The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

However, Nestfield's fall from grace was only due to the fact that their game against Newton Aycliffe Sports Club fell foul of the weather at the weekend. That gave Spraire RA the opportunity to return to the top spot for the first time in several weeks, and it was an opportunity they grabbed with both hands as they stormed to a 7-3 victory over Springfield.

Coundon Forester's remain close behind, however, as they beat East End WMC in one of the clashes of the day. Coundon took an early lead through a Kirk Warburton free kick after a bright start from both sides, and they looked to be cruising when Darren Wilson doubled the advantage after 25 minutes. However, East End pulled one back thanks to a 30-yard drive from Neil Godfrey, but as they pushed for an equaliser they were caught on the break by the Foresters who won a penalty that was coolly converted by top-scorer Rob Mazur. The Clubmen pushed on looking to reduce the arrears before the break, but, although they had several good chances, they failed to capitalise on their opportunities and went into the interval 3-1 down. From such a position Coundon were never going to throw the game away, and they consolidated their lead throughout the second half before Kevin Bromley and Rob Mazur finally killed the game off as East End were soundly beaten 5-1.

Elsewhere in the top flight The Northern Echo moved into sixth place on the back of an impressive 9-3 victory over Team Scania, whilst Hoppers Transport moved up a place in the relegation dog-fight as they narrowly squeezed past bottom side Green Dragon 4-3.

In Division Two the Shuttle & Loom remain top of the league thanks to a crushing 17-0 victory over bottom side Smith & Allan, whilst Bishop Auckland Cricket Club put a five point gap between themselves and Hurworth Albion in third place as they beat Jack Horners 5-0. However, it was a game that the Jacks thought should never have gone ahead given the conditions, and that may have gone some way to explaining the fact that they failed to score for the first time in three seasons. Alan Meadows top-scored for the Cricket Club with a hat-trick, whilst Lee Stainsby and Anthony Jacques also notched. In the only other game that survived the weather in Division Two, Copper Beech DCS eased their worries of being sucked into the relegation fight as they beat struggling Greyhound 2-0.

Tim Usher opened the scoring from a corner for the Beech and, despite quite a lot of pressure from the Greyhound, it was a lead that they managed to carry into the interval. The Beech then went on to dominate the second half with the wind behind them, but it took until the 70th minute before they doubled their advantage as Darren Riley tapped into the Greyhound net following an Alan Curry shot that came back off the crossbar.

AFC Orange remain the runaway leaders in Division Three following their 9-0 victory over Faverdale. Stu Cottam gave Orange the lead early on, and he soon added his second, this time from the spot after Chris Wardell was brought down in the box. Steven Charlton converted an excellent through-ball from James Rochester to make the score 3-0 at half time, and it turned into a rout in the second half as Faverdale tired badly. Lee Day, Steven Walton, Chris Wardell and Steve Charlton all found the target in the second half before Kev Kokes completed the scoring with a well taken goal following some excellent build-up play. Meanwhile, Canney Hill Athletic were beaten by fourth-placed Royal British Legion in a real six pointer - although it was a result that allowed Yates's Wine Lodge to move into second place, despite a less than convincing 3-1 victory over the bottom side Hogans.

Yates' took a 2-0 lead before Hogans pulled a goal back, but the hosts warpped-up all three points when leading scorer Chris Chadwick fired home.

Elsewhere, Pizza Perfekt remain in fifth place after they beat AXA Insurance. Perfekt took a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter of an hour thanks to goals from Gavin Beadle and Mike Weston, but they were soon pegged back by the visitors as Alan Percival and Jon Roote both found the back of the net for AXA. Weston scored again before the break, however, as did Perfekt's Dave Caygill to put the Pizzaboyz 4-3 up, but once more they failed to hold onto a two goal lead. Barry Foster capped some good pressure from the visitors as he brought the score back to 4-3, and then Alan Percival slotted home from the spot to bring the game level again. Percival was then denied his hat-trick after a fine save from Pizzaboyz 'keeper Dave Thompson, and it became a turning point in the game as man of the match Mike Weston completed his hat-trick to give the Pizzaboyz the lead yet again. Liam Coleman then wrapped the game up as he hit a fine goal from the edge of the box in the final ten minutes to make the final score 6-4 to the Pizzaboyz.

In the remaining Division Three games, The Falchion beat Newton Cap 7-5 whilst Nestfield Seconds defeated Biglins News 5-3, despite trailing 2-0 at half time.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts GD

Spraire RA 14 10 2 2 66 22 32 44

*Coundon Foresters 14 11 1 2 86 18 31 68

Nestfield Club 16 10 1 5 59 40 31 19

East End WMC 13 10 0 4 70 30 30 40

Newton Aycliffe SC 12 8 3 1 42 15 27 27

The Northern Echo 16 7 2 7 47 54 23 -7

Speedwell 14 7 1 6 61 38 22 23

Brinkburn 15 6 3 6 50 37 21 13

Team Scania 16 5 0 11 57 101 15 -44

Hoppers Transport 15 3 2 10 28 77 11 -49

*Springfield 18 4 1 13 48 91 10 -43

Green Dragon 16 1 0 15 31 122 3 -91

*Denotes three points deducted

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts GD

Shuttle & Loom 14 12 1 1 94 13 37 81

BA Cricket Club 14 12 0 2 115 27 36 88

Hurworth Albion 12 10 1 1 63 14 31 49

Jack Horners 16 10 1 5 62 23 31 39

BA The Derby 17 7 4 6 86 58 25 28

All Stars 12 7 2 3 80 23 23 57

Copper Beech DCS 15 6 0 9 37 42 18 -5

Greyhound 15 4 1 10 42 66 13 -24

Sadberge 13 4 0 9 49 62 12 -13

Northern Spirit 16 2 2 12 34 82 8 -48

Smith & Allan 16 0 0 16 10 262 0 -252

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts GD

AFC Orange 16 15 0 1 77 12 45 65

Yates Wine Lodge 18 13 1 4 64 39 40 25

Canney Hill Athletic 17 12 2 6 74 29 38 45

Royal British Legion 18 12 2 4 67 40 38 27

Pizza Perfekt 18 10 2 6 82 51 32 31

Nestfield Seconds 16 7 4 5 54 42 25 12

Biglins News 15 7 2 6 48 33 23 15

Faverdale 18 5 2 11 49 78 17 -29

The Falchion 17 5 2 10 40 62 17 -22

Newton Cap 15 4 1 10 37 85 13 -48

AXA Insurance 18 3 0 15 34 72 9 -38

Hogans 18 0 0 18 25 109 0 -84

Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League

NEW Masons pegged back leaders Old Shildon with a 4-0 victory as the fixture programme got back on track last week. A furious Old Shildon are ruing what was an ideal chance to extend their lead at the top of the table. But second-half goals by Thomas Lauden, Neil Bannister and two by sub Ian Hughes bagged maximum points for the Masons.

"It was a very disappointing result," said Old Shildon secretary Sharron Hedley. "We were in the game until half-time. We matched them and we thought we could beat them.

"But then we've had a blatant penalty turned down and a perfectly good goal disallowed - they've gone on to win the game and we feel very hard done by. But that's the way it goes and we've just got to get on with it."

Masons manager Shaun Thompson said: "It was a very close game and I felt that the first team to score would go on to win the game.

"They're a very good side and they battled all the way. They've had some unlucky decisions go against them, but that happens to all of us at some point."

The hectic cup run-in also reached boiling point as two games were decided after extra-time - in two different competitions.

Green Tree dramatically dumped Eldon Lane out of the League Cup at the quarter-final stage. Royal George joined the Tree in the semi-finals after beating Pit Laddie 6-2. Karl Dawson (2), David Leighton, Darryl Meadows and Paul Storey all netted for the George, with Sean Heaviside and Michael Symons scoring for Laddie. First Division Newton Aycliffe beat Second Division runaway leaders Spennymoor Thorns 4-2 in the second round of the League Cup - which sets up a quarter-final tie with Old Shildon. Paul Stevens gave Aycliffe a first-half lead before Mark Russell equalised. Stevens scored another after the break to make it 2-1, then substitute Dave Muir grabbed a third with a header. Andrew Richardson pulled it back to 3-2, but Craig Murray put the tie beyond Thorns' reach when he scored straight from the re-start. The kick-off was played to Murray inside the centre-circle, and the super-sub hit a sublime lob which sailed perfectly over the stranded 'keeper. The remaining League Cup quarter-final games are: Newton Aycliffe v Old Shildon, Huntsman v Europa. The winners of those games will play the Royal George and Green Tree in the semi-finals.

In the first round of the Invitation Cup meanwhile, The Grand beat Horndale 6-3 after extra-time. Shaun Reynolds (two), Mark Peacock, Simon Marshall and Kevin and Mark Priestly all scored for the Grand, with Wayne Pratt (two) and Adrian Musgrave scoring for Horndale.

Invitation Cup second round draw: Newton Aycliffe/Masons United v Binchester Social Club, Royal George v Salvins/Broompark Loves, Pit Laddie v Brawns Den, Spennymoor Thorns v Two Blues, Boot & Shoe v Victoria, Green Tree v Shildon Athletic, Horndale/The Grand v Postchaise, Huntsman/Europa v North Briton (Outstanding first round games to be played March 3, as well as standing second round games).

In Division Two, Binchester Social Club climbed up a place to third with a 3-1 win over Shildon Athletic. Jeff Morrow gave Binchester the lead when he turned in a good cross from John Wheatley. Gavin Dunnett had two headers cleared off the line in the second half before scoring with a powerful header. Darren Spark also scored with his head to make it 3-0. Adam Potter netted a late consolation goal. Meanwhile, Masons United beat Boot & Shoe 2-1 thanks to a brace by Christopher Strong. Trevor Dixon netted the Shoe's only goal. And Locomotion jumped three places to tenth with a 2-1 win over Two Blues. John Airey scored both for the Loco, with Paul Richardson scoring for Blues.

Results (Sunday, February 10) Division One: Old Shildon 0, New Masons 4; Brandon 3, Salvins 3.

Division Two: Binchester Social Club 3, Shildon Athletic 1; Victoria 1, Black Horse 7; Masons United 2, Boot & Shoe 1; Two Blues 1, Locomotion 2.

League Cup round two: Newton Aycliffe 4, Spennymoor Thorns 2.

League Cup quarter-finals: Eldon Lane 4, Green Tree 5 (a.e.t.); Pit Laddie 2, Royal George 6.

Invitation Cup round one: Horndale 3, The Grand 6 (aet).

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Old Shildon 15 10 1 4 56 30 31

New Masons 13 10 1 2 45 25 31

Huntsman 13 9 3 1 62 26 30

Newton Aycliffe 9 7 1 1 41 18 22

Europa 10 6 1 3 28 24 19

The Grand 12 6 1 5 32 33 19

Royal George 13 5 1 7 30 37 16

Eldon Lane 12 4 3 5 33 37 15

Salvins 13 3 2 8 37 38 11

Laceys 13 2 3 8 32 55 9

Brandon 15 1 3 11 26 73 6

Horndale 12 1 2 9 23 49 5

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Spennymoor Thorns 18 17 1 10 8 24 51

Broompark Loves 15 13 1 1 77 15 40

Binchester Social Club 17 13 1 3 61 28 40

Postchaise 19 13 1 5 75 47 40

*Black Horse 16 13 1 2 73 29 37

Brawns Den 16 10 0 6 62 34 30

Masons United 18 9 3 6 50 41 30

Green Tree 18 9 0 9 50 57 27

*Victoria 20 6 3 11 34 77 18

Locomotion 15 5 1 9 43 54 16

Shildon Athletic 17 5 1 11 37 57 16

Boot & Shoe 21 5 1 15 43 87 16

North Briton 20 5 0 15 48 72 15

Two Blues 18 4 1 13 36 79 13

Pit Laddie 16 4 0 12 31 68 12

Binchester Hotel 18 2 0 16 23 97 6

*Denotes three points deducte