Coundon the champions

Coundon Foresters overcame the odds to become champions for the second season in succession, and also complete a remarkable league and cup double.

Remarkable as they have become the third team to complete a double this season, following on from AFC Orange in Division Three and Shuttle & Loom in Division Two.

The Foresters started the week in third place, however, but thanks to a fine performance against East End WMC on Thursday night they started their game against leaders Newton Aycliffe Sports Club on Sunday in second place. Coundon started the brighter against East End with Rob Mazur giving them the lead within the opening ten minutes, and he soon doubled his and the Forresters tally ten minutes later. The Foresters held that lead into the break, but East End reduced arrears soon after half time as Neil Jackson brought the scores back to 2-1 with a fine strike.

Coundon were always too strong for their opponents though, and Mazur promptly completed his hat trick as Coundon completed a 3-1 victory.

Meanwhile, leaders Newton Aycliffe Sports Club were in the process of demolishing a depleted Spraire outfit that still seemed demoralised from their cup defeat the previous Sunday. Man of the match Paul Stout inspired the Sports Club to a 4-0 victory as Jason Wing notched twice whilst John Shotton and Andy Turner also got on the score-sheet.

That result still left Aycliffe in the driving seat, however, as they sat two points above Coundon going into the meeting between the two sides on the final day of the season.

Both sides started the game tentatively as neither wanted to fall behind in the title race, but soon after the half hour mark Darren Wilson nicked a goal to put the Foresters into pole position in the title race. However, The Sports Club notched a goal back just before half time as the impressive Ray Stanger tricked his way down the left flank before whipping in a perfect ball for John Shotton to nod home.

The advantage was therefore all Aycliffe's at the interval as they had the point they needed to grab the title, but a goal-less second half was never on the cards. The second half opened much more openly as Coundon pressed all the way for a goal, and after some tactical changes from the Coundon bench the breakthrough came as Darren Wilson notched his second of the game to put the championship back within Coundon's reach.

The Sports Club's heads didn't drop though and they continued to push for an equaliser but, despite going close on several occasions, it was Coundon who were to get another goal as Rob Mazur scored an acrobatic bicycle kick from a tight angle to give Coundon a two goal cushion. No sooner had Coundon gained that cushion though than Aycliffe got back into the hunt thanks to a penalty from Chris Postle.

With Aycliffe in the ascendancy Coundon's bench were living on their nerves, but a huge clearance up the field left the Aycliffe defence and goalkeeper in disarray as Darren Wilson nipped in to roll the ball into an empty net to complete his hat-trick and prompt scenes of mass celebration in the Coundon ranks. Substitute Aron Robson managed to bring the score back to 4-3 at the death, but the Foresters hung on to take the title and leave a treble a possibility as they face Newton Aycliffe Sports Club in the League Cup Final on Sunday at Darlington's RA ground - a game which will surely see the Sports Club hungry for revenge.

Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League

HUNTSMAN striker Wayne Marram scored a hat-trick to clinch the First Division Cup in an exciting final at Brewery Field.

Man-of-the-match Marram, Huntsman's top goalscorer, found top form in the showpiece at Unibond League club Spennymoor United's ground last Sunday.

His trick - together with goals by Chris Walker and Dave Welsh - capped a memorable 5-2 victory for Huntsman.

"I'm over the moon!" said their manager Stuart Hodgson. "The whole attitude and performance of the squad just showed what a good set of lads I have here at the Huntsman. I thought we deserved it in the end but I thought Eldon pushed all the way and never gave up."

Marram put Huntsman 1-0 up after 15 minutes, but Michael Davison equalised 10 minutes later. Chris Walker made it 2-1 to Huntsman before half-time, then Huntsman clinched the game in a fruitful 10-minute second-half spell.

After 65 minutes, Marram made it 3-1 - then inside the next 10 minutes Welsh grabbed their fourth and Marram his trick to make it 5-1. John Robert Foster scored Eldon's consolation with a minute to spare.

"We were beaten by the better side," admitted Eldon manager Neil Iley. "But I couldn't have asked for more from my lads. They worked their socks off for the entire game, but I think Huntsman's fitness level and their good football proved the decider. It was a good game played in the right spirit and we enjoyed a few drinks with the Huntsman lads after the game!"

Europa play Spennymoor Thorns in the Invitation Cup Final today (Friday, May 10), kick-off 6.30pm. Broompark Loves and Postchaise will contest the B&A Trophy Final this Sunday (May 12), while the League Cup between Old Shildon and Huntsman will be played on Sunday, May 19. As with all finals, admission is free and drinks are available from the clubhouse.

Meanwhile, Newton Aycliffe jumped to second in Division One with two successive wins over Europa - the first coming last Tuesday (6-0) followed by a 5-4 win on Sunday.

However, New Masons will clinch the title this Sunday if they beat Old Shildon at home.

In Division Two, Broompark Loves will win the Second Division title if they beat Shildon Athletic away this coming Tuesday.

Last week, they beat North Briton 9-0, while their main rivals Spennymoor Thorns beat Binchester Social Club 4-1 thanks to goals by Mark Russell, Andrew Richardson, Norman Liddle and Keith Hirst.

Elsewhere, Masons United drew 1-1 with Green Tree - David Maughan (United) and Craig Burner scoring the goals.

Shildon Athletic drew 3-3 with Two Blues. Wayne Stout (2) and David Bowes scored for Athletic, with Lee Nixon, Adrian Brown and Paul Richardson netting for Blues.

Finally, Postchaise recorded a 6-2 win over the Locomotion with goals from Paul O'Connor (2), Peter weir, Scott Stainsby, Johnny Briddick and Chris Priestly.

Results round-up - Tuesday, April 30: Division One: Newton Aycliffe 6, Europa 0; Eldon Lane 2, Royal George 1.

Thursday, May 2: Division Two: Brawns Den 4, Masons United 1; Binchester Hotel 4, Pit Laddie 4; Locomotion 0, Broompark Loves 7; Shildon Athletic 2, North Briton 0.

Sunday, May 5: Division One Cup Final: Eldon Lane 2, Huntsman 5.

Division One: Europa 4, Newton Aycliffe 5.

Division Two: Victoria 1, Binchester Hotel 4; Spennymoor Thorns 4, Binchester SC 1; Shildon Athletic 3, Two Blues 3; North Briton 0, B.Loves 9; Boot & Shoe 0, Brawns Den 5; Masons United 1, Green Tree 1; Locomotion 2, Postchaise 6; Pit Laddie 0, Black Horse 2.

T & M Disco Crook and District League

West Auckland Earl of Warwick are champions in their first season in the league. Needing just a point for the title they raced into a three goal lead against Willington Cottles through Wayne Dobinson (2) and Andrew Sugden. Willington pulled one back but the day belonged to the Warwick.

Cottles beat Stanhope Town to force the title decider. Stanhope led 2-0 through Stuart O'Dell and Darren Fletcher. Malcolm McWilliams then banged in four for Cottles to turn the game round. Andy Lee pulled it back to 4-3 but Anthony Stuart scored late on to give Cottles a 5-3 win

Crook Wanderers won the South Durham Bowl when they defeated Brandon Station 5-4 on penalties in the final. The game had finished 0-0 after 90 minutes.