Although Crook celebrated winning their fifth game of the season they have not improved their position near the bottom of the table. They are still third from the basement but are now six points ahead of second from bottom West Denton while basement side Cleveland Hall have failed to gain a point after 18 attempts.

Crook visited West Denton and were involved in a ten-goal thriller before eventually winning 6-4.

Mark Surtees rifled a hat-trick and other goals for Crook were scored by Harry Flynn, Andrew Smith and Mark Edwards. Alan Gordon bagged a brace of goals for West Denton and others on target were Dean Wharton and John Clark.

The match between New Hartley and Redheugh produced even more goals with Redheugh ending 8-3 in front after establishing a 5-1 interval lead.

No fewer than seven of their players were on target and while Craig Nesbitt scored twice, Darryl Martin, Alan Parker, David Jeffers, Michael Cook, Graeme Burkes, and Keith Baxter all found the net on one occasion. Scott Blandford, Paul Bonnick and Martin Humble responded for New Hartley.

The two other games which were scheduled to take place involving Whitley Bay and Dunston Fed and Consett and Walker Central were postponed.

City of Durham

THE Under-9s Dragonflies resumed league duties with two well-earned victories playing very good attacking football. They beat Redhouse Reds 1-0 with Ramm scoring and being man of the match. Dragonflies also won 3-1 against Redhouse Whites with Beadle, Hirst and Madrell scoring and Hossler man of the match.

The Under-10s Hornets played a 0-0 draw against Riverside Boys and lost 1-0 against Ashbrooke. The Spiders also played a 0-0 draw against 24/7 SAFC Girls and lost 3-0 against Belford House Jets. The Scorpions lost 3-0 against Tyneside Juniors and drew 0-0 against South Tyneside Mohicans. The boys played very well in appalling conditions.

The Under-12s Pumas maintained their push up the Premier League with a dominant display with a 8-0 win over a highly-fancied Chuter Ede.

Due to cup commitments this was only the boys' fourth league game this year but they put all thoughts of cup final appearances to the back of the minds and attacked from the start. Olly 'Scotch' Hotchkiss kept up his impressive goal tally with a stunning hat-trick, ably assisted by Luke Sullivan (2), James Marwood, Johnny Heslop and Ross Wilkinson.

In difficult conditions Durham Under-13s went down 7-0 to Peterlee Oak Travel. The Peterlee boys playing to the best of the conditions on the day.