The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

Coundon caught them with a quick breakaway goal through Darren Wilson. The floodgates then opened as Springfield struggled to contend with Coundon's corners. Rob Mazur added a further four goals within five mad first half minutes - every one of them from a Kev Thompson corner - to put the home side 5-0 up, and then John Musgrave got his name on the score-sheet as Coundon moved out of sight. Before the half was out Mazur had notched his fifth, but Darren Tate then showed some fine composure to lob the on-rushing keeper and get Springfield on the scoreboard. Kevin Bromley notched twice whilst Darren Wilson hit his

second of the game to make the score 10-1. Curt Warburtonand Mazur added to make it 12. Springfield rallied late in the game and Darren Tate notched his second and Nigel Clarks and Danny Connelly also scored. In the only other game played in the first division a strong Newton Aycliffe Sports Club side proved to be just too good for The Northern Echo in a game dominated by the blustery conditions. Aycliffe got off to a flying start as John Shotton gave them the lead, but the Echo soon got back on level terms as Graham Pepper notched a deserved equaliser. Aycliffe regained the lead just before half time though, as Chris Postle took the pressure off the Sports Club with a fine strike. Two further goals from Craig Barrigan and Andrew Turner saw the Sports Club coast.

In Division Two, Jack Horners missed out on the chance to move into the top three as they were held to a 2-2 draw by an ever-improving Bishop Auckland Derby side. However, one team destined not to slip up was the Shuttle and Loom as they moved to the top of Division Two with an 8-1 victory over Northern Spirit. The Shuttle were unstoppable on the day as

they went into the break 3-0 up, despite the best efforts of Spirit's stand-in 'keeper Mike Donnelly, thanks to goals from Gary Hutchinson, Paul Hutchinson and Stuart Curry. Curry then added his second early in the second half to make the score 4-0 before Neil Jollie took advantage of a defensive mix-up to score and give the away side vague hope. That hope was soon snuffed out, however, as an unfortunate own-goal from Scott Timmins put the Shuttle 5-1 ahead, and then Warren Moncur struck a fine shot into the top corner of the Spirit net to make the score 6-1. Jamie Smith then extended the lead with a fine finish late in the game before Kevin Baines sealed the points for the home side.

Other result: Royal British Legion 7-2 Faverdale.

DIVISION 1

P W D L F A Pts D

Nestfield 16 10 1 5 59 40 31 19

East End 13 10 0 3 69 25 30 44

Spraire RA 13 9 2 2 59 19 29 40

*Coundon Forresters 13 10 1 2 81 17 28 64

Newton Aycliffe 12 8 3 1 42 15 27 27

Speedwell 14 7 1 6 61 38 22 23

Brinkburn 15 6 3 6 50 37 21 13

The Northern Echo 15 6 2 7 38 51 20 -13

Team Scania 15 5 0 10 54 92 15 -38

** Springfield 17 4 1 12 45 84 10 -39

Hoppers Transport 14 2 2 10 24 74 8 -50

Green Dragon 15 1 0 14 28 118 3 -90

**three points deducted

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts D

Shuttle and Loom 13 11 1 1 77 13 34 64

B A Cricket Club 13 11 0 2 110 27 33 83

Huworth Albion 12 10 1 1 63 14 31 49

Jack Horners 15 10 1 4 62 18 31 44

BA The Derby 17 7 4 6 86 58 25 28

All Stars 12 7 2 3 80 23 23 57

Copper Beech 14 5 0 9 35 42 15 -7

Greyhound 14 4 1 9 42 64 13 -22

Sadberge 13 4 0 9 49 62 12 -13

Northern Spirit 16 2 2 12 34 82 8 -48

Smith and Allan 15 0 0 15 10 245 0 -235

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts D

AFC Orange 15 14 0 1 68 12 42 56

Canney Hill Ath 16 12 2 2 73 27 38 46

Yates Wine Lodge 17 12 1 4 61 38 37 23

Royal British Legion 17 11 2 4 65 39 35 26

Pizza Perfekt 17 9 2 6 76 47 29 29

Nestfield Seconds 16 7 4 5 54 42 25 12

Biglins News 15 7 2 6 48 33 23 15

Faverdale 17 5 2 10 49 69 17 -20

The Falchion 16 4 2 10 33 57 14 -24

Newton Cap 14 4 1 9 32 78 13 -46

AXA Insurance 17 3 0 14 30 66 9 -36

Hogans 17 0 0 17 24 106 0 -82

Darlington Church and Friendly League

Orain-sodden pitches caused havoc in the League with six of the arranged eight matches called off. Hopefully we are not going to have a repeat of last season's traumas. However two games were played and one of these saw the current League leaders The Royal, in action against the team that are currently in third place, Shildon Three Tuns, which resulted in a 5-3 win for the lads from The Three Tuns. This was a game that had everything with some good football being played by both sides in difficult, windy conditions. The Royal were quickly into their stride and scored in the second minute as the Three Tuns were down to ten men due to a serious injury to Stefan McGowan. The Tuns quickly equalised and this pattern of scoring continued up to half-time where the score was 3-3. During the second half the Tuns finally got on top with strikes by Stevie Weldon and a cracking volley by Paul Fitt. The Royal's goals were all scored Simon Hares and the other Three Tuns goals were notched by Darren Foster, Stevie Hall and Ian Maddison. This was a result that opens up the League Championship title race with The Three Tuns throwing down the gauntlet to the other title contenders.

In the second game resulted in a 4-2 win for The Navy Club against Hydro. This was a highly charged game with both teams desperate to win this derby. Tackles were flying in with no quarter given or expected and generally fair play was the order of the day in a game that also had a great deal of good football played by both sides. The Clubbers goals were scored by Mark Silvester(2) and Wayne Pratt(2) with Chris Sanderson and Trevor Cooke replying for Hydro. Congratulations and thanks are due to both secretaries who switched the game in order to get it played.

Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League

THE atrocious weather conditions savaged the League's fixture programme last week - with only THREE games going ahead from a scheduled 14.

But despite the downpour of recent weeks, which has led to a huge number of postponed games, the League remains confident that the full fixture list will be completed comfortably by the end of May.

Second Division Green Tree did manage to play against the North Briton last week - and the Tree carried on their recent good form with a comfortable 5-0 win.

Darren Rutter grabbed two, Craig Burney also scored two and Shaun Thompson one as they cruised to victory.

Elsewhere, Binchester Social Club also kept up their promotion campaign with a thumping 8-1 win over Two Blues. John Wheatley (three), Terry Little (two), Darren Spark, Gavin Dunnett and Jeff Morrow all netted for Binchester, while Martin Farmer scored Blues' only goal. Meanwhile, Postchiase beat Boot & Shoe 3-2 in the only other game, with Philip Dowd (tw0) and Ray Walton scoring for the victors. Trevor Dixon and John Dean netted for the losers.

DIVISION ONE

P W D L F A Pts

Old Shildon 14 10 1 3 56 26 31

Huntsman 13 9 3 1 62 26 30

New Masons 12 9 1 2 41 25 28

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 12 5 1 6 28 33 16

Eldon Lane 12 4 3 5 33 37 15

Salvins 12 3 1 8 34 35 10

Laceys 13 2 3 8 32 55 9

Horndale 12 1 2 9 23 49 5

Brandon 14 1 2 11 23 70 5

DIVISION TWO

P W D L F A Pts

Spennymoor Thorns 18 17 0 1 108 24 51

Broompark Loves 15 13 1 1 77 15 40

Postchaise 19 13 1 5 75 47 40

Binchester Social Club 16 12 3 1 58 27 37

Black Horse* 15 12 1 2 66 28 34

Brawns Den 16 10 0 6 62 34 30

Masons United 17 8 3 6 48 40 27

Green Tree 18 9 0 9 50 57 27

Victoria* 19 6 3 10 35 68 18

Shildon Athletic 16 5 1 10 36 54 16

Boot & Shoe 20 5 1 14 42 85 16

North Briton 20 5 0 15 48 72 15

Locomotion 14 4 1 9 41 53 13

Two Blues 17 4 1 12 35 77 13

Pit Laddie 16 4 0 12 31 68 12

Binchester Hotel 18 2 0 16 23 97 6

*3 pts deducted