Wilson triple puts Shuttle out of cup

The quarter finals of The Northern Echo league cup dominated this week's fixtures, with only Newton Aycliffe Sports Club's tie against Nestfield Seconds falling foul of the weather. However, the tie between second division leaders Shuttle & Loom and last year's league champions Coundon Forresters was an absolute cracker despite the heavy pitch. Coundon started the game very brightly as they raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to yet another fine strike from leading scorer Rob Mazur and a goal from his strike partner Darren Wilson.

The Shuttle weren't going to be over-awed though, and Stuart Curry pulled a goal back just before the break with an excellent volley that gave the Forresters defence something to think about over half-time.

Coundon soon restored their 2-0 lead though as Wilson notched his second of the game soon after the re-start, but once again the Shuttle rallied as Micky Dutton's header reduced the arrears once more. The second half remained very open as both sides created, and missed, several good chances, but with time running out Shuttle substitute Kevin Baines levelled the score from close range with a goal that the second division side richly deserved.

Unfortunately for the Shuttle, however, Coundon are becoming specialists at scoring golden goals, and just four minutes into extra time Wilson latched onto a long ball that caught the Shuttle defence square before slotting the ball home to complete his hat-trick and send the Forrester's into the semi-finals.

Joining Coundon in the semi-finals will be Spraire RA, as they cruised past third division Royal British Legion 9-1. Graham Dodsworth top-scored for Spraire with four, whilst Richie Hindle bagged a brace. Scott Davison, Martin Brown and Martin Ward also got on the scoresheet for Spraire, whilst Paul Barber notched the Legion's consolation goal. Meanwhile, Division Two will also have a representative in the semis as Hurworth Albion scraped past Brinkburn 2-1 thanks to another golden goal. The sides went in level at the half-time interval as goals from Chris Clack for the Brinkburn and Marc Radmore for the Albion made the score 1-1. The second half took the same shape as the first with Hurworth applying plenty of pressure on the Brinkburn defence, but Brinkburn could have won the game as they caught Albion on the break with six minutes to go, only for Rob Creek to blast the ball wide from 8 yards out. However, full-time came and went, and as the game moved into extra-time the pressure finally told on the Brinkburn defence as Kelvin Russell's looping header just before the interval sent Hurworth through.

In Division One only two games survived the weather, but Nestfield Club took full advantage of Spraire's cup commitments as they moved back to the top of the league. Garry Mitchell set Nestfield on their way against East End WMC as he took advantage of a fumble by East End 'keeper Wayne Carrick to put the visitors 1-0 up at half-time with the easiest of tap-ins. The Nestfield lead was then doubled in the second half as Harry Harris put through his own net, before Mitchell notched his second of the game to cap a 3-0 victory to see off a very poor performance by the Clubmen. At the bottom end of the table points are just as vital, however, and Springfield did their cause no harm at all as they picked up an impressive 6-2 victory against The Northern Echo to give themselves a

shot of escaping the drop. Man-of-the-match Darren Tate notched a hat trick for the Springfield whilst Nigel Clarke (2) and James Brooks also hit the back of the Echo net. Paul Jackson notched both goals for an injury hit Echo team that were forced to play with only ten men for the majority of the game as there squad continues to be depleted by

injuries. Only one game took place in Division Two as Copper Beech DCS were beaten 5-1 by Allstars, with all five goals coming in the first half of a game completely dominated by Allstars. Daniel Hanafin (2), Darren Kokes (2) and Gavin Rose notched for Allstars whilst Darren Riley notched for DCS following a bad error from Andrew Price in the Allstars goal.

In Division Three AFC Orange claimed the third division championship as they beat second placed Canney Hill Athletic 4-3. Orange only needed a point from the game and started well as Stu Cottam made the score 1-0 with a well-taken header. Danny Ofosu soon doubled the Orange lead before Stu Cottam notched his second goal of the game to make the score-line 3-0. Orange weren't finished there however, as Steven Charlton coolly put a finish to some more fine build up play as Orange went into the interval 4-0 up.

The second half was a different story, however. As Orange tried to resort to showboating and deft flicks Michael Brown seized on a half chance in the Orange box to pull a goal back for Canney Hill. The deficit was then reduced further as Paul Simpson stroked home a penalty, before John Nunn brought the score back to 4-3 as an innocuous looking ball caused confusion in the Orange box. However, as much as both sides toiled to produce some excellent football in the final ten minutes there was to be no more goals as Orange lifted the championship.

Elsewhere in Division Three Biglins News continued their impressive home record with a 1-1 draw against a Yates's Wine Lodge side that had already sealed promotion to Division Two. However, it was the Lodgers that looked like the home side as they took a 1-0 lead within the opening five minutes as Chris Chadwick found the back of the net.

Biglins weren't to be rolled over however, and were worth their scrappy equaliser from Colin Hickmans. Paul Carroll was then unlucky to see a bending 25-yard free kick come crashing back off the bar as the first half drew to a close. The second half saw some more scrappy football and very few chances, however, as both teams were happy to play out a draw in the difficult conditions.

In the weekend's only other game Faverdale beat The Falchion 3-0.

* The league management committee would like to remind all team secretaries that this month's league meeting will take place at 7pm on Wednesday at Darlington RA club. Can all trophy winners from last season return their trophies clean and polished.

Darlington and

District League

Archdeacon continue to justify their league position in twice coming from behind to take a share of the points against East End WMC. Mark Maddison took advantage of confusion in the home defence to put the club side ahead, but Richie Tutty finished well to level matters. Maddison restored East End's lead before th interval, but constant second half pressure by the Deacon led to the award of a penalty converted by Neil Blewitt for a share of the spoils.

Post Boy took a giant step towards the title as they were the only team in the top seven to win. Paul Robson, Darren Hewitson and Peter Robson put the Ferryhill side three up at the interval and in the second half Peter Robson completed his hat-trick. Albion's consolation goal was scored by Stuart Cottam.

RA Social playing their first league game in over three months were hopeful of staying in touch with Post Boy and leading 5-2 with only eight minutes remaining they appeared to have achieved their goal. However, the conversion of two penalties by Warren Moncur opened the door for Shuttle and Loom and following further indiscipline by RA which saw two players sent off, Shuttle managed a dramatic equaliser for a share of the spoils. Moncur added to his penalties to complete his hat-trick and Shuttle's other scorers were Terry Greenstreet and Paul Soderman, Gavin Rose, Stephen Boyle, Peter Gormley, Daryl West and Nigel Clark were RA scorers.

Greyhound struggled to field 11 eligible players for their Invitation Trophy semi-final tie at Abbey Road and indeed kicked off with only ten and had the audacity to take the lead after only three minutes through Robbie Dodsworth. Old Boys waited until Greyhounds had a full complement before equalising ten minutes before the break. Old Boys took the lead after an hour via the penalty spot, but David Wilson headed home an Andrew Mackintosh free kick to level matters five minutes later. With 20 minutes left Dodsworth forced home across at the far post to put Greyhounds ahead but Old Boys levelled again from the spot with only three minutes left. Old Boys again led in the second period of extra time, but with time running out Mackintosh scored from close range to bring about a penalty shootout.

Greyhounds led the latter 3-1 but then their nerve failed them and two missed penalties allowed the initiative to swing back to Old Boys who eventually took the shootout and a place in the final by 6-5. Old Boys corers were Jimmy Gallagher (2), Mark Sowerby and Stuart Alderson.

Following another postponement of their Darlington Charity Cup tie Rothmans conceded the tie to Brandon Station in an effort to ease their fixture congestion.

l The league are pleased to announce that Darlington FC have kindly given permission to stage the league challenge cup final at Feethams on Wednesday, April 17 (6.30pm). The finalists are Ferryhill Post Boy and Darlington RA Social.

T & M Disco Crook and District League

Stanhope Town will meet Willington Cottles in both Easter finals after beating Tow Law Cattle Mart in the two-leg Colin Waites Trophy semi final. Darren Fletcher (2) and Gavin Stephenson took saw Stanhope lead 3-0. David Corrigan pulled two back for Tow Law to see them lose 3-2 on the day but 12-2 overall.

Leaders Earl of Warwick benefited when their game with Byers Green was switched to West Auckland and they raced into a six goal half time lead. The second half proved more even though Warwick added two more to win 8-0. Andrew Bowes and Anthony Bailes bagged a bracater and Wayne Lonsdale. In the second half Wanderers sat back but Rugby Club were unable to take advantage and game ended in a 3-0 win for the visitors.

Hathaway Auckland and District League

Mark Brooks put DSRM ahead in the Auckland Charity Cup semi final with Black and Decker. By half time the visitors were back on terms through Neil Beck and in the second half they were the better side. Goals from John Christon, David Torr and Stephen Baker gave Black and Decker a 4-1 win to see them into the final. This will be an all Auckland league clash with Coxhoe Athletic.

Coxhoe were the better side early on in the Subsidiary Cup tie with Shildon Railway. A John Parnaby free kick was knocked in by Gary O'Hara to put Coxhoe ahead on the half hour. Shildon had the best of the second half exchanges and they drew level through Jonathan Coates.

The other two games were postponed. The Cockfield versus Cleveland Bridge game was a casualty as the referee turned up at Cleveland Bridge when the match was at Cockfield.