Darlington Spraire Lads

Despite the weekend weather Spraire managed a few games this weekend. The Under-14 Dynamos were in league action against Whitby Town. In an excellent performance Spraire won 3-1 thanks to goals from Hiley, Raine and Thompson, man of the match went to Lancaster. At the same age group the A team went to Fishburn narrowly loosing 4-3 the goals came from Healey, Burer and Edwards.

At Under-13 Spraire went to Wheatley Hill despite a great team performance Spraire could not score the final result being a 0-0 draw man of the match went to Micheal Ward.

At Under-11 Spraire continued there promotion push with a 6-0 victory over St Aidans. Spraire dominated the opening stages forcing three corners before a shot from Verity was parried wide by the keeper only for Ward to cross for Martin to convert. St Aidans then pushed forward only to be caught out when a long ball from Davison was collected by Ward who finished well.

In the second half Spraire took controll and substitute Smalley scored with his first touch of the ball. Hickman then scored the fourth with a twenty yard drive. The scoring was capped off by Martin and Ward. Man of the match went to Martin.

In the Jubilee Cup Spraire at Under-17 played Richmond the scoring was opened by Blenkharn then Stephenson added a second after good work from Brookes. In the second half Richmond attacked Spraire and when they scored it looked as though Spraire would be in for a difficult time however the emergency pairing of Wilson and Brischuk in the centre of defence held well. Spraire then made the result safe when Blenkharn heade home an excellent corner from Harwood final score 3-1 to Spraire.

In mini soccer Spraire at Under-8 went to Marton Hall Drive and won 1-0 thanks to a Matthew Bowers goal player of the match went to Kerry Headley.

At Under-9 Spraire went to Brinkburn Athletic at half time Spraire were 2-0 down but staged a tremendous fight back in the second half to earn a draw scorers were Jackson Kneeshaw and Jordan Greeves who scored direct from a corner. Player of the match went to Richard Sanderson.

l Four teams from Darlington Spraire Lasses have qualified for the Northern Region Girls five-a-side football competition to be held on Saturday, April 13 at John Moore's University. The standard of football was a high quality. The girls won through at Grindon in the Durham and Northumberland County competition. Teams included Boldon CA, Grindon, Ponteland and Blaydon.

The players were: Under-12s: Chloe Atkinson, Bethany Swinbank, Rebecca Boyd, Pamela MacDonald, Rachel McKnight, Laura Spence, Laura Gowling.

Under-14s: Danni Shutt, Kathryn Clarke, Brogan Prudhoe, Rachel Hedley, Clare Peacock, Laura Leslie, Natalie O'Brien.

Under-16s: Danni Black, Natasha Scullion, Kayley Nichols, Vicky Roberts, Natasha Ratcliffe, Becky Slade.

Under-19s: Natalie Kay, Tina Masterman, Amanda Dunn, Catherine Hirst, Claire Hugill, Sarah Heslop.

Riverside RAR

THE Under-10s beat Boldon Colts 4-1 with Ricky Fenwick scoring two of the goals and the others coming from Craig Lynch and Johnny Hewitson. In their second game they beat Easy Boldon 1-0 thanks to another Ricky Fenwick goal.

In the same league Riverside Boys drew 0-0 with the City of Durham Hornets, but went down 3-1 to East Durham, Shaun Ryder scoring Riverside's goal.

The Under-11s entertained Plains Farm in horrendous conditions. Plains Farm took the lead ten minutes before half-time and Riverside equalised ten minutes into the second half when John Ritchie slid in a left wing cross. Riverside were pressing for a winner with Micky Newton and Kane Haig making excellent runs.

They were eventually undone, however, by two late goals from Plains Farm who ran out 4-2 winners. Riverside can be proud of their performance especially left back Nathan Redshaw who stood in for the injured goalkeeper and centre back Stephen Forster who was tremendous throughout.

The Under-12s were at home to a much improved SAFC in the premier league. It was SAFC who adapted quicker to the heavy conditions and went into a 2-0 lead. Simon Godfrey pulled one back for Riverside only for SAFC to score again and go in at half-time 3-1 up. In the second half Riverside pulled another goal back thanks to Adam Barker, but SAFC put the game beyond reach with a decisive fourth goal.

Apollo Doors Gateshead Youth League

Just one game went ahead at Under-11 level and there was a victory for Whickham Fellside B who ran out 4-1 victors at Felling Magpies. Eddie Miller scored twice for Whickham.

New County North Durham Youth League

The programme was once again badly affected by the weather, but one of the semi-finals in the Under-16 League Shield went ahead and there was an emphatic victory for Cleveland Hall visiting Leam Rangers.

Chris Laws rifled four goals and Ian Bramwell scored twice for the Hall who finished 6-1 winners with the Leam Rangers goal being credited to Robert Houghton.

In the Under-16 Subsidiary Cup Blaydon and Felling Magpies drew 2-2. Ricky Walton bagged a brace of goals for Blaydon while David Moore and Anthony Thompson were the Felling scorers.

In the Under-17 League Cup quarter-final West Denton easily defeated Sandhole 5-1 with goals from Stephen Hunton (2), Mark Horsefall, Andrew Roberts and Stephen Reay. Mark Reay hit a consolation goal for Sandhole.

In the Under-17 League Division B two games were played and there were victories for Chopwell and Gateshead Fell.

Chopwell finished 4-1 in front of Dawdon when David Bolton and Joel Neesham both bagged a brace of goals. David Berni was the Dawdon marksman.

Peter Furness, Mattie Foster and Chris Taylor were the heroes for Gateshead Fell in their side's 3-1 victory at home to Haydon Bridge for whom Dan Clark replied.

Blackfyne

Itheir final game of the season Blackfyne Under-8s needed to win to force a play-off for the title but despite having most of the game in atrocious conditions, the game against Whickham Fellside ended in a 1-1 draw.

Stephen Smith scored the goal and Mark Shaw was man of the match. The team has played well all season and were rewarded when Andrew Turnbull was named Apollo Doors Player of the season. This is a great achievement for the team and the second consecutive season they have won this award.

The Under-9s beat Coxhoe 2-0 in a game played in difficult conditions. This retains top spot for the team although the others do have games in hand. Benjamin Camsell and Peter Westgarth scored the goals and Sam Taylor was man of the match.

The Under-10s beat Winlaton in their final game of the season to win the Apollo Doors Under-10s League title. Paul Bell and Keiron A McLean scored the goals with Paul Bell also getting the man of the match. The Under-10s won the League by four points and a great achievement for all concerned with the team.

l As the match reports demonstrate, Blackfyne have a successful set-up but we are always on the lookout for new players. If you are interested in joining next season contact Paul McCance on 506785. Blackfyne will be training over the spring/summer as well as entering some competitions and preparing for the start of the new season in September. Blackfyne are looking to have two teams in each age group in the leagues next year so why not come along and see for yourself.

Rohm Haas Hetton

Youth League

South Moor are now just two points adrift of second placed Herrington, having played the same number of matches following their emphatic 4-0 victory at home to second from bottom Lambton Street.

Kris Hewitt scored twice and others on the mark were Kelvin Armstrong and Andrew Potter.

South Moor, though, are still 11 points leaders Jarrow St Bedes although like Herrington they have played four games fewer.

Dunlop produced the highest score in the league when they put eight goals past basement side Springboard who failed to reply. Danny Graham and Paul Hanson both struck hat-tricks and Chris Wells also found the net for Dunlop whose other goal came from a visiting player.

One tie went ahead in the Sunderland Eye Infirmary Cup and leaders Jarrow St Bedes saw off the challenge from Ryhope by a 6-2 margin.

David Stephenson (3), Paul Burrell (2) and Daniel McGinley struck for Jarrow with Mark Egglestone and Michael Baker replying for the Wearsiders.

One game in the league between Hebburn and Lumley was postponed as was the Eye Infirmary Cup Tie between Trimdoin and Herrington.