Albion into next round after convincing victory

This week saw the final group games in the first round of the First and Second Division Cups and also saw many teams take part in the Durham County Cup, thus leading to a much-reduced fixture list on Sunday.

On Thursday evening Hurworth Albion took on Central WMC in the Darlington & Stockton Times Division One Cup knowing they needed to avoid defeat to progress from Group A at the expense of Brinkburn. The Albion didn't take a negative approach to the game, however, and were rewarded when Simon Middlemas's double strike in the first half put them in command of the game. Although Central WMC were already assured of qualification they weren't going to just roll over and die though, and they got back into the game early in the second half as Darren Kacis found the back of the Albion net.

However, the home side proved just too strong as Midlemas completed his-hat trick before Peter Gormley and Darren Tate added another two goals to seal a 5-1 victory for the Albion.

Meanwhile, East End WMC defeated high-flying Nestfield Club 3-1 to knock Nestfield out of the competition and join Spraire RA as quarter final qualifiers from Group B. In the quarter finals the four teams from those two groups will join the four other qualifiers - Coundon Foresters, Newton Aycliffe Sports Club, Northern Echo and Bishop Auckland Cricket Club who all sealed their qualification after the second round of group games.

Meanwhile, all of the groups in the first round of the Darlington Motor Factors Division Two Cup were decided after the second round games apart from Group A. The quarter final line-up already contained Yates Wine Lodge, All Stars, AFC Orange, Green Dragon, Bishop Auckland Derby and Sadberge DL, and going into their game with Grey Horse, Killinghall Arms were already assured of qualification whereas the Grey Horse needed to avoid a defeat of more than two goals to join them in the quarter finals.

However, the Killy were far too strong for their hosts and were 2-0 up by half time. The home side were on the ropes but showed some tremendous resilience in the second half to keep the score down to 2-0. However, the Killy hit a killer third goal with the final kick of the game to dump the Grey Horse out of the competition - a result that is sure to please Canney Hill who claimed second place in Group A and the final qualification place.

In Division Three, The Killinghall Arms Third Division Cup was already up to the quarter-final stage, and produced some very exciting games. In the first quarter final the Hope Inn won through to the semi-final by virtue of a golden goal at the conclusion of a hard-fought game with AXA Insurance. The Hope dominated the early exchanges in the game, pegging AXA back in their own half with some excellent football. However, despite their possession, some wayward finishing and resolute defending kept the game goal-less at half time. The Hope finally got their reward just five minutes after the break though, when Scott Mitchell prodded home a fine cross from the right hand side. AXA dug deep however and started to take control of the game, gaining their just reward when Chris Baines drove home the equaliser in the final minute to take the game into extra time. However, controversy reigned in extra time as, just five minutes in, The Hope Inn's Chris Chadwick appeared to control the ball with his hand before slipping the ball to Chris Liddle who notched the golden goal.

Meanwhile, Peppers Draughting Services are also in the hat for the semi-final drew thanks to a 3-0 victory over Emcor, and they'll be joined by Middleton St George Cricket Club who beat Drinkfield United 3-1. Man of the match Jamie Langburn gave the Cricket Club the lead with a thunderous free-kick and Mark Thompson soon added a second to put the home side in control. Although Drinkfield got a goal back late in the game it was never going to be enough as Thompson notched his second of the game to seal victory for the Cricket Club.

In the final quarter final, Pizza Perfekt and Royal Oak played out an exciting tie at a rain-soaked Hundens Lane. Both sides failed to break the dead-lock in the first half, although The Oak did come closest as Neil Jollie prodded the ball home from close-range only for the goal to be crossed off due to a dubious offside decision. However, as the rain came down in a second half dominated by the Oak, it was the Pizzaboyz who took the lead as Michael Weston slotted home a 75th minute penalty following a reckless Chris Welburn tackle.

However, the Oak showed great fighting spirit, and Scott Timmins brought the sides level again within five minutes as he lashed home a spectacular left-footed free-kick from 25 yards, before Ian Halford bundled his way into the box to put the Oak ahead less than a minute later. The Pizzaboyz applied immense pressure to try and force the game into extra-time, but the Oak defence stood firm as they held on for a 2-1 victory to reach their second semi-final in three years.

The first round of the Durham County Cup saw no games take place in Division One this week as eight of the leagues top sides pitted their skills against some of the best in the county, and they were joined by five Division Two sides which lead to only two games taking place in Division Two. One of those second division games saw Jack Horners take on last season's Division Three champions AFC Orange as the Jack's looked to get their first points of the season. However, despite some entertaining football in a goal-less first half, Orange finally broke through the Jacks defence just before the hour mark through Mark Finn. Leon Russell soon got the Jacks back on level terms, but a lack of concentration saw them blown away by the Orange attack as goals from Steven Walton, Martin Allinson (2) and Steven Sturman saw Orange run out as 5-1 victors, leaving Jack Horners still bottom of the league with minus three points.

In the remaining Division Two game, Green Dragon beat Grey Horse 2-1.

In Division Three, the shock score-line of the day was the crushing 10-0 defeat inflicted on leaders Hope Inn by Pepper Draughting Service who are starting to show the sort of form that has many people expecting them to win Division Three at a canter.

Royal Oak also picked up a 10-0 victory and their first victory of the season at Newton Cap. Neil Pinkney and Phil Moore both notched within the opening two minutes to give the Oak a dream start before Neil Jollie made it three. Stu Boughen produced quite a special volley to put the Oak 4-0 up and man of the match Moore then popped up with a rare headed goal to put the Oak 5-0 ahead at the break. The second half started off much quieter than the first with Simon York and Carl Mansfield indomitable at the heart of the Oak defence, and it wasn't long before the Oak were back in their stride as Pinkney notched his second of the game. Scott Timmins then drilled home a free-kick from the edge of the box to make the score 7-0 before Pinkney turned provider as his fine ball caused confusion in the Cap defence as Jollie ran on to chip the ball over the stranded keeper. Stu Boughen then added his second of the game to cap a fine passing move before Jollie completed his hat-trick and the games scoring as he charged down an attempted clearance from the Cap keeper to leave himself with the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net.

Elsewhere, The Falchion moved into second place as they defeated AFC Aruba 5-1, whilst Sherwoods beat Smith & Allan 4-2 in a game between two struggling sides at the foot of the table.

Meanwhile, Pizza Perfekt cast aside the disappointment of their midweek cup-defeat as they produced an impressive display to defeat Haughton BAT 5-1. Liam Coleman opened the scoring for the Pizzaboyz with a well-struck free kick before Paul Hope doubled the lead with his first goal of the season. Paul Cooper pulled one back just before the break, however, to give the visitors hope at half time. However, Coleman soon grabbed two goals to complete his hat trick before Mark Wardell notched a fifth as he put a fine finish to a flowing team move.

In the only remaining league game, AXA Insurance were defeated 3-2 by FR Aviation, despite leading 2-1 with only five minutes to go. Carroll gave the Aviators the lead early in the game but it was a lead that wasn't to last for long as Chris Baines turned the ball home from a corner to bring the sides back level. John Wilde's strike midway through the second half then gave AXA the lead, but for the third time in recent weeks they proved themselves unable to defend a lead.

First, Martin Hickmans nodded home an equaliser just four minutes from the final whistle and then Thompson tucked away the winner just two minutes from time.