Darlington 21st Allstars

The most successful Allstars' team were the Under-14s who saw Cup action at Nunthorpe Athletic.

They gave their best display of the season so far to finish with a well-earned 1-0 victory. Sean Edwards got the goal and goalkeeper Marc Briggs was Man of the Match.

Then another journey this time to Billingham Town in the League, produced an excellent all-round team performance and a 3-3 draw, all six goals coming in the first half.

Edwards, Phillip Grainger and Thomas Reeves got the goals and Man of the Match was Liam Francis.

The Under-15s had a home Cup tie against Stokesley SC and gained a deserved 2-0 victory.

Darren Thompson lobbed the keeper for a first-half goal and Man of the Match Paul Robertson converted a second-half penalty.

Then back in the League, the Under 15s were at home to South Bank Juniors and were unlucky to lose 4-1 to a side who proved just too strong.

Robertson got the only Allstars' goal and Ian Mackenzie was Man of the Match.

The Under-14 Colts were in derby cup action at home to Spraire Lads C, a team playing in a division higher.

And in a marvellous overall display, the Colts triumphed 6-1. Stephen Oliver gave a Man of the Match display with five goals and Marc Tills completed the scoring.

Then a league game at Eaglescliffe Elementis saw the Colts go down 5-3. In an end-to-end match, the Colts gave a workmanlike performance but two late home goals decided the result.

Oliver grabbed another brace of goals, thereby becoming the first Allstars' player to reach double figures this season, and Chris Trumper also scored. Man of the Match was Chris Carter.

In the second round of the League Cup, the Under-11s had unfortunately been drawn against the Under-11 Colts.

However, in a game full of grit and determination, both teams gave their all, the Under-11s finishing up 7-0 winners after being 6-0 up at half-time.

Adam Armstrong got two goals and Ross Burton, Daniel Groves, Richard Moorhouse and Ross Kelly got one each.

The scoring was completed by an own goal and Luke Scarr was man of the match for the Under-11 s. The Colts' Man of the Match was Matthew Shaw.

Four days later, it was the Under-11 Colts who fared better with a 3-1 home League victory over Bishop Auckland St. Mary' s after being 1-0 down after 20 seconds.

Ben Murphy, Adam Macdonald and Shaw got the goals, with the Man of the Match award going to Liam Dixon.

The Under-11s were in Durham County Cup action at home to Billingham Town whose players were a year older. Not surprisingly, Allstars lost 4-0 but gave their all throughout. Stephen Allenby was Man of the Match for a superb goalkeeping display.

The Under-12s were first in Cup action at local rivals Spraire Lads and ran out 5-1 winners. Man of the Match Jack Henderson made all the difference in a hard-fought game, grabbing four goals, with Freddie Huscroft getting the other.

Then the Under 12s went out of the League Cup losing 2-1 at home to Durham City Panthers after extra time.

Lee Mullis scored an equalising penalty but the away side grabbed the all-important 'golden goal' in extra time. Man of the Match was Robbie Gardner.

The Under-13s were in Cup action at home to Whinney Banks YCC and after an even first half, proceeded to dominate the second half, a determined performance bringing them a 5-1 victory, with three goals in the last 10 minutes.

Man of the Match Kyle Swankie helped himself to a hat-trick and Paul McPherson and Nicky Fox also scored.

Then back in the First Division, the Under-13s were at home to South Bank Juniors and lost 1-0, giving another gritty but slightly disjointed display in which individual skills did not blend totally into an effective team performance. Richard Banks was man of the match.

The Under-16 Colts were in League Cup action at Nunthorpe Athletic and lost 5-1, despite dominating the game for long periods. Tommy Wright got the goal and a superb display from goalkeeper Peter Mears gained him the Man of the Match award.

Then the Colts' first League game of the season, at home to Richmond Town, saw them lose 8-5. A reorganised first-half line-up was changed dramatically at half-time, the second half seeing valiant but in the end unrewarded pressure from the Colts.

Steve McCready got two goals, including a penalty, with the other goals coming from Mike Lea, Wright and Matty Gill whose 30-yard screamer helped him towards the Man of the Match award.

The Under-12 Colts had unfortunately been drawn to play last season's First Division champions, Marton FC, away and in a one-sided match, went down 13-0. Man of the Match was Matthew Andrews.

Then a trip to Gateshead Low Fell Clarets in the Durham County Cup saw the Colts lose 10-1, after being reduced by injury to 10 players just before half-time.

Daniel James got the goal and Man of the Match was Kevin Ditchburn.

The Under-17s were in League action at home to Coulby Newham and a 1-0 defeat made it three League defeats out of three games played.

The old failing of creating few chances and scoring none was the main reason for the defeat. Man of the Match was David Raine.

At seven-a-side level, in the Teesside Alliance League Cup, the Under-10 Colts had a tremendous first victory of the season, 2-0 at home to Hartburn Juniors B. Sam Hird got both goals and Thomas McCabe was Man of the Match.

Then in a home League match against Hartburn again, the Colts disappointingly lost 2-1, with Hird again on the scoresheet and McCabe again Man of the Match.

In a subsequent friendly, the Colts won 3-0 with goals from Hird, Andy Collins and Connor Richings. Man of the Match was Richard Miller.

Again at seven-a-side level in the Cup, the Under-10s travelled to Leven AFC and took their opponents all the way, the scoreline being 2-2 after both full time and extra time, Lee Gibbon and Darren Swankie getting the goals.

However, the penalty competition was a different story, Allstars losing out 4-2. Jack Johns was Man of the Match.

In a subsequent friendly, the Under-10s won 1-0 with a goal from Josh Phillips and a man of the match performance from Dean Bland.

Darlington Spraire Lads

As the season gets in to full swing most Spraire teams played this week. In mini-football the Under-8s went to Hartlepool Premier. In a fine performance Spraire won 5-1 the goals came from Kneeshaw (4) and Plump man of the match went to Wilson.

At Under-10 all three teams played in the Teesside Alliance Spraire had a hard fought 0-0 draw with Hartlepool St Francis, man of the match was Lipton.

In the Cleveland Minor League Spraire went to Stockton West End in a close game which ended 2-2. The goals coming from Jefferson and one from man of the match Hinde.

The remaining game was also against Stockton West End this time Spraire were the 1-0 victors thanks to a goal from Sergison.

At Under-11 Spraire played two games this week in the cup playing Hardwick.

Spraire proved much too strong for the team two divisions lower. Within two minutes Spraire snatched the lead from an own goal. This opened the flood gates for an easy 12-0 romp.

Goals came from Martin (4), Hickman, Ashton, Verity, Coglan, Ward, Leighton and Smalby.

The next game was an altogether different proposition as they went to fellow early season pace setters Redcar Town.

Despite an excellent start with good efforts from Ward and Coglan stopped by outstanding saves Redcar managed to grab the lead.

It was then the turn of Ditchburn in the Spraire goal to keep Spraire in the game with several outstanding saves. With the score 1-0 to Redcar.

Spraire started the second half where they left off the first, defending well.

Suddenly the game changed when Coglan picked up the ball wide, beat the defender and lobbed the keeper from a tight angle to level the score.

This give Spraire the confidence to push forward Martin caused panic amongst the Redcar defence who attempted a pass back to the keeper for Verity to intercept and give Spraire the lead.

Spraire were denied a more decisive win when the Redcar keeper saved a penalty. The final score being 2-1 to Spraire with Coglan getting the man of the match.

At Under-13, Spraire lost 3-0 to Hartlepool St Francis. In the Richmond league Spraire went to league champions Bedale and in the first twelve minutes found out why they where the league champions as they put three goals past Spraire.

Spraire then managed to regroup and hold Bedale for a time and in the second half Spraire notched four goals from man of the match Liddle.

One from Moore and one on his debut from Chandler changed the whole complexion of the game and gave Spraire a great 5-3 victory.

At Under-14 the A team lost 6-1 the Spraire goal coming from Butler.

The B team, after beating Whinney Banks 7-2 in mid week in the cup, played the same opponents in the league.

In a hard-fought game Spraire again turned out the victors winning 5-2 with goals from Martin and two each from Jakeway and McDonald.

At Under-15 in the Richmond league Spraire played Northallerton under 16s and goals from Howden, Adrian Shields and two from man of the match John Shields were enough to seal a 4-2 victory.

In the Teesside league Spraire played Norton Grange with goals from Sturgeon, Grant, Crow and three from Kelland securing a 6-0 victory.

However the victory would not have been so easy if not for outstanding saves from keeper James at vital times.

At Under-16 Spraire played two games in the cup they played Brompton.

An outstanding game of football saw the score 4-4 at full time with goals coming from Gillroy, Sparrow, Lyons and Banks (2). In the resulting penalty shoot out Brompton went through.

In the league Spraire also put in a great performance losing to South Bank 1-0. Man of the match was Gillroy.

Rohm and Haas JOC Hetton Youth League

TRIMDON are keeping the pressure on leaders Herrington after they won their sixth successive game defeating Marsden 3-2.

The home side, however, missed an opportunity to level when John McElroy, who had scored his side's two goals, failed to convert a penalty. Trimdon celebrated with goals by Ian Ward (2) and Liam Parsons.

Trimdon are just three points behind Herrington and have a match in hand on their rivals.

Herrington also boast a 100 per cent record which they maintained at the expense of Sacriston who they defeated 5-0 with goals from Craig Ellison and Jeff Hepple who both scored twice and Jamie Bennett.

Washington Dunlop produced the highest score of the day when they hit South Shields 12-1.

Daniel Graham rifled seven goals and others flowed from David Armstrong (2), David Fittes, Paul Hanson and Steve Middlemiss.

Ryhope put seven goals past Springboard when Anthony Norman (2), Ian Mulholland (2), Glen Bosher, Mark Egglestone and Wayne Carr all found the net.

In contrast, goals were at a premium when Lumley conceded their 100 per cent record when they lost 2-1 at Jarrow St Bedes.

Stephenson gave Jarrow a half-time interval lead before Ryan Drummond struck for Lumley, but a penalty by Paul Leonard earned Jarrow the points which moved them into third position behind Herrington and Trimdon.

The game between Lambton Street and Hebburn was abandoned after an hour following an injury to a player. At that stage Lambton Street led by 4-2 with goals from David Snowden (2), Mark Carruthers and Shaun King.