In Division One Coundon Foresters became the only team to win all four of their opening league games as they beat East End WMC 3-2 thanks to goals from Curt Warburton, Adam Reid and Kev Bromley. Morley and Drydon both struck for the East Enders, but it was never going to be enough to stop last season's champions.
Meanwhile, Newton Aycliffe Sports Club and Spraire RA started the day in second and third place respectively - before they met on Sunday. Steve Shaw notched twice for Spraire while Chris Falconer also hit the target, only for Ray Stanger, Karl Black and John Shotton to strike for the Sports Club to ensure a 3-3 draw.
The inability of Spraire RA to pick up a victory has seen them slip down the table, but the division is so tight that only three points separate third and eighth place.
Nestfield Club are one of the sides that have moved above Spraire, thanks to a 6-1 victory over Bishop Auckland Cricket Club, but Shuttle & Loom moved into third place, as they picked up all three points in their game against Northern Echo. Stuart Curry (2), Chris Airey, Paul Hutchinson and Paul Soderman were all on target for the Shuttle as they ran out as rampant 5-2 victors over an Echo side who had Craig Maddison and Gary Pallas to thank for their goals.
In the remaining First Division game, Hurworth Albion took an early lead against struggling Brinkburn thanks to the alertness of Darren Wray to slot home a loose ball in the Brinkburn box. However, Brinkburn soon got back on level terms as Scott Bowler cut in from the left before firing a vicious shot past the Albion keeper.
Brinkburn started the second-half as they'd finished the first as Chris Clack and Steve Appleby forced good saves from Albion keeper Stephen Craggs, before they eventually took the leadas Chris Hall fired home a fine half-volley after the Albion defence failed to clear a corner. Albion got back into the game through Jonathan Edwards, before Darren Wray's strike saw them regain the lead at 3-2. Brinkburn were handed a last minute lifeline as they were awarded a penalty in the dying seconds of the game. But Craggs in the Albion goal was to be the hero as he guessed correctly and dived low to his left to keep out Dave Lewis' penalty and seal the victory.
In Division Two, All Stars maintained their 100per cent record as they demolished Green Dragon 11-1. Daniel Hanafin and Darren Kokes both struck twice in the early stages as the Dragon failed to deal with the pace of the two young strikers. However, the Dragon got one back at the start of the second period, before Tutty and Stacey in the All Stars engine room soon started supplying the ammunition for Hanafin and Kokes to complete their hat-tricks and make the score 6-1.Ryan Sandwick came off the bench to notch twice and fellow substitute Michael Bland made it 9-1. Kokes added two more to take his personal tally to five for the day and complete the Dragon's embarrassment.
Elsewhere, AFC Orange remain second despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Canney Hill. Orange took the lead as Mark Finn's cool finish topped off some great play on the edge of the Canney Hill box. Paul Simpson took advantage of confusion in the Orange defence to slot home an equaliser before both teams proceeded to cancel each other out.
Bishop Auckland Derby, meanwhile, moved into third place as they took advantage of the worst performance of Copper Beech DCS's season to run out easy 5-1 victors. Dean Calcutt, Darren Dye, Wayne King, Michael Latcham and Glen Thompson all notched for the Derby. Alan Gowling struck a consolation goal for the Beech.
The game between Killinghall Arms and Sadberge DL provided a great comback. Sadberge were rampant in the first-half as Aaron Lowery, Tom Weeks, Mike Hilary and Drew Bell all notched to go into the break 4-0 up after outplaying their hosts.
But a tactical re-shuffle and the addition of a third striker for Killy saw a remarkable change of fortune. Stuart Hardy's hat-trick helped the home side on their way to six second half goals without reply, as Paul Walker, Daniel Fleary and Neil Mathias also found the back of the Sadberge net as the Killy produced a 6-4 victory.
In the remaining game in Division Two, Jack Horners recorded their first victory of the season to move off the bottom of the table at the expense of their victims, Yates' Wine Lodge. Jacks, docked three points for being unable to fulfil a fixture, have been going through a rebuilding process, but took the lead thanks to a 35-yard strike from Andy Vernon and Michael Duffy doubled that lead just before the break.
The Lodgers reduced the arrears after the interval as Andy Salisbury found the back of the Jack net, but Neil Linfoot's 85th minute strike secured the 3-1.
In Division Three, Peppers Draughting Services remain top of the pile following a convincing 5-0 victory at home to Pizza Perfekt, while The Falchion are sat just two points behind after they picked up a 2-1 victory against Drinkfield United. Hope Inn make up the top three as they ran out comfortable 4-0 victors over Middleton St George Cricket Club. Dave Hubble struck two of the Hope's goals, with Nathan Kemp and Steven Stephens also on target.
Elsewhere, Haughton B.A.T also got back to winning ways with a fine performance at home to AFC Aruba. Paul Cooper notched two early goals for the home side to put them in the driving seat and with Lee Walden-Vincent pulling the strings in midfield and Paul Colman marshalling the back four the result was never in doubt. Cooper completed his hat-trick before half time as he finished off a fine ball from Walden-Vincent. They were only able to manage one more goal, as Walden-Vincent completed a man-of-the-match display with a deserved goal from the penalty spot as the home side ran out 4-0 victors.
In the remaining games an own goal in the opening minute set Royal Oak on their way to a 10-0 victory over Smith & Allan. Neil Pinkney hit four goals, including two wonderful strikes from in excess of 30 yards, while man-of-the-match Dave Tuschick waded in with a brace. Stu Boughen and Simon York (2) also found the target for an Oak side that have hit 20 goals without reply in their last two games.
Cricketers picked up their second victory of the season as they beat struggling Newton Cap 5-1 and AXA Insurance finally grabbed their first league victory of the season as they beat Sherwoods 4-1. Chris Baines notched two of AXA's goals, whilst Greg Wilde and Alan Percival also found the target. Cassey Crawley hit the Sherwoods consolation.
* The league committee would like to remind all team secretaries that the monthly meeting will take place this Wednesday, September 25th, at 7pm at Darlington RA. In addition to the monthly meeting fee, £10 will be required from each team as payment for entrance to the league quiz.
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