'ton SRM 3 v 0 D'ton Hole in

the Wall

Darlington Simpson Rolling Mills ad a break from League matches and played local rivals Darlington Hole in the Wall in the Darlington Charity Cup, Paul Thorns, last weeks hat trick hero in their 3-1 win over Teesside Link, gave SRM a 20th minute lead the only goal of an even first forty-five minutes. Five minutes into the second half the bricks were knocked out of the Hole in the Wall side when Thorns scored his second of the match and in the 63rd minute Gavin Harris made sure of a place in the next round to secure a 3-0 win.

Tees. Arriva 8 v 0 D'ton Archdeacons

Arriva took an early lead through Neil Hay after three minutes, a minute later John Rose made it 2-0 and then made it 3-0 six minutes later with his second of the match. Dave Clark then made it 4-0 in the 25th minute before Hay then made it 5-0 in the 19th minute and completed his hat trick ten minutes before half time, 6-0 the half time score. The second half saw Darlington Archdeacons press forward but 20 minutes into the second half Kevin Auton made the score 7-0 before Hay scored his forth of the game in the 75th minute to make it 8-0 and a place in the next round.

Darlington Church & Friendly League

Although conditions were atrocious the League did manage a full program, credit must go to the players who provided some excellent encounters in all the games.

Darlington RA Youth's 100 per cent record fell in a great game against Hurworth Otter & Fish. After mastering the conditions better in the first period Otter took the lead through Jonathan Bell on the stroke of half-time. In the second RA started to find their feet but some good keeping by Dean Winfield kept them at bay, the clincher came when sub Paul Godfrey's 35 yarder went in off the post to seal a 2-0 victory.

It took a Steve Thompson goal late in the second to give Darlington The Mowden victory on their visit to Shildon Elm Road WMC. With play flowing up and down the pitch it was always going to end either a draw or a single goal victory. It was the same story in the Newton Aycliffe Navy Club - Darlington GSOB game with John Anderson scoring a late winner for Navy Club.

Darlington AFC Greyhound were denied a share of the points against Darlington Travellers Rest when Mike Wilson scored with the last kick of the game. Paul Prince opened for Greyhound after five minutes with Steve Major levelling five minutes later. James Salmond put Travellers ahead just before the break, midway in the second the teams were level again when Graeme Stamper struck.

Stillington The Royal took a 3-1 interval lead through a Charlie Sedgewick header and one apiece for Simon Hares and Paul Cleary when they entertained Aycliffe Saints, whose goal came via Jonathan Hall, Royal went 6-1 up with another two for Hares and one for Cleary but they were then hit by Saints who scored three in the space of five minutes putting them right back in the game, Royal brought on young sub Lee Norman and he sealed the game with his first goal for the club.

Darlington Skerne Park once again were let down by some of their members (maybe they don't like playing in muddy conditions) and they took the field with only nine players who put up a creditable first half performance against Bishopton Hoppers Transport holding them 4-3. Numbers told in the second as Hoppers ran out 8-3 winners, Wayne Turner hit a brace with hat-tricks going to Martin Hogg and Ian Thompson (two penalties).

T M Disco Crook & District League

Stanhope hit the bar against leaders Willington WMC but the visitors took the lead against the run of play just before half time. Willington had a good second half and went on to win 4-1 through Anthony Stewart, Ian Woodhall, Malcolm McWilliams and sub Chris Pickles. Wayne Fletcher scored for Stanhope.

Howden Australian's four-game winning run ended in a 5-2 defeat at West Auckland Queens Head. Andrew Bowes, Matthew Moffatt, Wayne Dobinson, Derek Cooper and Carl Jones scored the goals to end Queens run of two league games without a win. Stephen and Kevin Burke replied.

An amazing game at Crook saw the Wanderers defeat visitors Byers Green St Peters 7-6. Lee Furber grabbed a hat trick for the winners and the rest came from Paul Bailes (2), Glen Johnson and Wayne Lonsdale. Byers Green replies came through Gavin Dunnett (2), Paul Brownson, David Savage, Wesley Tarn and Paul Brown.

After losing their last four league games Evenwood White Swan returned to wining ways against Tow Law Cattle Mart. Jason Bradley (2), Chris Geddes and Chris Coatsworth scored in a 4-1 victory.

Crook White Swan and Wearhead United shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw. Lee Airey (2) and Darren Deuchars netted for the Swan and Wearhead goals came from John Wheatley (2) and Ross Sanderson.

Rugby Club made progress in the Albert Vickers cup with a 3-0 win at Roddymoor.