Old Shildon shot into a three points lead at the top of the First Division and sent their hosts at Newton Aycliffe into serious relegation problems with their maximum victory.

The visitors' winners were Paul Armstrong, who was making his first appearance this season, Michael Pratt, Andrew Aisbitt with a 40 break and Steven Bennett with a 30 break. This defeat leaves Newton Aycliffe, who share bottom spot with Ferryhill, five points behind Witton Gilbert with only three matches left.

Fishburn A only managed one point from their home match against Spennymoor A and this dropped them down to third place. Only Charlie Hirst took a point for the home side, whilst Karl Welsh, Paul Biddle with a 37 break, John Wilson and Paul Atkinson won for the Moors.

Wheatley Hill A moved into second place, three points behind Old Shildon after they only dropped one point at Brandon, who have dropped out of the Championship race after two disastrous results. Kevin Sample was the only Brandon winner, whilst Alan Hall, Dave Walker, Ronnie Peacock and Dean Bryden won for the Hill.

Shotton Palms moved one point behind Fishburn A following their odd point win at Willington. The Palms went two up through Colin Jobes and Barry Hall but Tom Parkin and Arthur Goldsborough levelled the match. In the decider Shotton's Dave Swindle beat Stan Bennett.

In the First Division's vital relegation battle Ferryhill visited Witton Gilbert and went down in the decider after leading. Willis Joynes put Witton ahead but Ian Roddam and Mark Wilson moved Ferryhill ahead.

John Rooney senior levelled the match and then in the decider, Witton's John Rooney junior beat Neil Spender.

Crook Belle Vue's long reign at the top of the Second Division ended when they slipped to third place following their odd point reversal at Durham City. Harold Lomax put Crook ahead but Eric Wright levelled. John Warriner restored the visitors' lead only to see Michael Pratt square the match. In the decider, Durham's Gary Ward beat Ken Rider on the black.

Sherburn Village took over the top spot in the Second Division despite never leading at Stanley Central until they took the decider. Walter Cornell put the Central ahead with Peter McGowan levelling. Harry Grimes restored the home lead but Alan Greener equalised. In the decider, Sherburn's John Bower beat Ivan Pye to move two points clear of Crook Belle Vue and one ahead of Newhouse.

Newhouse were two up at Meadowfield but then went down by the odd point. Kevin Allison and Ian Dinsdale put Newhouse ahead but Norman Smith and Stephen Hughes relied for Meadowfield. In the decider Malcolm Hughes put in a decisive 30 break to beat John Maddox of Newhouse.

Langley Park slipped two points behind Crook Belle Vue after they went down by the odd point at Spennymoor B.

David Louth, Alan Rowell and Wayne Parry won for the Moors with Lenny Thompson and Kevin Keers replying for the Park.

Fishburn B pulled off a rare victory when they won by the odd point at Wheatley Hill B. Jock Frost and Ken Johnson took the first and last frames for the Hill whilst Dave Wilson, Alan Wilson and Winston Hodgson took the visitors to victory but they still trail Durham City by three points at the foot of the Second Division.

Third Division leaders, Wingate were taken to the decider before they beat their hosts at Leeholme B. Dave Hammond and John Mason put the visitors ahead but Ray Gill and Adrian Prest equalised.

In the decider Wingate's Geoff Howe maintained his unbeaten record when he beat Mark Brown.

Crowtrees remain in second place, eight points adrift of Wingate but with a match in hand, after they only dropped the first point at Tow Law, who had Heppell Hodgson as their lone winner.

The Crowtrees points came from Peter Laverick, Keith McLauchlan, Sean Johnston and Martin Wolfe.

New Durham share the third place with Coundon after they took the first three points against the visiting Hunwick. Gary Bowes, Wayne Coulthard and Thomas Cairns won for new Durham with Hunwick replying through Tom Ward and Norman Kirkley.

Sacriston went two up against the visiting Coundon with wins from Willy Nixon and Dale Evans. However Willy Shoulder and Gary Goulbourn levelled the match and then Coundon's Frank Nicholson put in a 36 break to beat Alan Richardson in the decider.

* All players intending the enter the Harry Little Memorial Handicap Pairs Championship should make sure that their entry form is sent in immediately as no entries will be accepted by telephone. Clubs who did not reserve their tickets for the Presentation Evening at Spennymoor on Saturday, 9 November should do so at once be telephoning Ronnie Bateman on 01388 815645.

Results: New Durham 3 Hunwick 2; Durham City 3 Crook Belle Vue 2; Brandon 1 Wheatley Hill A 4; Sacriston 2 Coundon 3; Spennymoor B 3 Langley Park 2; Stanley Central 2 Sherburn Village 3; Newton Aycliffe 0 Old Shildon 5; Tow Law 1 Crowtrees 4; Leeholme B 2 Wingate 3; Witton Gilbert 3 Ferryhill 2; Fishburn A 1 Spennymoor A 4; Meadowfield 3 Newhouse 2; Willington 2 Shotton Palms 3; Wheatley Hill B 2 Fishburn B 3.