Sunday morning's bad weather placed on hold Nestfield Club's chances of completing a Second Division league and cup double this week, their game against Hoppers Transport in the Darlington Motor Factors Second Division Cup final was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at the RA.
However, that was the only game to be affected by the early morning downpour and as the season draws to a close the final 100 per cent record in the league has been ended. After maximum points from 17 league games, Coundon Miners Arms were finally beaten, thanks to an impressive display from Busters who picked up a 3-1 away victory. On a day when Coundon could have won their first league title they were left to rue what could have been - and Darlington Spraire took full advantage to close the gap to nine points at the.
Spraire took a two-goal advantage into the break against East End, thanks to goals from man of the match Danny Richmond and Martin Ward. The lead was soon extended when Ward scored his second as Spraire hit East End on the counter-attack. East End's pressure finally paid off as Chris Scott and Gavin Bell struck in the last ten minutes, but they were unable to clinch a winner, as Spraire held on for the 3-2 victory. Meanwhile, Brinkburn handed themselves a lifeline as they beat bottom side Copper Beech DCS 4-3, a result which moved them out of the relegation zone for the first time in several months. However, it was Copper Beech who took the lead early in the first-half through Kev Myers only for Brinkbum to take the lead before half-time with a goal apiece for Stu Waypher and Gary Wilson. Brinkburn scored a fantastic third goal through Rich Wilson, following a solo run and finish before they sat back and allowed Copper Beech to pile on the pressure. Darren Riley pulled a goal back and they looked to be on for a point after Stuart Ward bagged an equaliser. Brinkburn, appreciating the importance of three points, threw caution to the wind and gained their reward as Dave Wilson headed an injury-time winner.
As Brinkburn handed themselves a lifeline, Springfield virtually condemned Jack Homers to a place in Division Two next season with a 6-2 victory although they had the disadvantage of only having ten men. Darren Tate notched a hat-trick and Andrew Rustico (2) and Garry Preston completed the scoring for the Springfield, with Richard Tutty and Chris Parkin striking the Jack's goals. In the remaining First Division fixture, Team Scania dropped to fourth place as their ten men were defeated 5-4 by Newton Aycliffe Sports Club. Craig Barrigan top scored for the Sports Club with a hat-trick, Chris Postle and Ross Killip hitting their other goals.
With the top two teams in Division Two already promoted, Sunday's games for Green Dragon and Sadberge were vital in the race for the final promotion slot. However, Sadberge were given an early scare as Sean Bell gave relegated Newton Cap a deserved lead in the tenth minute.
However, Cap's jubilation lasted less than a minute, as James Cuthbert equalised for Sadberge. Once again, the Cap pressed and an ambitious 20-yard effort from Stephen Reeve saw them regain the lead - only for Sadberge to draw level within five minutes thanks to a Tom Giles strike. Sadberge gained a stranglehold on the game, however, and Cuthbert chipped the keeper to bag his second and Sadberge's third, just before the interval. Both sides battled hard in the second-half in some quite treacherous conditions and Mike Robson settled the tie at the death to give Sadberge a vital 4-2 victory as they moved into fourth place. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for the Green Dragon, however, as they started their game against Smith and Allan with only ten men. Smith and Allan went straight for the jugular from the outset and were 4-0 up within the opening ten minutes, thanks to goals from Alan Storey (2), Shaun Campbell and Neil Willis. Dragon managed to get a goal back just before half-time through Elliot McCabe before Tim Usher's screamer restored Smith and Allan's four-goal advantage. Lamont bagged a late consolation for Green Dragon but they look to have shot themselves in the foot as Sadberge move to within two points of them with two games in hand.
Phil Moore's strike gave Northern Spirit Colts a 1-0 victory over the Greyhound - ending any slim hopes that Greyhound had of promotion to Division One.
Relegated Colts drew 3-3 at home to already promoted Hoppers Transport last night.
In Division Three, 21st Allstars became the first club to win promotion, as they moved to the top, thanks to a 5-0 victory over Royal British Legion. Darren Kokes led the Allstars charge, striking four of the goals, as Aron Denham bagged the other. However, Allstars were assisted in their rise to the top by fourth-placed Hurworth Albion who kept the pressure on the top three by defeating previous leaders Shuttle and Loom 2-0. Neil Bell's strike and an own goal from Steven Clement gave Hurworth the points and the Shuttle and Loom's game against Allstars next Thursday now looks as though it will be the Third Division championship decider.
Meanwhile, Bishop Auckland King's Head remain in third promotion slot, thanks to a 3-1 away victory over Biglins Nnews.
Fifth-placed Hopetown WMC beat Brown Trout 10-3 but because other results went against them they are now destined to remain in Division Three next season. Gavin Rose (3), Kevin Wake (2), Mark Armstrong, Michael Weston, Steven Wake, Carl Bozeate and Liam Coleman hit Hopetown's goals with Craig Wright, Arron Radstock and Paul Thompson notching for Trout.
AXA Insurance beat bottom side Falchion 4-3. Robson, Wilde, Bellwood and Shander hit AXA's goals while Tibbett, Bennisonn and Hart struck for Falchion, who remain rooted to the bottom and yet to pick up a point.
Division One
P W L D F A Pts GD
Coundon Miners Arms 18 17 1 0 71 22 51 49
Spraire 18 14 4 0 76 37 42 39
Busters 17 12 4 1 59 35 37 24
Team Scania 19 12 7 0 73 42 36 31
East End WMC 18 11 6 1 63 38 34 25
N Aycliffe SC 18 10 7 1 70 56 31 14
Springfield 18 8 6 4 64 46 28 18
Northern Echo 19 9 9 1 47 50 28 -3
Brinkburns 17 3 12 2 36 69 11 -53
**Stooperdale RA 18 4 14 1 42 73 10 -31
Jack Horners 21 2 17 2 37 100 8 -63
Copper Beech DCS 19 1 17 1 25 77 4 -52
Division Two
Nestfield Club 21 18 2 1 131 37 55 94
Hoppers Tport (p) 21 15 5 1 84 48 46 36
Green Dragon 21 11 7 3 101 61 36 40
Sadberge 19 10 5 4 74 62 34 12
Classic World 21 8 6 7 72 70 31 2
BA Derby 21 9 9 3 98 76 30 22
N Spirit RA 20 8 7 5 57 42 29 15
Smith and Allan 20 8 7 5 81 72 29 9
Greyhound 19 7 6 6 55 61 27 -6
N Spirit Colts 20 4 12 4 43 74 16 -31
Newton Cap 19 3 16 0 45 115 9 -70
Hogans 20 0 19 1 22 143 1 -121
Division Three
21st Allstars 17 14 1 2 111 20 44 91
Shuttle and Loom 17 14 2 1 94 119 43 75
BA Kings Head 18 12 3 3 62 34 30 29
Hurworth Albion 18 12 5 1 59 28 37 31
Hopetown WMC 19 11 6 2 90 37 35 53
AFC Orange 18 9 7 2 73 43 29 30
RBL 18 6 11 1 53 57 19 -4
AXA Insurance 18 6 12 0 32 122 18 -90
**Brown Trout 15 4 10 1 39 93 10 -54
Biglins News 17 1 15 1 23 85 4 -62
Falchion 17 0 17 0 18 116 0 -98
**Denotes three points deducted
Darlington & District Church and Friendly League
P W D L Pts
BC Deepdale 23 17 6 0 57
Stillington Royal 22 17 4 1 55
D'ton Busters 24 17 3 3 55
*Otter and Fish 23 18 3 2 54
Sedgefield Ath 23 15 2 6 47
D'ton Model T 22 14 3 5 45
NA Hydro 25 12 6 7 42
Shildon Three Tuns 24 10 2 12 32
NA Turbinia 22 9 3 10 30
D'ton RA Youth 25 7 4 14 25
*Chilton Wheatsheaf Wand 24 7 3 14 21
Aycliffe Saints 24 6 2 16 20
D'ton GSOB 25 5 4 16 19
D'ton SCA 23 3 5 15 14
D'ton AFC Tap and Spile 23 3 1 19 10
*D'ton Wesleys 22 0 2 20 -1
*Denotes three points deducted
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