TWO of the favourites to lift the B&A Trophy were last week dumped out of the competition.

Division One leaders Newton Aycliffe crashed out with a 5-2 defeat at home to Thorns, while Brandon beat Lakeside 3-2.

Striker Steven Richardson scored after just 23 seconds put give Thorns a surprise 1-0 lead, and then Mark Russell made it two before Dave Muir pulled one back just before half-time.

But Andrew Richardson scored almost immediately after the re-start to make it 3-1, and despite Darren Muncaster's goal and Aycliffe's pressure, Russell grabbed his second and Thorns' fourth to all-but clinch the tie, with Steven Richardson making sure late on with a precise free-kick.

"We're delighted with the result," said two-goal hero Richardson. "Aycliffe were disappointing by their standards, but I thought we played really well and just proved how well we can play against some of the better sides in the league."

A double by Graham Stobbs and one from Lee Nyland ensured Brandon's passage to the quarter-finals.

"It's a great result for us," said manager Kevin Williams. "I thought it was a good, end-to-end game with lots of chances, although I think Lakeside just went out and expected to win the game. We wanted it more than them and it paid off."

Lakeside manager Stuart Hodgson said: "It was hugely disappointing. "We created about a dozen good chances, but we just couldn't finish them. Taking nothing away from Brandon, who took their chances when they came along and we have been punished for not taking ours."

Meanwhile, Second Division Postchaise claimed another Division Two scalp when they knocked Tudhoe United out of the competition, beating them 4-2 with goals by Stuart Beattie, Brendan Mullen, Phil Dowd and Paul Whalton.

"Very pleased with the win," said Postchaise gaffer Andy Wharton. "We played them last season when they were in the Second Division and I always thought they were a good side, but I think they lost a few players in the summer. It was a good game and could really have gone either way, with us clinching the game in the last 15 minutes."

Elsewhere in the competition, Old Shildon beat Masons United 9-0 with goals by Philip Appleby (3), Thomas Louden (2), Paul Wilson, Kevin Russell, James Headley and Lee Davis, while The Grand beat Binchester Hotel 5-1 thanks to goals by Paul Thompson (2), Mark Peacock (2) and Jason Colley. David Parker notched for Binny.

Others going through were Brawns Den, who beat Eldon Lane 4-2, Horndale, who beat Boot & Shoe 6-1 and Loves, with a 6-3 win over Green Tree.

That means the quarter-finals consist of: Brandon, Brawns Den, Postchaise, Thorns, Old Shildon, Horndale, Loves and The Grand.

In Division One last week, Beehive recorded their second league win of the season with a comfortable 6-2 victory over struggling Salvins. Mark Pattinson (2), Paul Richardson, Kevin Strange, Jeff Alderson and Stephen Brown with a stunning 30-yard volley scored for Beehive, while Kevin Gillham and Simon Brown netted for Salvins.

* The league would like to remind club secretaries that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 11, when the Christmas raffle will be drawn and monies for it are due in.

Results round-up, Sunday, November 24: Division One: Beehive 6, Salvins 2.

Division Two: Cumby Arms 2, Two Blues 10; Victoria 7, North Briton 1.

B&A Trophy R2: Lakeside 2, Brandon 3; Brawns Den 4, Eldon Lane 2; Tudhoe Utd 2, Postchaise 4; Newton Aycliffe 2, Thorns 5; Old Shildon 9, Masons Utd 0; Boot & Shoe 1, Horndale 6; Green Tree 3, Loves 6; Grand 5, Binchester Hotel 1.