Coundon's Cup hopes ended

As with last week, the torrential rain on Saturday put paid to several of this week's games however, it is a testament to the good work being put in at Hundens Lane that all games scheduled to take place there this weekend withstood the rain - certainly an improvement over previous seasons, and a trend that will hopefully continue.

The big game of the day took place in the Darlington & Stockton Times Division One Cup, as last year's finalists Coundon Forresters and Newton Aycliffe Sports Club met in this year's first semi-final. Aycliffe, shattered at finishing runners-up to Coundon in both the league and cup last season, were determined to overcome their hoo-doo on this occasion as they came out of the blocks with all guns blazing.

John Shotton scored two cracking goals in the opening 15 minutes as the champions were instantly put on the back-foot, and it wasn't long before he completed his hat-trick as the Sports Club produced a mesmerising first half display.

Coundon, unbeaten at home last season, were being put to the sword, as Paul Stout notched the Sports Clubs fourth just before half time, with Chris Postle notching just after the break to make the score 5-0 to the visitors.

Eventually Coundon started to get back into the game, and on the hour mark they won a penalty, only for Darren Wilson to fail to convert it. Just as all looked lost for the Forresters though, substitute Adam Reid got a goal back within two minutes after entering the action. Wilson then atoned for his penalty miss as he struck to make the score 5-2 before Lee Ellison further reduced arrears. However, there was no way back for Coundon as the Sports Club ran out deserved 5-3 victors to move into the final.

Unfortunately, the second semi-final fell foul to the weather, but both Hurworth Albion and Bishop Auckland Cricket Club will be hoping that the Sports Club don't reproduce this sort of display come the final next April.

With the top two teams in the top division in cup action, East End WMC took full advantage as they moved into fourth position after they beat struggling Spraire RA 4-3 in a re-arranged game between the two sides. East End are now only three points behind third placed Nestfield Club and have a game in hand, but things aren't looking so good for Spraire who are only one point above the relegation zone.

In Division Two only two games survived the weather. Jack Horners finally moved out of the relegation zone as they picked up an impressive 2-0 victory against Copper Beech, whilst second placed AFC Orange played out a 3-3 draw with a struggling Royal British Legion side. The Legion will certainly be kicking themselves at their failure to take all three points from the game though, as they took the lead three times in the game only for Chris Wardell (2) and Mark Finn to strike the goals to peg them back. To make matters worse for the Legion, Orange were reduced to ten men in the first half with the scores at 1-1, and Orange's equalising third goal came in the last minute.

In Division Three, Pepper Draughting Services picked up their tenth victory in as many league games as they squeezed past second placed FR Aviation 3-2, despite constant pressure from the Aviators in the last 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, Pizza Perfekt moved into third place as they hit eight goals without reply against Emcor. Liam Coleman and Michael Weston both struck three apiece for the Pizzaboyz, whilst Matthew Smith and an own goal accounted for the other goals.

Meanwhile, Middleton St George Cricket Club moved into sixth place following a 6-0 away victory against struggling Sherwoods. Drinkfield United also picked up a big victory as they beat bottom side Smith & Allan 7-3.

Man-of-the-match Carl Eales scored a match winning hat-trick for Drinkfield as they moved into a comprehensive 5-0 half time lead, despite a fantastic penalty save from Jo Cox in the Smith & Allan goal. However, Smith & Allan fought back valiantly after the break as goals from Mike Metcalfe, Gareth Hodgson and Matt Busby reduced the deficit. Drinkfield were always going to be too strong for the home side though, and they struck two late goals to seal Smith & Allan's fate. In addition to Carl Eales hat trick, Daniel Eales, Arron Radstock, Chris Wilson and David Cooper also got in on the scoring action.

In the remaining Division Three game, The Falchion's poor run of form continued as they were beaten 4-2 by an improving Royal Oak side. The Oak raced into the lead in the opening two minutes when Stu Boughen produced an accomplished left-foot finish to a fine Oak move, and that lead was soon doubled as Mike Donnelly capitalised on a goalkeeping blunder to slot the ball into an empty net. Man-of-the-match Neil Jollie then put the visitors 3-0 up just before half time as he struck an unstoppable half volley into the top corner from the edge of the box. The second half didn't prove to be much better for the hosts as Mike Donnelly struck his second of the game following some fine work on the right flank by Dave Tuschick. The Oak could have scored many more if not for a fine display by substitute goalkeeper Rob Burnside in The Falchion goal, but Mike Donnelly still should have completed his hat trick, as he somehow managed to head wide from less than two yards out. An own-goal from the unlucky Chris Scott, and a fine solo strike from in-form striker Mike Layton gave The Falchion brief hopes of a come-back, but it was never going to be enough as the Oak defence held firm.

l The league committee would like to remind all team officials and players that the league are holding a quiz night on Tuesday, November 12, at Hopetown WMC with the first prize being a full set of kits of the winners choice. All teams are welcome and doors open at 7pm.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts GD

N Aycliffe Sports Club 7 5 1 1 32 12 16 20

Coundon Foresters 5 5 0 0 22 11 15 11

Nestfield Club 7 5 0 2 20 18 15 2

East End Wmc 6 4 0 2 15 11 12 4

Shuttle & Loom 6 3 1 2 14 10 10 4

Hurworth Albion 6 3 1 2 14 11 10 3

BA Cricket Club 5 3 0 2 17 20 9 -3

Spraire Ra 4 1 1 3 13 11 4 2

The Northern Echo 5 1 0 4 10 26 3 -16

Brinkburn 5 0 0 5 10 16 0 -6

Central Club 8 0 0 8 7 28 0 -21

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts GD

All Stars 8 8 0 0 53 8 24 45

Afc Orange 9 6 2 1 25 13 20 12

Killinghall Arms 5 5 0 0 25 7 15 18

Grey Horse 7 4 0 3 24 18 12 6

BA The Derby 6 3 0 3 20 15 9 5

Copper Beech Dcs 9 2 2 5 11 27 8 -16

Canney Hill 8 2 1 5 13 17 7 -4

Yates Wine Lodge 7 2 0 5 22 35 6 -13

*Jack Horners 6 3 0 3 12 18 6 -6

Royal British Legion 7 1 3 3 19 25 6 -6

Green Dragon 6 1 1 4 5 28 4 -23

Sadberge DL 6 0 1 5 15 33 1 -18

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts GD

Pepper Draughting 10 10 0 0 82 7 30 75

Fr Aviation 11 8 1 2 39 17 25 22

Pizza Perfekt 12 6 4 2 51 20 22 31

Hope Inn 9 7 0 2 49 22 21 27

Middleton St George 10 6 1 3 44 19 19 25

Drinkfield United 11 6 1 4 30 27 19 3

Falchion 10 5 1 4 42 25 16 17

Haughton 10 5 1 4 36 27 16 9

Axa Insurance 11 4 3 4 24 24 15 0

Royal Oak 11 4 2 5 34 34 14 0

Cricketers 10 4 1 5 22 29 13 -7

Afc Aruba 10 4 0 6 18 33 12 -15

Emcor 10 3 1 6 21 35 10 -14

Sherwoods 11 3 0 8 15 51 9 -36

Newton Cap 10 0 0 10 8 72 0 -64

*Smith & Allan 10 0 0 10 9 82 -3 -73

*Denotes three points deducted

l Tables as of November 3