Locomotion off the track

SPENNYMOOR Thorns further increased their superior goal difference with another thumping win last week.

The Division Two leaders boosted their difference to an impressive 97 after just 19 games with a 14-1 drubbing of the Locomotion.

The rout takes Thorns' average scoring to 6.4 goals per game - and means they will top 190 for the season is they maintain their prolific record.

Local bookies have now stopped taking bets on the hot favourites to win promotion automatically.

But manager Dave McWaters says there's still a long way to go. "The season is by no means over," he said. "Broompark Loves are breathing down our necks and if they win their games in hand, they go two points behind us - and we have to play them again in the league.

"They have already beaten us twice this season so we've got a lot of work to do before we can relax. It should be an exciting run-in, but we're hoping it doesn't go down to the last day of the season!"

Mark Russell scored six for Thorns last week, while Steve Richardson netted four. There was also one a-piece for Julian Jordan, Andrew Richardson, Michael Oliver and Paul Gargett. John Airey scored Loco's only goal.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Black Horse jumped to third on goal difference with a 5-4 win at Two Blues.

Prolific striker Allan Barratt netted a hat-trick, while Graham Thompson and Malcolm Thexton both scored. Paul Richardson also scored three for Two Blues, with David Brown scoring the other.

Shildon Athletic beat Victoria 3-1 thanks to goals by Kevin Kavanagh, Adam Potter and Alan Bailey. Michael Madden scored for the Vic.

Boot & Shoe ensured that the North Briton's terrible run continued with a 3-2 victory.

Goals by John Dean, Derek Davidson and Peter Capstick bagged the points, despite Brit goals by Phil Judge and Kevin O'Neil.

In Division One, New Masons went back to the top with a 7-2 win over the Grand, while Huntsman moved up to second with a 6-1 win over Laceys.

Wayne Marram (2), Dave Welsh (2), Steve Woodward and James Alderson scored Huntsman's goals. Joe Cole netted Laceys' only goal.

Eldon Lane beat Horndale 5-1 with goals by Steve Weldon (2), Michael Paterson, Paul Fitt and Wayne Claydon. Wayne Pratt scored for Horndale.

Newton Aycliffe were dumped out of yet another cup - this time by Old Shildon in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

Goals by Darren Plaice, Paul Whensley and Donald Peacock allowed Shildon to progress, which leaves Aycliffe only the league and the Invitation Cup to fight for.

Meanwhile, clubs are reminded that the next League Meeting will take place from 8pm next Wednesday (March 6), in the clubhouse at Spennymoor United's Brewery Field. The league is asking the winners of all trophies from last season to return them on Wednesday.

Results - Division One: Eldon 5, Horndale 1; Huntsman 6, Laceys 1; New Masons 7, The Grand 2.

Division Two: Two Blues 4, Black Horse 5, Locomotion 1, Spennymoor Thorns 14; Shildon Athletic 3, Victoria 1; North Briton 2, Boot & Shoe 3.

League Cup QF: Newton Aycliffe 0, Old Shildon 3.

The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

Osix games managed to escape this week's poor weather conditions, with two games taking place in each division. In Division One, Newton Aycliffe Sports Club finally caught up one of their games in hand on the top four as they took all three points against Team Scania.

The Sports Club took a 3-0 lead into the break thanks to goals from Carl Black, Andrew Turner and Chris Postle, but it could have been a much bigger lead if it wasn't for the heroics of Anth Ablett in the Scania goal.

The second half started much the same way as Black scored his second of the game and Ray Stanger also notched to put the Sports Club 5-0 up, but a Trevor Herins goal ignited a fight-back from Scania. Man of the match Martin Smith started to take control of the midfield for Scania, and he set up two goals for Lee Hammond in the final ten minutes to bring the score back to 5-3.

However, the final whistle came just too soon for Scania as they had the Sports Club on the ropes but they managed to cling on to the three points.

In the other Division One game, Hoppers Transport remain in the bottom three as they failed to re-create their cup form against Brinkburn.

Hoppers were struggling from the outset as Brinkburn peppered Chris Sharples' goal with shots, but a combination of fine goal-keeping and courageous defending kept the score-sheet blank at the break.

The Brinkburn were caught out a couple of times at the start of the second half by some Hoppers breaks leading to some fine saves by Brinkburn keeper Darren Peacock, but usual service was soon resumed as Geoff Kell finally gave the Brinkburn the lead they deserved before Steve Appleby made the final score 2-0 as he hit a rasping drive from 20 yards.

In Division Two, Hurworth Albion made up ground on the top two as they managed to get one of their games in hand played against Copper Beech DCS, albeit on one of the worst surfaces that Hurworth have had at home this season.

The Albion employed some direct tactics in order to avoid the tricky surface, and after some early pressure Gary Donald scored his second goal in as many weeks as he back-heeled a Jonathan Edwards corner into the net. Neil Bell then added Hurworth's second before half time and notched his second and Hurworth's third just after the break to put the game beyond DCS's reach.

Hurworth could have scored many more as Wayne King was twice denied by the woodwork and several other chances went begging as The Albion cruised to a 3-0 victory.

Meanwhile, Jack Horners and Allstars met at Branksome in a game between two sides just outside of the promotion spots in Division Two.

It was the visitors that took the lead early in the first half through Darren Kokes however, and that score-line could have been 2-0 if not for a fine save by Jack's keeper Ted Halstead from an Allstars penalty.

The 1-0 scoreline stood until just after the first half, but the Jack's got themselves back into the game as James Cosgrove equalised with a textbook finish. Cosgrove then made the score 2-1 to the Jack's with a fine header before Neil Blewitt made the score 3-1 from a long range thunderbolt of a free-kick.

A defensive mix-up gave Allstars a route back into the game as an unfortunate Jack Horners defender scored an own goal, but Leon Russell dashed any Allstars hopes of leaving with a share of the spoils as he headed home a pinpoint Paul Scott cross to give the Jacks a 4-1 victory.

None of the top sides saw any action in Division Three this week, but there was no shortage of excitement as the game between AXA Insurance and The Falchion saw a dramatic comeback on an awful pitch.

The Falchion began the game in dominant fashion, penning AXA in their own half for much of the first half and taking the lead when Mal Hardy sprang AXA's offside trap to slot the ball home.

The Falchion's lead was then doubled before half time when Mike Layton volleyed home from a corner to put his side into a commanding position.

The second half started in much the same manner as The Falchion

continued to carve out openings, but AXA soon started to cause some problems of their own, and Greg Wilde soon reduced arrears when he curled a free-kick into the top corner of the Falchion net from 25 yards. Substitute Chris White then brought the scores level with 15 minutes to go as he latched onto a Jason McArthur through ball and beat the keeper at the second attempt after his initial attempt was blocked.

The final 15 minutes soon became a lottery as the sticky pitch made things difficult for both sides, bu t it was AXA that took advantage as Alan Percival kept a cool head to slot home the winning goal in the last five minutes after he was superbly released by Greg Wilde to secure only AXA's second victory since August.

In the only other game in Division Three Biglins News beat Hogans 8-2 despite a brace from Hogans striker Chris Piper.

T & M Disco Crook and District League

Stanhope Town entertained Howden Australian in a top of the table encounter which produced a really close match. Stanhope looked well on the way to victory when goals from Darren Fletcher, Louis Fraser and Wayne Fletcher gave them a 3-0 lead after just 25 minutes. Goals either side of half time from John Stephenson and David Wilkinson brought Howden right back into the game.

Stanhope were then awarded a hotly disputed penalty which Rob O'Dell knocked in to make it 4-2.

Andrew Johnson pulled it back to 4-3 but Stanhope held on to win.

Andy Morris gave Wanderers a half time lead i the wind at their backs Cottles led 3-0 at half time through goals from Tommy Parkin and Anthony Stewart.

Rugby Club pulled one back in the 70th minute but a goal from Wayne Fleming made the final score 4-1 and give Cottles a three goal advantage for the second leg.

Darlington and

District League

Patience turned out to be a virtue at Middleton St. George when after a third pitch inspection the game between Killinghall Arms and Greyhounds was given the go ahead.

As this was the only game played on Saturday it begged the question that some games were called off too soon.

The strong wind favoured Killie in the first half and using it to full advantage they dominated the half to lead 4-0 at the interval despite the heroics of Greyhounds goalkeeper and man of the match Mark Bunker. Greyhounds performed much better after the break with the elements in their favour but couldn't prevent further goals from Danny F. Leary and veteran stopper Barrie Hookway, Andy Roberts and Neil Matthias each with a brace were Killie's first half scorers.

The Cleveland Bridge-Newton Aycliffe Darlington Charity Cup tie was postponed for the fifth time and with Bridge showing a marked reluctance to either find an alternative venue or switch the tie to their opponents ground Aycliffe's patience finally cracked and they have conceded the tie.

The recent East End WMC and Rothmans league match has been deleted from the records and will be replayed because East End WMC fielded a suspended player.

East End WMC have also had three points deducted from their score and been fined according to rule.

This unfortunate sequence of events has effectively ruled out the clubmen title aspirations.

Leading scorers: Gavin Bell (Albion) 21, Mark Jenkinson (Shuttle and Loom) 20, Michael Bland (Rothmans) 20, Mark Maddison (East End WMC) 20.

Man of the match awards leader: David Palmer (Greyhorse) six awards.